Medicare is the government health insurance available to seniors over the age of 65 and people with disabilities. It includes hospital and doctor care, prescription drug coverage and options to use private insurance carriers. According to the Social Security Administration, Americans pay for Medicare with tax dollars deducted from their paychecks that are supplemented by employers.
History
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the bill that created the Medicare program in 1965. Medicaid, the health insurance program for the impoverished, also was initiated at the same time. According to Freedom Health, the program was extended to include coverage for individuals with disabilities and end-stage renal failure in 1972. Additional options that gave Medicare recipients choices in providers was signed into law in 1997. President George W. Bush signed a law in 2003 that provided prescription drug coverage under the government healthcare plan.
Eligibility
Anyone with permanent kidney failure who receives dialysis is eligible for Medicare. Workers who receive a disability pension after working for the railroad are eligible for the insurance. Patients with Lou Gehrig's disease who receive Social Security disability automatically qualify for the government program. People who have been collecting Social Security disability payments for two consecutive years also are eligible to participate in the government-sponsored health care coverage. Medicare is only available to United States citizens.
Family Members
Family members often qualify for Medicare when the parent or spouse has met the work requirements to receive coverage and they have a disability. Children, widows and widowers over the age of 50 may be eligible to receive Medicare benefits when they meet the disability criteria. The benefits extend to those widowed spouses who are divorced as well.
Considerations
To qualify for Medicare as a disabled worker, you must be approved for Social Security disability insurance, also called SSDI. According to the California Health Advocates, a disability is defined as a terminal illness or condition that precludes you from performing work for which you are suited for 12 months or longer. While you may not be able to perform work for which you were trained, Social Security officials often take into consideration other abilities you may possess.
Rights
People with disabilities often have difficulty receiving specialized treatment and equipment, according to California Health Advocates. People with disabilities often must advocate for their rights, which include access to medical treatment. Customized equipment to assist people with disabilities often is not covered by Medicare as well. Basic rights of people with disabilities on Medicare include an interpreter to communicate with health care providers if you have a speech or hearing disability, access to x-ray and other diagnostic tests if you are in a wheelchair and access to the buildings that house Medicare providers.
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