From: http://brain.hastypastry.net/

Social Security Disability Forum:

"SSA counts 24 months from your established date of entitlement. You then would get actual Medicare coverage starting with your 24th month from your entitlement month. This is the same pattern used to establish the first date of Medicare coverage for those getting full cash SSDI benefits (e.g., SSA counts 24 months from the first month of cash benefits before it establishes the beginning of Medicare coverage)." - David F.

David F. works for SSA I believe, anyway he is an expert. If you are going to ask a question on that forum, use a title like, "question for David F., Liam, or Angel1". Liam is also an expert who may be a lawyer, and Angel1 is a disability examiner.

But the statement above says the point when you received your first entitlement, ie. 5 months of your established disability date or first month you received a check. Twenty four months after that Medicare kicks in.

Have you tried for state Medicaid benefits? Or Foodstamps? It all helps. What about your wife's insurance? I'm on Medicaid and state health insurance. State insurance is only $17/mon because I receive no real wages just SSI/welfare and Medicaid is free. Have to pay SSI & foodstamps back when/if I get disability.

Some other options I've heard some people do. Well, its actually sorta secrete. Find a college, it could be a community, vocational, 4 year, etc. and study their health insurance program. Most will only let you in if enrolled fulltime. Some just need certain amount of classes. Being on disability it should let you enroll for free or a small fee. Then ask if auditting a classes fulfills requirements for health insurance program. Or just take on-line classes. Indoneasian Basket Weaving 101. State Resident + Disabled = free or nearly free tuition + health insurance.