Red Book

Red Book Home

Introducing The Red Book

What's New In 2024?

Contacting Us

How Do We Define Disability?

Overview Of Our Disability Programs

Returning To Work

How Do Employment Supports Help?

Resources To Assist You Return To Work

Resources To Assist Youth With the Transition To A Successful Adulthood

SSDI and SSI Employment Supports

SSDI Only Employment Supports

SSI Only Employment Supports

Special Rules For Persons Who Are Blind

Additional Help With Health Care For Persons With Disabilities

Example of Concurrent Benefits With Employment Supports

Demonstration Projects Update

Glossary

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Additional Help With Health Care For People With Disabilities

Medicaid Buy-In for Working People with Disabilities

Your state may allow you to buy Medicaid if you have a disability and are no longer entitled to free Medicaid because you returned to work.
You may qualify if you:

  • Meet the definition of disability under the Social Security Act.
  • Would be eligible for SSI payments if it were not for your earnings.

If you are not an SSI recipient, your state decides if you have a disability. Your state will not consider whether you are working when it makes that decision.
Contact your state Medical Assistance office. Call 1-800-MEDICARE to get their telephone number. (TTY users call 1-877-486-2048.) Ask about the Medicaid buy-in program.

Help with Medicare Part A Premiums

You may be under age 65, have a disability, and are no longer entitled to free Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) because you successfully returned to work. If your Medicare Part A terminates you can enroll in hospital insurance by paying a monthly premium as long as you continue to have a disability. You may be eligible for a program that helps pay your Medicare Part A monthly premium.

To be eligible for this help, you must:

  • Continue to have a disability.
  • Have limited income.
  • Have limited resources.
  • Not already be eligible for Medicaid.

To find out more about this program, contact your state Medical Assistance office. Call 1-800-MEDICARE to get their telephone number. (TTY users call 1-877-486-2048.) Ask about Medicare for Qualified Disabled and Working People.

Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Need health insurance or know someone who does? Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, more Americans now qualify to get coverage that fits their needs and budgets. You can learn more about the Health Insurance Marketplace and how to apply for benefits at www.healthcare.govor call 1-800-318-2596 or 1-855-889-4325 (TTY). Medicare is not part of the Health Insurance Marketplace. If you have Medicare, you do not need to do anything.

The ACA also ensures that you will be covered even if you have a preexisting condition. If you are already covered, but want to change your plan, this is the time to do it. You or your family may have experienced changes over the last year that would make you want to update your coverage. Over the past years, over 20 million individuals have enrolled in affordable health coverage, many for the first time.

Even if you’re just curious about the many plans in the open marketplace, you can compare healthcare plans at https://www.healthcare.gov/have-coverage.