More about Medicare for Kids

             In order to qualify for Medicare, children must meet certain relationship requirements with you, their parent or guardian. The child must be related to you by birth or legal adoption. If the child has been your stepchild for one year or more, they may also qualify for coverage. In addition, you have to have received Medicare credits through your work in past years.

If your child is over 20 years of age, they must be disabled and have been receiving disability benefits from the social security administration for at least two years before applying for Medicare. Even if your child has never worked, they can still get Medicare coverage because of their disability. The child must have been disabled before reaching age 22.

Adult children who qualify for Medicare will remain entitled to benefits as long as they remain disabled and remain unmarried.

Adult children who are disabled but may still be capable of working will go through a trial work period of nine months. If they keep working after those nine months, Medicare will continue to be provided for seven years and nine months. Then, they will become a Medicare enrollee rather than a Medicare beneficiary and they will have to start paying for their Medicare.

The only way a child under 20 can get Medicare is if they have end-stage renal disease (ESRD).  In order to qualify for Medicare, they must:

•        Need dialysis or require a kidney transplant
• ·        Have at least one parent who qualifies for social security benefits

Understanding Medicare Benefits for Kids

Medicare works in largely the same for both children and adults. Your child can benefit from Part A and Part B, which cover hospital and medical services. Part B requires a monthly premium. For prescription drug coverage, your child may enroll in Part D.

Another option is to take advantage of Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage. It is provided through a private insurer instead of the federal government, and it may have more coverage than Parts A and B.

It is also nice for you and your child to look into Medicare Supplement insurance, which can fill in the gaps of Medicare Part A or B. This supplemental insurance can help you pay for things such as eye exams, routine foot care, and dental services.

Medicare coverage can be tricky thus we need be sure and do plenty of research and get advice from reliable experts in order to avoid any major problem.

Alternatives to Medicare

Since not all children are given the eligibility for Medicare, you should also consider the alternatives that can provide free or low-cost health services for your little ones. One example is the CHIP, which is available to children under age 19  and whose families make too much money to qualify for Medicaid.

Each state determines its own income requirements and benefits for  CHIP coverage and Medicaid, so you should look into local regulations to discover more about it. However, you can reasonably assume that most screening, diagnostic, and treatment services are covered by your state’s CHIP. 

All states are required to offer the following services:

•       Children’s immunizations
•        Prenatal care
•        Physician services
•        Hospital care, both in-patient and out-patient

If your family is financially struggling, you may qualify for Medicaid rather than CHIP. In many states, the two programs provide the same coverage.

Medicare for minors and adult children can pay for necessary care and help your family manage the burden of caring for someone who is ill. If you think your child might qualify for Medicare, start the application process soon.