This post was originally published on April 17, 2025 and was then updated on January 29, 2026.

When your clients win their SSDI cases, the work is not done. Twenty-four months after their disability entitlement date, most SSDI recipients become eligible for Medicare. The catch: nearly all of them have no idea what to do next.

Medicare Partners is Chronicle's partnership integration that helps SSD firms connect winning clients to Medicare benefits. Your firm identifies clients approaching eligibility, refers them to licensed Medicare specialists, and earns a commission when they enroll. The client gets expert guidance at no cost. The firm strengthens relationships and adds a revenue stream.

This page covers how the integration works, what your clients gain, and how to get started.

Why SSDI Clients Need Medicare Guidance

SSDI eligibility and Medicare eligibility run on parallel tracks. Clients rarely understand the connection.

The 24-Month Medicare Waiting Period

Most SSDI recipients become Medicare-eligible 24 months after their disability entitlement date. This is not 24 months after the hearing or the approval letter; it is 24 months after the date SSA determines the disability began. For many clients, that means Medicare eligibility arrives while they are still processing what the SSDI approval means.

Two exceptions exist. ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) qualifies immediately. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) has its own timeline.

The Knowledge Gap

Many SSDI recipients do not know what to do when they receive a Medicare enrollment notice. They may not realize they qualify before age 65. They may not understand the difference between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Often they do not know where to get help.

This is where SSD firms have an opportunity. Your firm is the last professional relationship most clients had before their Medicare eligibility. You understand their situation. They trust you.

Why Firms Are Positioned to Help

Disability law firms are not in the business of selling insurance. But you are in the business of helping clients navigate government benefits. Medicare is a government benefit.

The same clients who needed guidance through the SSA process often need guidance through Medicare enrollment. You do not need to become Medicare experts. You need a trusted partner who handles the enrollment work while you handle the referral.

How the Medicare Partners Integration Works

Medicare Partners connects Chronicle's case tracking with licensed Medicare enrollment specialists.

Step 1: Chronicle Identifies Eligible Clients

Chronicle tracks case status through the full SSD lifecycle. When a client's case resolves favorably, the system can flag cases where Medicare eligibility is approaching based on the entitlement date. This gives your firm advance notice before clients start asking questions (or before they enroll in the wrong plan on their own).

Step 2: Your Firm Makes the Referral

When a client is approaching Medicare eligibility, your team reaches out with an offer: "We can connect you with a licensed Medicare specialist who will help you understand your options at no cost to you."

The referral is a warm handoff. The client already trusts your firm. You are extending that trust to a vetted partner.

Step 3: Medicare Partners Handles Enrollment

The Medicare Partners team contacts the client, reviews their health needs, explains their options (Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage, supplemental coverage, prescription drug plans), and helps them enroll in the plan that fits.

Your firm does not handle enrollment paperwork, licensing requirements, or compliance. That is the partner's job.

Step 4: The Firm Earns a Commission

When the client enrolls in a Medicare Advantage plan through the referral, your firm earns a commission. Industry figures suggest first-year commissions average approximately $510 per enrollment, with renewal commissions around $255 annually as long as the client stays enrolled.

This is passive income from clients you already won. The work happens after the case closes.

Benefits for Your Firm

New Revenue from Existing Relationships

Most SSD firms think of case resolution as the end of the client relationship. Medicare referrals extend that relationship and monetize it.

Some firms report that Medicare referrals add meaningful recurring revenue to their practice. One industry example suggests this can add roughly 25% to the value of each favorable decision. The math depends on volume, but the principle holds: you are not selling anything. You are connecting clients to a service they need.

No Licensing or Expertise Required

Your firm does not need insurance licenses. You do not need to learn the details of Medicare Advantage plan networks or Part D formularies. The partner handles the specialized knowledge. Your job is the referral.

Strengthened Client Loyalty

Helping clients with Medicare keeps your firm in their memory. When those clients have friends or family who need disability representation, who do they recommend? The firm that helped them after the case ended.

