When you turn 65 or have a handicap that affects your physical and mental functioning, you can seek Medicare coverage for epilepsy. Social Security has particular epilepsy conditions that must be met in order to be considered disabled.
What exactly is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a chronic condition that produces recurring, spontaneous seizures. Two types of seizures, as well as the frequency with which they occur, are described by Social Security as potentially qualifying for disability.
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Dyscognitive seizures occur at least once a week for at least three months. Partial, focal, and absence seizures are all terms used to describe this type of seizure. For a few seconds, the person may appear to be staring off into space.
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Despite following the suggested medication, generalized tonic-clonic seizures occur once a month for at least three months. Grand Mal seizures are characterized by a loss of consciousness and intense muscle contractions known as convulsions.
Seizures are more likely if you have Alzheimer's disease.
Seizures with Alzheimer's Disease
People with dementia, such as Alzheimer's, "are at risk of suffering epileptic seizures," according to the Alzheimer's Society. In 1911, Dr. Alzheimer himself described the possibility of seizures. According to new studies, seizures can occur early in Alzheimer's disease. 1 in every 8 people with dementia described experiences that we assume could have been epileptic seizures.
So, why are persons with Alzheimer's disease more likely to experience seizures?
Also Read: Does Medicare cover Alzheimer's?
Seizures are more likely to occur
Seizures can be caused by anything that affects the structure of your brain, such as Alzheimer's disease. In Alzheimer's disease, two proteins called amyloid and tau build up in the brain and affect how brain nerve cells communicate with one other. These nerve cells can become hyper-excitable in some cases. These neurons behave wildly, generating epileptic seizures as a result.
Now that you know why Alzheimer's patients are more likely to have seizures when does Medicare cover epilepsy?
Epilepsy is covered through Medicare
Medicare covers adults under the age of 65 who are eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance after a 24-month waiting period, according to SSA.gov. You will be automatically enrolled in Medicare if you have a disabling handicap for two years or more before being eligible for SSDI. Otherwise, you'll have to wait two years for Medicare to enroll you automatically.
For more information about your coverage
