CF Patients Face Critical Medicare Coverage Gap During SSDI Waiting Period

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients face significant insurance coverage challenges due to a two-year Medicare waiting period following Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) approval. While conditions like ALS receive immediate Medicare access, CF is excluded, creating a coverage gap during which patients incur high medical expenses without sufficient insurance. The lack of immediate Medicare coverage forces many to choose between costly COBRA premiums, marketplace plans, or going uninsured, exacerbating financial strain amid critical health needs. This gap occurs at a time when CF patients typically require intensive treatment, including frequent hospitalizations and transplant evaluations, driving up healthcare costs substantially. Advocacy exists through programs like the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Compass hotline, which assists patients in navigating insurance gaps and accessing financial aid resources. Policy recommendations urge adding CF to the Medicare exception list, underscoring the need for regulatory action to address this systemic coverage gap and improve healthcare access for CF patients during disability onset.