Eliminating the 24-Month Medicare Waiting Period
 

During the first week of May, over 400 people from the National MS Society descended up Capitol Hill to talk to all of our US Legislators to inform them about two very import bills currently being debated in the both the House and the Senate. HR 154 and S 2102 - Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2007.

Background:

Currently Medicare forces many people with disabilities to wait two years before they can receive any healthcare coverage through Medicare. These are people under the age of 65 (62 in some cases).

Nearly 39% of these people do not have health insurance at some point during this waiting period, and almost 26% do not have health insurance coverage at all. Statistics also show that 10-12% of those people die during this waiting period because their health deteriorates so much and they do not have the funds to pay for any health care. In addition, many individuals accumulate healthcare-related debt and often have to declare bankruptcy.

Now for the rest of the story.

The 24-month waiting period is only one of THREE waiting periods people have to endure.

The first waiting period is the application and approval period for SSDI/SSD. This time period can take up to 24 months.

The second waiting period is the FIVE months is takes to receive the first check once you are approved.

Now you have waited up to 29 months BEFORE you can even start to apply for Medicare.

Then begins the 24 months of waiting for something you are entitled to receive.

The original justification for the 24 month waiting period was to avoid fraud. The medicare department needed that much time to investigate, etc those applying to make sure those who were applying were truly in need. Due to increased technology, this time period no longer applies.

In addition, you are being denied coverage you are entitled to.

Eliminating the 24-month disability waiting period will provide a cost savings to Medicaid programs because Medicaid often provides coverage for people in the waiting period as long as they meet certain income and asset limits. Federal Medicaid would offset nearly 30% of the increased costs to Medicare.

In April 2007, The Institute of Medicine released The future of Disability in America. That report states that Congress should work to reduce or eliminate the 24-month waiting period in order to provide a healthier foundation for an already sick group of individuals. People waiting are entering into Medicare so unhealthy that it is over burdening the system unnecessarily.

The 24-month waiting period would be phased out over a 10 year period. So for each year, 2.5 months of waiting would be eliminated. It wouldn't happen overnight.

I urge each and every one of you to contact your Legislators to vote in favor of the bill and also to co-sponsor this bill currently being debated.

It is currently being sponsored by Senator Jeff Bingaman (NM) and Congressman Gene Green (TX).

If you need more information on how to write a letter to your Congressman and/or Senators, please let me know. There is a form to fill out online to send to them urging them to co-sponsor this very important piece of legislation.

Thank you!

The National MS Society and the ALS Organization is behind this Bill 100%. There are also other organizations as well, but I can only speak to these two as there were there with us.

C-
Please pm me the info. thanks!

http://capwiz.com/nmss/issues/alert/?alertid=10907031

This is the link to the Government Affairs page on the National MS Society's website. From there, you can find the tab for your state and send a letter to your Legislators, both in the House and the Senate urging them to co-sponsor the HB 154 and S 2102.

I hope this helps with any questions any of you might have.

Thanks! You can also send letters in support of the funding for MS Research as well.

If you belong to other MS Forums, please spread the word about this. It is important that all of our Legislators get letters from as many people as possible so they know that this is a very important issue.

I posted it Greta. Figured it was easier than PMing everyone!!

That really stinks! I'm so sorry you all have to go through waiting periods like that.

It's 12 months waiting here in Australia for pre-existing conditions when you join a private Health Fund, but Medicare is instant, no waiting lists for treatment because you're accepting Medicare which is free. By free I mean when you seek medical advice or treatment, there are no out of pocket expenses. Every wage earner in the country pays a Medicare Levy with their taxes, which helps to support the "free" service for all.

Any waiting lists we have here are because of the sheer numbers of people without Private Health cover. If you need a non-acute operation, you may wait up to 2 years for that. Urgent cases are seen straight away, and urgent operations performed quickly.

I only hope I never see the day when Australia increases our waiting times from those we already have.

Yes it is Jan!

PS..Congrats on the new grandson! :D

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This one is VERY IMPORTANT, thanks for the heads up Cheryl! :)

Yes it is Wiz!!! I hope that everyone will send a note to their Legislators!

Here is the reply I got from my esteemed congressman, Vern Ehlers:

Dear Miss (Excellent),

Thank you for contacting me about Medicare's disability waiting period. I appreciate your willingness to share your views.

I n 1972, Congress extended Medicare coverage to people with disabilities. However, to qualify, Congress stipulated that a person has to be entitled to Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) cash benefits for at least 24 consecutive months. This provision has receive d much debate over the past several decades .

There are many arguments for and against eliminating the waiting period. Some contend that providing coverage during the first two years of disability enrollment would increase federal expenses and worsen the financial outlook for Medicare. Also, providing Medicare during the first two years could encourage increased enrollment and discourage continuation of work. It could also lead to duplicative health insurance coverage. Others contend that the probability of needing medical care is high in the first two years of DI enrollment and a significant number of DI recipients die before becoming eligible for Medicare. Moreover, many newly entitled DI recipients may be without health insurance and, even with health insurance, personal spending on medical care can be high. Congress is trying to weigh the long-term financial stability of Medicare while trying to ensure those in need get the services they require.

Congress is currently considering legislation that would end or change this waiting period. The Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act (H.R. 154) would eliminate the waiting period. In addition, Congress is considering legislation related to cardiopulmonary diseases. Should this legislation move through the process, I will keep your thoughts in mind.

Thanks again for contacting me. With best wishes, I am

Sincerely,

Vernon J. Ehlers
Member of Congress

His Assistant has done his/her homework. Most of the replies that we've received have not been as well informed!

May I forward this reply to our Gov't Affairs Rep?

Absolutely. There were some minor format glitches in the email that made me think it's a form letter, which makes me think that he's hearing from more than just a few of us.

You might want to delete my surname. ;)

It is a form letter. You can add to it.

I will delete personal information!!

Thanks!!

Keep emailing your Legislative Reps!!

Every time they get an email, it makes an impact!!!

Cindy, our Gov't Rep loved this response!!