Medicare Waiting Period Draws Attention

The Associated Press is running a story on the terrible human costs of the two year waiting period for Medicare after someone becomes eligible for Title II Social Security disability benefits. The story does not even mention that the waiting period is actually almost two and a half years for most disabled people, since the two year waiting period is on top of a five month waiting period for the cash disability benefits and those must be five full months. Here are a couple of excerpts from the story:

An estimated 1.8 million disabled workers are languishing in Medicare limbo at any given time. And about one out of eight dies waiting.

As many as one-third of those waiting are uninsured. ...

"The current law is really indefensible," said Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M. "There is no logic behind requiring people who are determined to be disabled to wait two years before they become eligible for Medicare." Bingaman introduced a bill to phase out the waiting period, and as a senator Obama co-sponsored it. ...

"When it comes to people dying of cancer, you can't help but be sympathetic," said Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. "But at a time when we have a big downturn in the economy, it may be questionable what can be done in a lot of these areas." Grassley, the senior Republican on the Senate committee that oversees Medicare, said he hasn't made up his mind about a repeal of the waiting period.

A possible compromise that could save taxpayers money would be to subsidize a continuation of employer coverage for disabled workers during the 24-month wait. Many can keep their benefits now, provided they pay the full premium, which not all can afford.

I do not recall Senator Grassley holding a hearing on repealing the Medicare waiting period when he was Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and the economy was booming.