Aa
SSD and no health insurance
Hi everyone, yes, it has been awhile for me to post, and I apologize.
I went on my first "vacation" since my accident last July (to a genealogy library of all places) and it was OK.
Well, to catch you up, I was actually approved for Social Security Disability, at the beginning of May, so I should get my first SSD check, this month (June).
However, I was also told, I have to wait 2 years from acceptability to get Medicare, for me that's two years from January or January 2012.
In the meantime, no medical/health insurance. Therefore any follow-up visits with my Neurologist, will be completely "out-of-pocket", and no he doesn't give discounts (because I have no medical insurance).
It also means, I cannot go to see any medical doctor, Primary Care, etc., nor fill any Rx for medicines I take for things unrelated to my MS, or in a roundabout way related to my MS. Thank God, the Rebif shots I take, I do not have to pay for, otherwise, I would really be in trouble.
How do they expect you to make it through, for two years, without any medical care, medical/health insurance, etc.?
They (Social Security) suggested checking with my state SRS, to see if they would provide anything in the meantime. My state SRS office said, since I collect SSD, I'm not eligible for their assistance.
I told my wife, I guess I have to "hold my breath" for 2 years, and pray to God, nothing happens, medically to me, in the meantime.
I pray all is going better, for all of you, you are all in my daily thoughts and prayers, take care and God bless.
-- Socrates
I went on my first "vacation" since my accident last July (to a genealogy library of all places) and it was OK.
Well, to catch you up, I was actually approved for Social Security Disability, at the beginning of May, so I should get my first SSD check, this month (June).
However, I was also told, I have to wait 2 years from acceptability to get Medicare, for me that's two years from January or January 2012.
In the meantime, no medical/health insurance. Therefore any follow-up visits with my Neurologist, will be completely "out-of-pocket", and no he doesn't give discounts (because I have no medical insurance).
It also means, I cannot go to see any medical doctor, Primary Care, etc., nor fill any Rx for medicines I take for things unrelated to my MS, or in a roundabout way related to my MS. Thank God, the Rebif shots I take, I do not have to pay for, otherwise, I would really be in trouble.
How do they expect you to make it through, for two years, without any medical care, medical/health insurance, etc.?
They (Social Security) suggested checking with my state SRS, to see if they would provide anything in the meantime. My state SRS office said, since I collect SSD, I'm not eligible for their assistance.
I told my wife, I guess I have to "hold my breath" for 2 years, and pray to God, nothing happens, medically to me, in the meantime.
I pray all is going better, for all of you, you are all in my daily thoughts and prayers, take care and God bless.
-- Socrates
OMG, I don't know what to say.
There just has to be some sort of good help out there for you.
There just has to be some sort of good help out there for you.
>>...Social Security Disability, at the beginning of May, so I should get my first SSD check, this month (June).
must be different in KS than in NV...that is to say, the wait period between SSD approval and a check in the mail.
when we get approved here, we have to wait 5 months before a check is sent. after that 5 month wait period, then the 24 month medicare wait period starts.
as for medicare: it is the same here, 24 month wait after the SSD wait period.
To answer your Q?
I filed for SSD back in July 2009, and you are correct there is 6 month period that you are NOT eligible for. Therefore, I was officially approved in May, but had that no-payment period beginning in January, (Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan.) However, they due pay one month "behind", so they sent me a check for January-April, in May, then sent my first payment, in June (this week), for May. So, the payment you receive is always for the previous month.
Remember, my accident was back in July, 2009, that is when I applied for SSD, and you are not eligible for 6 months, therefore I was not eligible until January. I went through the approval process, and was finally approved for SSD, in May, 2010. Since I was eligible for it, in January, 2010, they "back payed" me, for January through April 2010, and began my regular payments, in June 2010.
Now, as far as Medicare is concerned, you are not eligible for it, for 24 months after your "approval". So, even though I was officially "approved" in May, 2010, my approval date was from January 2010, so I will NOT be eligible for Medicare until the end of January 2012.
As far as SSI, I applied for it, at the same time I was waiting on my determination for SSD. I was told, that I would probably qualify for SSI, however, once I was approved for SSD, I would lose my SSI. These are two completely separate entities. The ironic thing about my situation was, I was due to find out about both (meaning if I would be approved) at about the same time. I found out I was accepted for SSD, 2 days before I was to find out about SSI. With SSI, I would have health coverage. I was approved for SSD, which cancelled my possibility for acceptance for SSI. So, good news, bad news, if you know what I mean.
I will look into what has been suggested and get back with you.
Thank you all for your time, consideration, and cooperation, I truly appreciate it, take care and God bless.
-- Socrates
must be different in KS than in NV...that is to say, the wait period between SSD approval and a check in the mail.
when we get approved here, we have to wait 5 months before a check is sent. after that 5 month wait period, then the 24 month medicare wait period starts.
as for medicare: it is the same here, 24 month wait after the SSD wait period.
