Yes, eventually. Not a great answer, but when depends on several factors. If you are approved for SSI or Supplemental Security Income benefits you will immediately receive Medicaid. Medicaid is a government program that pays for doctors, hospitals, various types of treatments and therapies. Medicaid also provides for three prescription drugs per month. You will be covered under Medicaid even in the month it takes to process your first monthly SSI check. If you are approved for back SSI benefits then you can receive retroactive Medicaid which will pay for your hospital bills during those previous months.

What will happen if you are only approved for Social Security Disability, but not SSI or Supplemental Security Income, is that you will not receive Medicaid, but will receive Medicare. Many more doctors take Medicare, which is the same insurance received by old age Social Security retirees. However, the bad thing is that you have to be disabled for at least 29 months to start receiving Medicare. Like Medicaid, if you receive retroactive benefits, it will pay past medical bills you might have during the past months you were approved for benefits. Unlike Medicaid, there are monthly charges that can be deducted from your social security checks for the various types of benefits if you choose to get them. Currently the amount deducted is $96.40 to $100.40 per month depending on your income for Medicare Part B. Medicare Part D which provides prescription drugs is currently around $30 per month for most beneficiaries.

There are many possible combinations and some low income people actually receive both SSI and Social Security Disability thereby giving them both Medicare and Medicaid. This is only possible if your Disability check is less than approximately $684 per month and you meet other asset and income guidelines for SSI.