Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Susan Collins (R-ME) and Reps. Gene Green (D-TX) and Lee Terry (R-NE) introduced the Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009 (S. 700/H.R. 1708). This bill would phase out Medicare's two-year waiting period for individuals with disabilities under age 65 who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.
Apr 1, 2009
Medicare Waiting Period
From the Capitol Insider, put out by the Disability Policy Collaboration:
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4 comments:
A good first step toward ensuring that all Americans are protected from going bankrupt due to medical expenses. Medical bills are the number one cause of personal bankruptcies in the U.S.A., the only developed country in which it happens.
The government paying for everyone's health insurance is a good for step for the country going bankrupt.
The Fed can't keep printing money forever.
The only thing I see is that Social Security hopes that new SSDI beneficiaries die due to health care needs not being filled. The first 2 years is the time that health care should be available!
Please remember that Social Security Disability Insurance has been around longer than Medicare. Saying that "Social Security hopes that new SSDI beneficiaries die due to health care needs not being filled" ignores the fact that Social Security does not make the Medicare rules. The two year waiting period was set by Congress and only Congress can change that law. Even the Medicare regulation/administration has not been under the Social Security Administration since 1978 when HCFA (Health Care Financing Administration) took over Medicare and Medicaid. HCFA has morphed into CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services).
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