To answer your Q?
I filed for SSD back in July 2009, and you are correct there is 6 month period that you are NOT eligible for. Therefore, I was officially approved in May, but had that no-payment period beginning in January, (Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan.) However, they due pay one month "behind", so they sent me a check for January-April, in May, then sent my first payment, in June (this week), for May. So, the payment you receive is always for the previous month.
Remember, my accident was back in July, 2009, that is when I applied for SSD, and you are not eligible for 6 months, therefore I was not eligible until January. I went through the approval process, and was finally approved for SSD, in May, 2010. Since I was eligible for it, in January, 2010, they "back payed" me, for January through April 2010, and began my regular payments, in June 2010.
Now, as far as Medicare is concerned, you are not eligible for it, for 24 months after your "approval". So, even though I was officially "approved" in May, 2010, my approval date was from January 2010, so I will NOT be eligible for Medicare until the end of January 2012.
As far as SSI, I applied for it, at the same time I was waiting on my determination for SSD. I was told, that I would probably qualify for SSI, however, once I was approved for SSD, I would lose my SSI. These are two completely separate entities. The ironic thing about my situation was, I was due to find out about both (meaning if I would be approved) at about the same time. I found out I was accepted for SSD, 2 days before I was to find out about SSI. With SSI, I would have health coverage. I was approved for SSD, which cancelled my possibility for acceptance for SSI. So, good news, bad news, if you know what I mean.
I will look into what has been suggested and get back with you.
Thank you all for your time, consideration, and cooperation, I truly appreciate it, take care and God bless.
-- Socrates
The 18 month wait for Medicare was instituted for the COBRA act of 1985. The law provided an 18 month window allowing employees to retain their health benefits from an employer after they had become disabled. The thinking was that Medicare would only jump in after you used your employee benefit ran out. It's a very bad law and many are working on it.
Since you have SSDI you will have to apply for Kansas Medicaid. You will probably have to have a spendown. That means you have to accrue so much medical debt each month before the medicaid kicks in. It's a real pain. You can get top notch treatment though in Kansas if you are near Kansas City.
If you receive only SSI you would immediately receive medicaid but not receive medicare.
hope this helps
lois
Since you have SSDI you will have to apply for Kansas Medicaid. You will probably have to have a spendown. That means you have to accrue so much medical debt each month before the medicaid kicks in. It's a real pain. You can get top notch treatment though in Kansas if you are near Kansas City.
If you receive only SSI you would immediately receive medicaid but not receive medicare.
hope this helps
lois
The two year wait only applies if you go from work to SSD. If you apply and are accepted for needs based you get Medicaid right away. With health care reform there is a high risk insurance you can get. You can't have had insurance for six months and it is $500 a month premium more or less.
Those of us in the advocacy community are continuing to lobby to change the law. Law makers came up with it to discourage those in the work force from seeking SSD.
Alex
Those of us in the advocacy community are continuing to lobby to change the law. Law makers came up with it to discourage those in the work force from seeking SSD.
Alex
I think you are getting mis-information. ;0/
Depending on your income, you should be able to get "welfare" health insurance in your state. Just because you have SSI doesn't mean you cannot get the health care. I saw you were in Kansas so I looked it up for your state. There is a self-assessment that you can do online to see if you qualify...you should try it.
http://oapub1.srs.ks.gov/OAWeb/staticPages/assessment_welcome_en.htm
It did say that they have health care for people with disabilities. Hope this helps!
Nice to meet you and congrats on the SSI...I am in the process of trying to get it now.
Addi
Depending on your income, you should be able to get "welfare" health insurance in your state. Just because you have SSI doesn't mean you cannot get the health care. I saw you were in Kansas so I looked it up for your state. There is a self-assessment that you can do online to see if you qualify...you should try it.
http://oapub1.srs.ks.gov/OAWeb/staticPages/assessment_welcome_en.htm
It did say that they have health care for people with disabilities. Hope this helps!
Nice to meet you and congrats on the SSI...I am in the process of trying to get it now.
Addi
>>...Social Security Disability, at the beginning of May, so I should get my first SSD check, this month (June).
must be different in KS than in NV...that is to say, the wait period between SSD approval and a check in the mail.
when we get approved here, we have to wait 5 months before a check is sent. after that 5 month wait period, then the 24 month medicare wait period starts.
as for medicare: it is the same here, 24 month wait after the SSD wait period.
must be different in KS than in NV...that is to say, the wait period between SSD approval and a check in the mail.
when we get approved here, we have to wait 5 months before a check is sent. after that 5 month wait period, then the 24 month medicare wait period starts.
as for medicare: it is the same here, 24 month wait after the SSD wait period.
my goodness, I don't understand why that works like that.. you would think is you get SSD you would get medical right away? Who's idea is that?
hang in there
wobbly
hang in there
wobbly
This was one of the things that I hope the health care bill will fix. It's crazy, isn't it?
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