Hi, Y'all! Quick question for my mom: 57, just got SS Disability, can she get medicare? [View all]

[Heddi]

Hi!

So my mom is 57 and just got approved for Social Security disability for ESRD (end stage renal disease), COPD and a host of other things that make it so she can't work. Heard from SS office yesterday, she gets her first check in October.

She's been unemployed, and therefore no medical insurance since March or so. Maybe earlier.

I thought there was a stipulation that someone qualified for Medicare/Medicaid (sorry, not sure the difference between the two) at a younger age than 65 or whatever if they were on SSD.

I'm in Philly, she's in SC, and doesn't have the $$ to talk to a lawyer...every extra penny she has is going to these laywers that were helping her get her SS Disability on her first time applying.

I've tried looking online for her, but I'm confused by what I read.

Love my mom, but she isn't always the best at taking initiative herself to calling places, going places to get information, that kind of thing. Hard for me to change 57 years of bad habits, but I'm trying to help her out as much as I can.

Any help anyone can provide would be awesome!

thanks

hed