21 plain-English guides on medicare & health, written from public Social Security Administration sources: SSA.gov, the Listing of Impairments, POMS and 20 CFR. Every figure carries the year it applies to, because these rules change and an undated number is worse than no number. Start anywhere in the list below, or use the navigation above to move to a different stage of the process.
- Your COLA Raise vs the Rising Medicare Premium
See why your 2026 SSDI raise shrinks once the higher Medicare Part B premium is withheld, and how the hold harmless rule protects most monthly checks.
- Coordinating Medicare With Employer Coverage on SSDI
Who pays first when SSDI Medicare meets employer coverage: the 100-employee rule, COBRA, the 8-month Part B signup window, and age 65 changes.
- Delaying Medicare Part B on SSDI Without a Penalty
Learn how to delay Medicare Part B on SSDI without a late enrollment penalty by using qualifying large employer group health coverage and an SEP.
- Do Your Children Get Medicare When You're on SSDI?
Find out why children do not get Medicare when a parent receives SSDI, and explore alternative health coverage options through Medicaid and CHIP.
- Dual Eligibility: Getting Medicare and Medicaid
Discover how dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid works for SSDI recipients, including Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help with prescription costs.
- Extra Help for Part D While on Disability Benefits
Extra Help lowers Part D premiums, deductibles, and copays for people with limited income. See the 2026 limits, automatic entry routes, and how to apply.
- Health Insurance During the 24-Month Medicare Gap
Compare COBRA, a spouse plan, ACA marketplace subsidies, and Medicaid to stay covered during the SSDI Medicare waiting period before month 25 of benefits.
- Leaving the Marketplace When SSDI Medicare Starts
Marketplace coverage does not end by itself when Medicare starts after SSDI. Learn to end the plan on time, protect Part B, and avoid repaying tax credits.
- When Long-Term Disability Insurance Offsets SSDI
Group long-term disability policies usually subtract SSDI and family benefits from the insurance check. Learn how offsets and back pay clawbacks work.
- When Medicare Starts, Medicaid Doesn't Disappear
Medicaid does not disappear when Medicare starts after SSDI. Learn which Medicaid categories survive Medicare and which enrollment mistakes to avoid.
- Medicare Continuation for 93 Months After Working
Working SSDI beneficiaries keep premium-free Medicare Part A for at least 93 months after trial work. Learn how extended coverage works under 2026 rules.
- Medicare Part A and Part B Costs on SSDI
Review Medicare Part A and Part B costs on SSDI in 2026, including monthly premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and automatic Social Security check deductions.
- Medicare Part B Equitable Relief for SSDI Beneficiaries
How SSDI beneficiaries can use SSA equitable relief to remove a Part B late enrollment penalty caused by government error or misinformation.
- Medicare Part D and Extra Help for SSDI
Learn how SSDI beneficiaries enroll in Medicare Part D and use 2026 Extra Help limits to cut premiums, deductibles, and copays to a few dollars per fill.
- Medicare Savings Programs: State Help With Premiums
The four Medicare Savings Programs pay Medicare premiums and cost sharing for people with limited income. Compare QMB, SLMB, QI, and QDWI limits for 2026.
- Original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage on SSDI
Compare Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage on SSDI, including 2026 costs, provider networks, drug coverage, and special needs plans under age 65.
- QDWI Program: Medicare Part A Help for Working Beneficiaries
Learn how the QDWI program pays Medicare Part A premiums for working disabled beneficiaries after the 93-month extended coverage ends in 2026.
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program Guide
The QMB program pays Medicare Part A and B premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance for eligible SSDI beneficiaries. Learn 2026 rules and protections.
- SLMB and QI Medicare Savings Programs for SSDI
How the SLMB and QI programs pay Medicare Part B premiums for SSDI beneficiaries with modest incomes, with 2026 income limits and how to apply.
- Texas Medicaid Buy-In for Adults on SSDI
Working Texans on SSDI can keep Medicaid through the Medicaid Buy-In program, with a $3,325 earnings limit, $5,000 resource cap, and income-based premiums.
- When Does Medicare Start After SSDI Approval?
Find out when your Medicare coverage begins after SSDI approval, how to read your award letter date, and how the 24-month waiting rule determines your start.