If this is your personal situation, after you receive 24 months of Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits, Medicare automatically enrolls you in both:
- Medicare Part A (hospital care), which is premium-free.
- Medicare Part B (doctor and outpatient care), which has a premium.
However, if you receive SSDI due to a specific disability, such as End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), you're automatically enrolled in Medicare without the 24-month waiting period.
In either case, you'll receive your Medicare card in the mail. If Medicare enrolls you after 24 months of receiving SSDI, you'll get your card about three months before your 25th month of disability benefits. If you don't want Part B, follow the instructions that come with the card.
At this time, you have the option to decide if you want to enroll in Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage) or Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage).