alt.social-security-disability

Trevor Smithson wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I receive SSDI, have been since 2003. Medicare started the usual two
> years later. I recently applied for Medicaid to pay my Medicare
> premium and was approved. That's supposed to start this March. I
> believe my Medicare premium is about ~$85 per month.
>
> Anyway, the approval letter states:
>
> "You will receive a reimbursement check for the premiums you paid from
> your first month of eligibility to the time Buy-In begins"
>
> Does this mean that they are going to reimburse the $85 I've been
> paying per month over the past few years? Or that the premium will be
> reimbursed with a separate check until my Social Security check
> increases?

You will get reimbursed as far back as "they" determined you were
eligible for the premium assistance. There may be a statuatory cap on
that - possibly a twelve month maximum. I've only dealt with situations
where people were eligible for short-term reimbursements going back 90
to 120 days - I don't know what the retroactive limit is. From the
statement you quoted from the letter it sounds like they intend to
reimburse as far back as your first Medicare premium, assuming you were
eligible for the premium assistance that far back. That would be
generous if it happens - wait to see what you actually get.

Once the premium assistance kicks in your monthly SSDI payment will be
adjusted up, of course. About the same time you will receive a separate
check or direct deposit for the amount the premium assistance program
has reimbursed you for premiums you already paid.

Rick