Effective Dates: 10/31/2022 - Present Previous | Next

TN 56 (10-22)

HI 00805.005 Eligibility for SMI

CITATIONS:

Sections 1836 and 1837 of the Social Security Act

Regulations 42 CFR 407.1 - 407.32

A. Policy - Requirements for eligibility

Subject to the limitations in C., below and in HI 00805.010, an individual is eligible to enroll for SMI if the individual meets either (or both) of the following requirements.

1. Entitlement to HI

If the individual is entitled to premium-free HI based on age, disability or end stage renal disease (ESRD), or is entitled to Premium-HI for the working disabled, the individual is eligible for SMI.

2. Alternate requirement

An individual is also eligible for SMI if the individual has attained age 65 and is a resident of the U.S., and is either:

  • •

    a U.S. citizen, or

  • •

    a non-citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence who has resided in the U.S. continuously for the 5-year period immediately preceding the month in which the non-citizen effectively files for enrollment (i.e., the month when the non-citizen will be entitled to SMI based on the enrollment request).

    (Non-citizens lawfully admitted for permanent residence include special agricultural workers granted lawful temporary resident status. These workers, for all purposes other than immigration, must be considered as lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.)

NOTE: The 5 years' continuous residence may begin prior to the date that the lawful admission for permanent residence is granted (e.g., where the original admission was illegal, or under color of law).

B. Policy - First month of eligibility for SMI

An individual's first month of eligibility for SMI is the month in which the individual meets the requirements in A. above.

Where eligibility is based solely on entitlement to premium-free HI, the first month for which the individual is eligible for premium-free HI is the first month of eligibility for SMI.

The month of first eligibility for SMI is the fourth month of the initial enrollment period (IEP), which is explained in HI 00805.015.

NOTE: The first month of eligibility is not necessarily the first month of entitlement. The filing date controls the entitlement date.

C. Policy - Preclusion because of crimes against the U.S

An individual is not eligible for SMI if the individual has been convicted of a crime against the U.S. referred to in section 202(u) of the Act. (See HI 00801.086 for more information about preclusion because of such crimes.)

D. Policy - Additional considerations

1. Prescribed enrollment period

A person may enroll only during a prescribed enrollment period. (See HI 00805.010.)

2. No limit on number of enrollments

There is no limit on the number of times an individual may enroll and disenroll as long as the individual continues to meet the eligibility requirements for enrollment.

3. Earliest entitlement

For the earliest possible entitlement (coverage), an individual enrolls during the first 3 months of the IEP (i.e., during the 3 months before the first month of eligibility, as defined in B. above).

4. Prior enrollment

Eligibility need not be developed for a person previously enrolled who seeks to reenroll.

EXCEPTION: Eligibility must be developed if there is a basis for believing that the person is no longer eligible (e.g., the person is a nonbeneficiary who has recently lived outside the U.S.).

5. Premium indebtedness

A person may reenroll even though the person owes premiums for prior SMI coverage. (See HI 01001.345 concerning payment of past-due premiums for an earlier period of coverage.)

6. Monthly benefits are suspended

Non-coverage situations should not be confused with non-entitlement situations. For example, incarcerated felons whose social security benefits are suspended retain entitlement to monthly benefits and HI, as well as eligibility for SMI. Premiums must be paid to retain entitlement to SMI. However, health care services received while incarcerated may not be covered under Medicare due to the governmental entity exclusion. (See HI 00620.070C.)

E. Reference

  • •

    U.S. residence, citizenship, and lawful admission for permanent residence, including the special agricultural workers' status, GN 00303.000.

  • •

    When a former disability beneficiary can enroll for Premium-HI prior to age 65 and for SMI, as well, HI E00801.183.

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0600805005
HI 00805.005 - Eligibility for SMI - 10/31/2022
Batch run: 10/18/2024
Rev:10/31/2022