; (B) by striking paragraph (5); and (C) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (8) as paragraphs (5) through (7). (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to applications for disability insurance benefits, widow's insurance benefits, and widower's insurance benefits filed on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Phase-out of waiting period for Medicare disability benefits (a) In general Section 226(b) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 426(b) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking , and has for 24 calendar months been entitled to, and inserting , and for not less than the waiting period (as defined in subsection (j)) has been entitled to, ; (2) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking , and has been for not less than 24 months, and inserting , and has been for not less than the waiting period (as defined in subsection (j)), ; (3) in paragraph (2)(C)(ii), by striking , including the requirement that he has been entitled to the specified benefits for 24 months, and inserting , including the requirement that the individual has been entitled to the specified benefits for the waiting period (as defined in subsection (j)), ; and (4) in the flush matter following paragraph (2)(C)(ii)(II)— (A) in the first sentence, by striking for each month beginning with the later of (I) July 1973 or (II) the twenty-fifth month of his entitlement or status as a qualified railroad retirement beneficiary described in paragraph (2), and and inserting for each month beginning with the first month after the month in which the individual first satisfies paragraph (2), and ; (B) in the second sentence, by striking the twenty-fifth month of his entitlement refers to the first month after the twenty-fourth month of entitlement to specified benefits referred to in paragraph (2)(C) and