Marriage and disability benefits

Sharilyn – Ind.: My daughter has cancer. She is on disability and Medicare. She is getting married in two months. Can she stay on Medicare or will she have to get on her new husband’s insurance?

Phil Moeller: If she is receiving Medicare through her Social Security disability, it will be her choice whether to continue it or, if available, choose to be covered by her husband’s health plan. She could even keep both, using one as primary and the other as supplemental, depending on which has the best benefits.

If she has low income and Medicaid is helping to pay for her Medicare, she should find out whether her husband’s income would affect her continued eligibility for Medicaid under state rules. She can get in touch with the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) and ask for a representative from Indiana. SHIP provides free Medicare counseling.