Coalition Asks for End to Medicare Waiting Period

July 17, 2009

A coalition, made up of several patient advocacy programs, including the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Cancer Society and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, was recently created to challenge Congress and ask it to change some of the rules applying to Medicare. Unfortunately, many Americans who suffer from chronic diseases and illness do not have the necessary insurance to help pay their bills.

Federal law requires that an individual or family must collect social security disability benefits for two years, before they can begin to claim Medicare benefits. However, many private insurance companies will charge exorbitant rates to those with chronic illness or disease.

During the two-year waiting period, one in seven individuals who direly need health insurance coverage die. Many are unable to afford the medications or treatments that their illnesses require. The coalition is working to fight this waiting period and make it possible for disabled Americans to collect the benefits that they need to survive.