Smile, it's contagious!
You must be disabled for at least a year to you qualify for SSI. However, it is 2 years that you must be on SSI before you qualify for Medicare. You can have all the health insurance you want if a company is willing to insure you as long as you pay the premiums yourself. If they tell you anything different it is because they don't want to insure you and don't want to tell you that especially if you have a pre-exsisting condition. They are not supposed to turn you down for this reason but they often find another excuse.
Thank You for answering my question. I just feel I have no place to go for information anymore. I know he can't afford much in insurance because he has 3 stepchildren and a wife so there are 5. But You gave me some good information.
My son who is 40 was told he had to wait 2 years to get Medicare A & B. I don't understand why he has to wait if he is diabled.
Medicare is a Federally run program and laws are set by US Gov. whereas Medicaid is State gov. The law says he has to wait. He can apply for Medicaid while he is waiting to qualify for Medicare. Medicaid if approved has no waiting period. It is activated immediately once card is received.
