Medicare plans are usually available to those over the age of 65, but there are other circumstances where the Medicare eligibility age is lower. People under 65 with certain disabilities qualify for Medicare enrollment. Likewise, Medicare policy allows people of any age who have End-Stage Renal Disease to participate in the Medicare program. ESRD is permanent damage to the kidneys that necessitates a transplant or dialysis. You usually cannot join a Medicare Advantage Plan if you have ESRD, but there are some exceptions.
There are 88 other diseases that make a person eligible to receive Medicare early under a “compassionate allowance” (or CAL). The number of diseases eligible was increased by 38 in early 2010.
This is the first time diseases have been added to this list since it began in 2008. Originally, the list consisted of 25 rare diseases and 25 cancers. The expansion includes brain disorders and diseases that often afflict children. One disease on the list is Early Onset Alzheimers, which afflicts tens of thousands of people in the USA. A complete list of these diseases and conditions is below.
The new list was developed through holding public outreach hearings in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, the Alzheimer’s Association, the National Organization for Rare Disorders and many other organizations. Information from one of the four previous hearings was also used when adding diseases to the list.
As noted there may be new diseases added in the future. A hearing on adding Cardio Vascular diseases and Multiple Organ Transplants took place in November 2010. Check with the Social Security Administration for new additions to the list that may come in 2011.
This program will assist with the speedy processing of applications and is through the Social Security Administration. These compassionate allowances are designed to quickly identify those eligible and get them benefits in a speedy fashion.
The list of diseases added in 2010 includes:
The Original List of diseases, established in 2008, eligible for a compassionate allowance are:
As noted the CAL initiative is supposed to identify conditions that qualify. If the condition doesn’t meet the very specific criteria it will not be considered as a CAL case. Identified conditions are entered into the “Predictive Model” and a determination is made based on this. The information entered into this model comes from one of two Social Security forms filled out by the person making the claim. For an adult this form is SSA-3820 and for a child it is SSA-3820.
The CAL cases are similar to Terminal Illness claims even though not all compassionate allowance cases involved terminal illnesses.
It can be difficult to know whether or not you have proper coverage, but we can help!
The Benefit Link, a Licensed Insurance Agency with its physical office in Texas, employs insurance agents (producers), and through such agents, can provide these services to clients in all 50 States of the USA. We are not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program.
THE BENEFIT LINK POLICIES AND YOUR CONSENT
The Benefit Link, a Licensed Insurance Agency with its physical office in Texas, employs insurance agents (producers), and through such agents, can provide these services to clients in all 50 States of the USA. By clicking on any form, you authorize The Benefit Link to call you and send pre-recorded messages, text messages, emails, and in-app Facebook messages to you about The Benefit Link’s products and services at the telephone number and/or email address you have on file with Facebook, or any other telephone number, email address or contact information that you provide to The Benefit Link, including your mobile phone, landline or other phone, if provided, using an automated dialer or email system, even if you are on the national or state “Do Not Call” list. The Benefit Link works with 3rd party technology providers, including session replay technology, and by clicking on any form, you are giving express prior consent for your data to be shared with the 3rd party technology providers. You understand that your consent is not a requirement to purchase products and services from The Benefit Link. Message and data rates may apply, and you can opt out anytime.
https://thebenefitlink.com/policies/ We are not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program.
The Benefit Link, a Licensed Insurance Agency with its physical office in Texas, employs insurance agents (producers), and through such agents, can provide these services to clients in all 50 States of the USA. By clicking on a form, you authorize The Benefit Link to call you and send pre-recorded messages, text messages, and in-app Facebook messages to you about The Benefit Link products and services at the telephone number you have on file with Facebook, or any other telephone number or contact information that you provide to The Benefit Link, including your mobile phone if provided, using an automated dialer and email, even you are on the national or state “Do not Call” list. You understand that your consent is not a requirement to purchase products and services from The Benefit Link. Message and data rates may apply, and you can opt-out anytime.