Renewal Revenue Over Time

Medicare Advantage enrollees often stay in their plans for years. Each year they renew, your firm earns a smaller but recurring commission. A client enrolled in 2026 could still be generating revenue for your firm in 2030.

Benefits for Your Clients

Expert Guidance at No Cost

Medicare enrollment is confusing. Clients face choices between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, decisions about supplemental Medigap policies (with limited enrollment rights for those under 65), and Part D prescription drug coverage. A licensed specialist walks them through these decisions without charging the client.

Help Selecting the Right Plan

Medicare Advantage plans vary by network, coverage, and cost. A good enrollment specialist matches the client's healthcare needs to a plan that fits. This is personalized guidance, not a sales pitch for one carrier.

Continuity of Care Support

Many SSDI recipients have ongoing medical needs. Chronicle helps firms track the full case history through AI-powered case summaries, giving context that helps enrollment specialists understand what clients need. Those specialists can then identify plans that cover their current providers and medications, reducing disruption during the transition to Medicare.

A Service They Did Not Know They Needed

For many clients, the Medicare enrollment call from your firm is the first time anyone has explained their options clearly. They appreciate it. That appreciation reflects well on your firm.

Getting Started with Medicare Partners

Activate the Integration

Chronicle users can enable Medicare Partners through their account settings. The integration adds a workflow for tracking clients approaching Medicare eligibility and logging referrals. Chronicle integrates with existing case management systems and works with whatever CMS your firm uses.

Training and Support

Medicare Partners provides training materials for your staff: how to identify eligible clients, how to introduce the service, and how to make the referral. The goal is to make the conversation natural.

Timeline to First Referral

If your firm has a backlog of favorably resolved cases from the past two years, you may have clients who are already Medicare-eligible or approaching eligibility. Some firms see their first referral commissions within weeks of activation.

For newer cases, the 24-month waiting period means the revenue timeline is longer. Every favorable decision today is a potential Medicare referral in two years.

How Medicare Partners Compares to Similar Programs

Other platforms in the SSD space offer Medicare referral programs. Assure Disability, for example, has a Medicare Advantage Referral Program that also pays referring firms.

The difference with Medicare Partners is integration. Chronicle supports the full SSD lifecycle, from initial application through post-hearing. Medicare Partners extends that lifecycle one step further by connecting resolved cases to Medicare enrollment. The referral opportunity surfaces naturally in the same system you use to track cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do SSDI recipients become eligible for Medicare?

Most SSDI recipients become Medicare-eligible 24 months after their disability entitlement date (the date SSA determines the disability began, which may be before the approval date). ALS qualifies immediately; ESRD has its own rules.

Do I need a license to refer clients to Medicare Partners?

No. Your firm makes the referral; the licensed Medicare enrollment specialists handle the rest. You do not need insurance licenses or Medicare certifications.

How much can firms earn from Medicare referrals?

Industry figures suggest first-year commissions averaging around $510 per Medicare Advantage enrollment, with renewal commissions around $255 annually. Actual amounts vary by plan and region.

Does this work with clients who already have Medicare?

Clients who already enrolled in Medicare may still benefit from a plan review, especially if they enrolled without guidance. Medicare Partners can help clients evaluate whether their current plan still fits their needs.

How does this integrate with Chronicle?

Chronicle tracks case status through the full lifecycle. The Medicare Partners integration adds visibility into which clients are approaching Medicare eligibility. This builds on Chronicle's existing case status tracking capabilities.

What if a client does not want to be contacted?

You control the referral. If a client prefers not to receive Medicare guidance, do not make the referral. The program is opt-in for your firm and for each client.

Summary

Medicare Partners connects the work your firm already does with a service your clients already need. SSDI recipients become Medicare-eligible, often without understanding their options. Your firm can fill that gap by connecting them to licensed enrollment specialists, earning a commission, and strengthening relationships that generate future referrals.

Chronicle's integration makes it easier to identify eligible clients and track referrals. The partner handles the enrollment. Your firm handles the relationship.

To activate Medicare Partners, contact your Chronicle account manager or visit the integrations section of your Chronicle dashboard.