If you receive SSI Disabilty can you stay on your spouse's health insurance?

Question

If you are awarded disability do you have to get on Medicare/Medicaid or can you stay on your spouse's insurance through their employer? I am afraid of not being able to see my regular doctor if I have to get on Medicaid because so few doctors accept it. Anybody familiar with this?? Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Yes, you can stay on your spouse's insurance. You can't get on Medicare until you've been on SSDI for 24 months. At that time you want to look into Medicare; in many cases Medicare with an Advantage plan is the better option.

You can also get Medicaid and keep your current insurance. Your insurance would be primary and Medicaid would be secondary and could possibly pick up some of the co-pays.

Answer 2

Zarnev is correct, however not knowing your age, there are other considerations. If you decline Medicare when you become eligible, then you won't be able to get it until age 65. It may be worth the $96 a month to carry Medicare now in case something happened to your wife's coverage. And Medicare could pay in addition to your wife's coverage.