Huntington’s Disease Disability Insurance Access Act of 2021

Huntington's Disease Disability Insurance Access Act of 2021

This bill expedites payment of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and eligibility for Medicare coverage for those with Huntington's disease. This is an inherited disorder that causes brain cells to die, including in areas of the brain that help to control voluntary movement.

Specifically, the bill eliminates the 5-month waiting period for SSDI benefits and the subsequent 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage for individuals with Huntington's disease. Under current law, individuals generally must wait five months after the onset of disability to begin receiving SSDI benefits and an additional 24 months to become eligible for Medicare.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 868 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 868

  To amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the five-
month waiting period for disability insurance benefits under such title 
  and waive the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility for 
                 individuals with Huntington's disease.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 18, 2021

Mrs. Gillibrand (for herself, Mr. Cassidy, and Mr. King) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                                Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the five-
month waiting period for disability insurance benefits under such title 
  and waive the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility for 
                 individuals with Huntington's disease.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Huntington's Disease Disability 
Insurance Access Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF WAITING PERIOD FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY 
              INSURANCE BENEFITS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH HUNTINGTON'S 
              DISEASE.

    (a) In General.--Section 223(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 423(a)(1)) is amended, in the matter following subparagraph (E), 
by inserting ``or Huntington's disease'' after ``amyotrophic lateral 
sclerosis''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to applications for disability insurance benefits 
filed after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. WAIVER OF 24-MONTH WAITING PERIOD FOR COVERAGE UNDER THE 
              MEDICARE PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH HUNTINGTON'S 
              DISEASE.

    (a) In General.--Section 226(h) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 426(h)) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
inserting ``or Huntington's disease (HD)'' after ``amyotrophic lateral 
sclerosis (ALS)''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply to benefits under title XVIII of the Social Security Act with 
respect to items and services furnished in months beginning after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.
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