Access to Medicaid and Medicare by the low-income disabled

The most pervasive eligibility-related problems encountered by low-income disabled persons in gaining access to Medicaid and Medicare are reviewed in this article. A series of options for restructuring program eligibility requirements are presented, with particular attention to improving the plight of the low-income disabled worker during the 24-month waiting period for Medicare. Options for Medicaid involve nationwide income eligibility levels at 100 percent of poverty and mandatory buy-in provisions to Medicaid in all States. For Medicare, the reforms range from altering the waiting period for Medicare by the disabled who are expected to die within 24 months after benefit award to eliminating the waiting period altogether.