According to the Dallas Morning News, the Medicare disability waiting period was instituted during the 1970's, when it was perhaps a bit easier, or at least possible, for individuals with disabilities to obtain affordable health insurance coverage in the private market. In the current market, however, people with disabilities are often rejected for coverage, or are charged exorbitantly high premiums which they are cannot pay because they no longer work. Thus, many disabled persons are stranded without coverage when they need it most.
Unfortunately, even those members of Congress who are sympathetic to the cause may find it difficult to support legislation to eliminate the waiting period due to financial constraints. Such a measure would cost Medicare $8.7 billion each year, at a time when the Medicare program is in a serious fiscal crisis. In the current federal budget environment, such a costly bill could not be passed unless it could be offset by savings. While the proposal might save Medicaid $4.3 billion, this is not sufficient to offset the cost, and thus the measure is likely to fail.
