Special Needs Answers
Medicaid vs. Medicare - What's the Difference?
People with special needs may qualify for a variety of government benefits, including Medicaid and Medicare. What's the di...
Read moreCan My Son Keep Medicaid Plus Medicare When He Qualifies?
- October 18th, 2023
Q
Can my disabled son keep his current medical plan that he has with Medicaid when he qualifies for Medicare early next year? My son is a Disabled Adult Child and is collecting SSI on the work record of my husband, who retired last year. He has an expensive monthly treatment that requires a special authorization with a nurse administering treatments monthly. I hate to have to switch medical plans for him and have to do all the authorizations again with a new company and possibly lose his current nurse.
A
We can’t be sure, but the answer is probably yes. Even though he will begin to receive Medicare next year, he should be able to keep his Medicaid benefits as well to pay for his co-payments and deductibles. This is known as being “dual eligible.” But you may want to check with your Medicaid agency to be certain.
Harry S. Margolis practices elder law, estate, and special needs planning in Boston and Wellesley, Massachusetts. He is the founder of ElderLawAnswers.com and answers consumer questions about estate planning issues here and at AskHarry.info.