Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman has introduced a bill aimed at strengthening Medicare – the health care program that serves older Americans and those with significant disabilities.

Bingaman’s “Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Act of 2009” would phase out the two-year period that disabled people currently must wait before they receive Medicare benefits.  Currently, a person who is eligible for Medicare because of a disability must wait 24-month before receiving Medicare benefits. 

Bingaman’s legislation phases the 24-month waiting period out over 10 years.  As it is phased out, the Secretary of Health and Human Services would be able to waive the waiting period for people with life-threatening illnesses.

According to an April 2007 report from the Commonwealth Fund, it is estimated that over 1.5 million disabled beneficiaries are in the Medicare waiting period at any given time, “all of whom are unable to work because of their disability and most of whom have serious health problems, low incomes, and limited access to health insurance.”  Nearly 39 percent of these individuals do not have health insurance coverage for some point during the waiting period and 26 percent have no health insurance during this period. 

“The 24-month waiting period is a terrible policy—one that contributes to thousands of deaths each year.  It makes no sense, and it’s time to bring it to an end,” Bingaman said. 

While Medicare costs would rise if Bingaman’s bill was adopted, Medicaid costs would be decreased.  That would, in turn, reduce the states’ Medicaid contribution. 

This bill has broad support among health care advocates, including the Alzheimer’s Association which today gave Bingaman its 2009 Humanitarian Award for his leadership in the fight to end the Medicare two year wait for persons with disabilities.

Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Gene Green (D-TX).