HR 154: Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period
Oct 16th, 2008 by admin
H.R. 154 (and its companion Senate Bill S. 2102), introduced in January 2007, will eliminate the current two-year period for people with life-threatening conditions. For those with other health conditions, the waiting period would be phased out.
This is crucial for people with brain tumors, many of whom are no longer able to work and have urgent need of health care. In addition, many adult brain tumors carry a life expectancy of less than two years.
This bill hasn’t advanced past the first stage. Before it becomes law it must go to committee, where it will be investigated, deliberated, and possibly revised before being submitted for a vote.
Congressional support for this bill is needed for it to advance.
We ask that you contact your Representative and Senators and urge them to support H.R. 154.
H.R. 154 Official Summary
H.R. 154: Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2007
Introduced Jan 04 2007
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to:
- phase out the waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for benefits under SSA title XVIII (Medicare); and
- eliminate the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions to become eligible for such benefits.
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to request the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences to study the range of disability conditions that can be delayed or prevented if individuals receive access to health care services and coverage before a condition reaches disability levels.
Read the full text…
I am always amazed at the disparities between U.S.A.’ Medicare and our Ontario Health Insurance Plan. How does your organization feel about State Health Care? It makes such a difference to Canadians.