Read the rest of our “Ticket To Work Incentives” series:
For many Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients, healthcare coverage through Medicare is just as valuable—if not more so—than the monthly cash benefit itself. The prospect of losing medical coverage when returning to work creates a major concern. It can be enough to stop you from pursuing employment that could improve your financial situation and quality of life.
This concern is completely understandable. Managing a disability often involves ongoing medical care, prescription medications and specialized treatments that would likely be too expensive without insurance coverage. The fear of losing Medicare can overshadow the potential benefits of returning to work, even with other work incentives in place.
Recognizing this major need, the Social Security Administration has created one of the most powerful and longest-lasting work incentives: Medicare Continuation. This provision ensures that your healthcare coverage stays intact for an extended period—even after your cash benefits have stopped due to successful employment.
Medicare Continuation
Medicare Continuation is for SSDI recipients and meant to help with expanding your covered time. With this incentive, even if your cash benefits stop due to work activity, your Medicare coverage continues for at least 93 months (7+ years) after your Trial Work Period ends. This extended coverage helps protect you while moving back into employment.
During this period, you maintain Part A (hospital insurance) without paying a premium. Part B (medical insurance) continues as long as you pay the monthly premium. This extended Medicare coverage works alongside any employer-provided health insurance, potentially giving you dual coverage during your transition.
After the 93-month period ends, you can purchase Medicare coverage if you're still disabled but no longer receiving SSDI cash benefits due to work. Planning for this transition should be part of your long-term employment strategy.
The Ticket To Work Program
The Ticket To Work program is a voluntary employment support program for SSDI and SSI recipients. It provides free employment services like career counseling, job placement, training, and benefits counseling through Employment Networks (ENs) or State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies.
- The program helps beneficiaries use these work incentives effectively while finding and keeping a job.
- Participation in TTW protects SSDI benefits while working and actively making progress toward financial independence.
- TTW participants may delay medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) while engaging in the program.
Learn more about each work incentive in our “Ticket To Work Incentives” series:
Returning To Work With Allsup Employment Services
Allsup Employment Services (AES) is an SSA-authorized EN for the Ticket To Work Program. We have over 10 years of experience helping thousands return to work successfully. We can help guide you through the SSDI work incentives on your return-to-work journey.
The Ticket To Work Program helps you protect your SSA disability benefits, and working with AES you can:
- Earn More. Make as much income as you choose during the Trial Work Period and protect your full SSDI benefits.
- Stress Less. Avoid medical disability reviews and the worry that comes with them.
- Keep Medicare. While working, you can keep Medicare for over seven years.
- Avoid Risk. If you stop working anytime within five years, your SSDI benefits can resume through a reinstatement process.
- Pay Nothing. As a Social Security-authorized Employment Network, our services are provided at no cost.
Choosing AES means working with an EN who’s focused on your goals and will work with you every step of the way.
Get started with no cost and no obligation.
You can reach Allsup Employment Services today by calling 866-540-5105 or requesting a call.
