I 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2343

To amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 24-month 

waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 12, 2005

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred 

to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees 

on Energy and Commerce and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a 

period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 

consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL

To amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate 

the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to 

become eligible for Medicare benefits.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Medicare Disability 

5 Eligibility Improvement Act of 2005’’. 
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1 SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF WAITING PERIOD FOR MEDICARE 

2 DISABILITY BENEFITS. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 226(b) of the Social Secu4 rity Act (42 U.S.C. 426(b)) is amended—

5 (1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘, and has 

6 for 24 calendar months been entitled to,’’; 

7 (2) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ‘‘, and has 

8 been for not less than 24 months,’’; 

9 (3) in paragraph (2)(C)(ii), by striking ‘‘, in10 cluding the requirement that he has been entitled to 

11 the specified benefits for 24 months,’’; 

12 (4) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘for each 

13 month beginning with the later of (I) July 1973 or 

14 (II) the twenty-fifth month of his entitlement or sta15 tus as a qualified railroad retirement beneficiary de16 scribed in paragraph (2), and’’ and inserting ‘‘for 

17 each month for which the individual satisfies para18 graph (2), beginning with the first month in which 

19 the individual satisfies such paragraph, and’’; 

20 (5) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘the 

21 ‘twenty-fifth month of his entitlement’ ’’ and all that 

22 follows through ‘‘paragraph (2)(C) and’’; and 

23 (6) in the third sentence, by striking ‘‘, but not 

24 in excess of 24 such months’’. 

25 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
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1 (1) SECTION 226.—Section 226 of the Social 

2 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 426) is amended by striking 

3 subsections (f) and (h). 

4 (2) MEDICARE DESCRIPTION.—Section 1811(2) 

5 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395c(2)) is amended by 

6 striking ‘‘have been entitled for not less than 24 

7 months’’ and inserting ‘‘are entitled’’. 

8 (3) MEDICARE COVERAGE.—Section 1837(g)(1) 

9 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395p(g)(1)) is amended by 

10 striking ‘‘25th month’’ and inserting ‘‘first month’’. 

11 (4) RAILROAD RETIREMENT SYSTEM.—Section 

12 7(d)(2)(ii) of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 

13 (45 U.S.C. 231f(d)(2)(ii)) is amended—

14 (A) by striking ‘‘has been entitled to an 

15 annuity’’ and inserting ‘‘is entitled to an annu16 ity’’; 

17 (B) by striking ‘‘, for not less than 24 

18 months’’; and 

19 (C) by striking ‘‘could have been entitled 

20 for 24 calendar months, and’’. 

21 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

22 this section shall apply to insurance benefits under title 

23 XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to items and 
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1 services furnished in months beginning at least 90 days 

2 after the date of the enactment of this Act.

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