Why does ltd terminate at age 65

Your long-term disability policy will typically have a schedule of benefits , which details how long your benefits will last and when they become payable, among other things. The schedule of benefits section of your policy will specify the maximum benefit period , or the particular age at which benefits will end.

However, if you become disabled after age 65, your benefits will typically only last for a certain number of months, rather than until a certain age. For example, your policy might state that, if you become disabled at age 65, you can receive up to 18 months of benefits. The number of months for which benefits are payable will likely vary from policy to policy, so it is important to read your policy carefully to determine how long you can receive benefits.

Although the length of time for which you can receive benefits may vary, the application process for long-term disability benefits remains the same regardless of your age. Although your age may limit the amount of time you can receive long-term disability benefits, it may also benefit your claim if you become disabled after age Medicare is available for certain people with disabilities who are under age There is a five month waiting period after a beneficiary is determined to be disabled before a beneficiary begins to collect Social Security Disability benefits.

People with ESRD and ALS, in contrast to persons with other causes of disability, do not have to collect benefits for 24 months in order to be eligible for Medicare. People who meet all the criteria for Social Security Disability are generally automatically enrolled in Parts A and B. People who meet the standards, but do not qualify for Social Security benefits, can purchase Medicare by paying a monthly Part A premium, in addition to the monthly Part B premium.

People who qualify for Social Security Disability benefits should receive a Medicare card in the mail when the required time period has passed. If this does not happen or other questions arise, contact the local Social Security office. Medicare coverage is the same for people who qualify based on disability as for those who qualify based on age. For those who are eligible, the full range of Medicare benefits are available.

Coverage includes certain hospital, nursing home, home health, physician, and community-based services. There are no illnesses or underlying conditions that disqualify people for Medicare coverage. Sometimes employers with fewer than employees join other employers in a multi-employer plan. If at least one employer in the multi-employer plan has employees or more, then Medicare is the secondary payer for disabled Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the plan, including those covered by small employers.

Some large group health plans let others join the plan, such as a self-employed person, a business associate of an employer, or a family member of one of these people.

A large group health plan cannot treat any of its plan members differently because they are disabled and have Medicare. A large group health plan must offer the same benefits to plan members and their spouses that are over 65 and disabled as are offered to employees and their spouses under She has large group health plan coverage for herself and her husband. Her husband has Medicare because of a disability. Therefore, Mary's group health plan coverage pays first for Mary's husband, and Medicare is his secondary payer.

Answer: If you are eligible to enroll in Medicare because of End-Stage Renal Disease permanent kidney failure , your group health plan will pay first on your hospital and medical bills for 30 months, whether or not you are enrolled in Medicare and have a Medicare card. During this time, Medicare is the secondary payer.

The group health plan pays first during this period no matter how many employees work for your employer, or whether you or a family member are currently employed. At the end of the 30 months, Medicare becomes the primary payer. This rule applies to all people with ESRD, whether you have your own group health coverage or you are covered as a family member. Example: Bill has Medicare coverage because of permanent kidney failure.

He also has group health plan coverage through the company he works for. His group health coverage will be his primary payer for the first 30 months after Bill becomes eligible for Medicare. After 30 months, Medicare becomes the primary payer. Question: Can a group health plan deny me coverage if I have permanent kidney failure? Answer: No. Group health plans cannot deny you coverage, reduce your coverage, or charge you a higher premium because you have ESRD and Medicare. Group health plans cannot treat any of their plan members who have ESRD differently because they have Medicare.

A Medigap policy is a health insurance policy sold by private insurance companies to help you pay the medical costs the Original Medicare Plan does not cover.

Question: If I have Medicare and I want to enroll in mine or my spouse's employer group health plan, can I stop my Medigap policy?

If you are under 65, have Medicare, and have a Medigap policy, you have the right to suspend your Medigap policy. This lets you suspend your Medigap policy benefits and premiums, without penalty, while you are enrolled in your or your spouse's employer group health plan. If, for any reason, you lose your employer group health plan coverage, you can get your Medigap policy back. You must notify your Medigap insurance company that you want your Medigap policy back within 90 days of losing your employer group health plan coverage.

Your Medigap benefits and premiums will start again on the day your employer group health plan coverage stopped. The Medigap policy must have the same benefits and premiums it would have had if you had never suspended your coverage.

Your Medigap insurance company can't refuse to cover care for any pre-existing conditions you have. So, if you are disabled and working, you can enjoy the benefits of your employer's insurance without giving up your Medigap policy.

Answer: If you have or can get both Medicare and Veterans benefits, you can get treatment under either program. When you get health care, you must choose which benefits you are going to use. You must make this choice each time you see a doctor or get health care, like in a hospital. Medicare cannot pay for the same service that was covered by Veterans benefits, and your Veterans benefits cannot pay for the same service that was covered by Medicare.

If the VA authorizes services in a non-VA hospital, but doesn't pay for all of the services you get during your hospital stay, then Medicare may pay for the Medicare-covered part of the services that the VA does not pay for. Some of these services are Medicare-covered services. Medicare may pay for some of the non-VA authorized services that John received. John will have to pay for services that are not covered by Medicare or the VA.

Answer: Sometimes. The VA charges a co-payment to some veterans. The co-payment is your share of the cost of your treatment, and is based on income. Medicare may be able to pay all or part of your co-payment if you are billed for VA-authorized care by a doctor or hospital that is not part of the VA. You may be given a fee basis card if:. If you have a fee basis ID card, you may choose any doctor that is listed on your card to treat you for the condition. If the doctor accepts you as a patient and bills the VA for services, the doctor must accept the VA's payment as payment in full.

The doctor may not bill either you or Medicare for any charges. If your doctor doesn't accept the fee basis ID card, you will need to file a claim with the VA yourself.