Medicare

Medicare is health insurance offered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to individuals who are 65 years or older or who are under 65 but who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. The Medicare program consists of four different parts including Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), Medicare Part B (medical insurance for doctor's services, outpatient care, home health care and even some medical equipment), Medicare Part C (medical advantage programs) and Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage).

Although Medicare is offered to SSDI recipients, they will not receive coverage until 24 months after the date of their disability. The SSA calls the first 24 months of disability benefit entitlement a "waiting period for Medicare coverage," but most likely this requirement was put into place to lower costs for the government.