https://www.medicare.gov/people-like-me/esrd/esrd.html

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/155/~/receiving-medicare-and-disability-benefits

Most people have both parts of Medicare. If you have questions about this coverage, you can contact Medicare toll-free at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to speak to a Medicare Customer Service Representative. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

I think she can. I'd give a link, but it's difficult on this phone.

Also, if she is on dialysis, Medicare picks up coverage at some point.

Good luck.

But if not, she's probably eligible for Medicaid.

Medicare is something all people qualify for at age 65, but a few might qualify earlier (such as those with renal disease).

Medicaid is for low-income people, and people younger than 65 can qualify for that.

You can get Part A and Part B no matter how old you are if your kidneys no longer work and you need regular dialysis or have had a kidney transplant, and one of these applies to you:

https://www.medicare.gov/people-like-me/esrd/esrd.html

Part A is only for hospitalization. Part B is the one which covers doctors' visits, and Part D helps with prescriptions. Each of these costs money, and quite a bit of it.

However, if your mother's income is very low, there is Medicaid and the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) programs which can help in the meantime. You will need to contact your local social services office and get a case worker to help with these types of programs. They're not great, but they did help me when my health situation became very dire earlier this year.

If she has end-stage renal disease, that can cause confusion, which would make it even more difficult for her to help herself.

http://www.medicare.gov/MedicareEligibility/home.asp?dest=NAV%7CHome%7CGeneralEnrollment&version=default&browser=Safari%7C6%7CMacOSX&language=English

Click on the link for "Who is eligible"

Generally, you are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment and you are 65 years or older and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. If you aren’t yet 65, you might also qualify for coverage if you have a disability or with End-Stage Renal disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant).

Here are some simple guidelines. You can get Part A at age 65 without having to pay premiums if:
You already get retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.

You are eligible to get Social Security or Railroad benefits but haven't yet filed for them.

You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment.
If you are under 65, you can get Part A without having to pay premiums if you have:
Received Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for 24 months.

End-Stage Renal Disease and meet certain requirements.

While you don’t have to pay a premium for Part A if you meet one of those conditions, you must pay for Part B if you want it. The Part B monthly premium in 2013 is $104.90. For additional details, visit www.Medicare.gov. It is deducted from your Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or Civil Service Retirement check. If you don’t get any of the above payments, Medicare sends you a bill for your Part B premium every 3 months.

Note: You will be eligible for Medicare when you turn 65 even if you are not eligible for Social Security retirement benefits.

If you have questions about your eligibility for Medicare Part A or Part B, or if you want to apply for Medicare, please call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit or call your local Social Security office. TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778. You can also get information about buying Part A as well as Part B if you don’t qualify for premium-free Part A.

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<3
hed

medicare kicks in the 1st day of the 3rd month after the month in which dialysis begins. That is, for example, if dialysis begins say 07/15/13, medicare would begin 10/01/13. The waiting period is waived in the patient is doing self-dialysis.