Eligibility for Medicare includes persons over age 65, those with disabilities, and those with two specific diseases: End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) orAmyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).

Individuals under age 65 with disabilities other than ALS or ESRD must have received Social Security Disability benefits for 24 months before gaining eligibility for Medicare. A five-month waiting period is required after a beneficiary is determined to be disabled before a beneficiary begins to collect Social Security Disability benefits.

Source: https://www.medicareresources.org/medicare-eligibility-and-enrollment/medicare-eligibility-for-als-and-esrd-patients/
Follow us: @EyeOnInsurance on Twitter| healthinsurance.org on Facebook

Currently, patients with terminal diagnoses such as glioblastoma, have to wait 24 months before they can access Medicare benefits. 

According, American Brain Tumor Association, with standard treatment, median survival for adults with glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype, is approximately 11-15 months. 

This means these patients won’t be able to access Medicare benefits and are stuck with their private insurances paying significant amounts of money out of pocket.  Glioblastoma patient’s deserve the same fast tracking that ALS and ESRD patients.

Help us spark a change to improve these patients care and quality of life.