§1395i–2a Hospital Insurance Benefits for Disabled Individuals Who Have Exhausted Other Entitlement

Summary

Lets people under 65 who used to get disability benefits under section 426(b), who still have the same disabling condition or who are blind, and whose benefits stopped only because their earnings went above the substantial gainful activity amount, sign up for hospital insurance if they do not already have it. You must enroll in the form and during the times the rules set. Your first chance to enroll starts the month you get notice that your 426(b) benefits will end for that reason and lasts 7 months. There is also a general signup each year from January 1 through March 31 (starting in 1990). When coverage begins depends on when you enroll compared to when you first became eligible: if you enroll before that month it starts the first day of that month; if you enroll in that month it starts the first day of the next month; if you enroll the month after it starts the first day of the second month after enrollment; if you enroll more than one month later it starts the first day of the third month after enrollment; if you enroll during the general period coverage begins July 1 after the month you enroll. Coverage ends if the agency tells you you no longer meet the disability/blindness condition, if you ask to stop (effective the next month), the month before you become eligible for hospital insurance under section 426(a) or 426–1, or for nonpayment of premiums under the rules. You must pay premiums as the agency requires. Premiums go to the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and are due from the first month of your coverage until you die or your coverage ends, except you do not pay for months you are eligible under section 426(b). Other enrollment and premium rules from the related Medicare sections apply the same way.