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Can SSDI Recipients Get Medicare-Certified Home Health Care?
Date Updated: October 29, 2025
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Dr. Brindusa Vanta is a health care professional, researcher, and an experienced medical writer (2000+ articles published online and several medical ebooks). She received her MD degree from “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine, Romania, and her HD diploma from OCHM – Toronto, Canada.
Yes, SSDI recipients can get Medicare-certified home health care, subject to waiting periods and meeting program eligibility criteria. Although people automatically qualify for Medicare when they become eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance, most must wait for health insurance coverage to start.
SSDI and Medicare
Medicare mainly provides health insurance for seniors aged 65 and older who have a qualifying tax record. Younger people with disabilities automatically qualify for coverage when they receive Social Security Disability Insurance. However, most of these individuals have a wait period of 24 months before they can use Medicare insurance. Exceptions apply to people with ALS or end-stage kidney failure, who can use Medicare benefits the same month they qualify for SSDI.
Medicare and Home Health Care
After two years, SSDI recipients become eligible for Medicare coverage. However, they must still meet specific eligibility conditions to receive funding for home health care services. To qualify, a doctor must certify the medical necessity of intermittent skilled nursing care and other therapies provided in the recipient’s home. They must also certify that an individual satisfies homebound criteria. Additionally, a physician must prescribe services, and a Medicare-certified agency must deliver care.
Agencies devise personalized support plans based on doctors’ orders, and the prescribing physician must sign off on these plans. Initial home health care orders last for a maximum of 60 days; if an individual needs continuing care, their doctor must follow recertification procedures every 60 days.