
Insurance and Health Care Reform Support Group
This community deals with health insurance issues and major health care policy creation or changes (for the most part, governmental policy). Communicate your ideas, problems, solutions, and experiences here.

deleted_user
I just wanted to add my 2 cents in this area. Here is a brief overview of my situation.
I was born with Rubella, which left me blind at birth. They were able to restore partial vision when I was real young, but then about a year ago, they tried the lazer and lazek surgeries on me, in an attempt to restore more vision, but the surgeries ended up giving me glaucoma, which is now taking the remainder of my vision little by little.
My vision is only 20/300 with best correction. The other eye is pretty much completely blind now, and I only have a 5 degree of visual field.
because of this, I ended up having to leave my job at the factory I was working at, because I was no longer able to see well enough to perform my job duties.
Now, I am in the process of signing up for Social Security, and I tell you, that stuff is a mess to deal with!
I could have recieved unemployment for the 6 months I've been off work, but I chose not to accept it, because I knew it would affect me being approved for Social Security, and I needed SSD and SSI in order to live..
The thing that bothers me the most, my wife still works, at the same place I used to work at, but she only brings home $1,400 a month before taxes, at least thats what Social Security says. Her checks are more like $220 a week though, after taxes and everything.
The trouble is, my wife also has to financially support her youngest daughter, who is 25 years old and still living with us, because she's unemployed and can't find a job at all right now. She has an Associates Degree in paralegal, and can't find anything with it, not even fast food type jobs, so she has to take care of her needs financially.
She cannot do this most of the time though, because we know nothing about cars, so we have no choice but to lease, and her lease is like $300 /mo, then her car insurance is $150 mo on top of that, then groceries for her and her daughter, that pretty much takes care of her income..
which leaves "me" to try to cover the household expenses.. mortgage, utilities, telephone and cable bill, things of that nature.
I signed up for both SSD and SSI back in April, and was approved for both, but I have not recieved SSD yet. I started getting SSI in August, but they cut it back to $200 a month, is all, because of my wifes income. which I don't think is fair, but thats the way the system works. Now that its October, they say that I'll be starting to get an SSD check every month of $800, which I have not recieved yet, so because I was told that in October, my SSI was dropped, and I didn't get any money at all for October.. I called 'em and they said a $1,600 check will arrive in November for SSD for Oct and Nov, but I've yet to see that.
so in the meantime, I haven't had a penny to live on.
Medicare doesn't kick in for another 2 years they said, but I did sign up for Medicaid, which I started receiving back in August of 07, but it doesn't cover much..
my dentists, and the doctors my family physician sent me to for my crohns disease, don't accept Medicaid, so I am not able to get the medical care that I need for the Crohns issues I have.
About the only thing I can even use Medicaid for, is to get my medications for $3, but that does me no good when the doctors don't accept Medicaid so I can get in to have prescriptions filled to start with, so its just kinda a crappy system altogether I think.
In the meantime, I got signed up for Vocational Rehabilitation, and there in the process of sending me back to school. I should graduate in June of 08 with an Associates, then another 18 months, I'll have my bachelors in Business and Data Communications, which I am looking most forward to, so I can find a job I can do rather I have vision, or not, but it all takes time, so in the meantime, I'm trying to find some source of income, which I was hoping the Social Security sytem could provide, at least for a little while until I find employment, but I mean, this system sucks! it really does.
I was born with Rubella, which left me blind at birth. They were able to restore partial vision when I was real young, but then about a year ago, they tried the lazer and lazek surgeries on me, in an attempt to restore more vision, but the surgeries ended up giving me glaucoma, which is now taking the remainder of my vision little by little.
My vision is only 20/300 with best correction. The other eye is pretty much completely blind now, and I only have a 5 degree of visual field.
because of this, I ended up having to leave my job at the factory I was working at, because I was no longer able to see well enough to perform my job duties.
Now, I am in the process of signing up for Social Security, and I tell you, that stuff is a mess to deal with!
I could have recieved unemployment for the 6 months I've been off work, but I chose not to accept it, because I knew it would affect me being approved for Social Security, and I needed SSD and SSI in order to live..
The thing that bothers me the most, my wife still works, at the same place I used to work at, but she only brings home $1,400 a month before taxes, at least thats what Social Security says. Her checks are more like $220 a week though, after taxes and everything.
The trouble is, my wife also has to financially support her youngest daughter, who is 25 years old and still living with us, because she's unemployed and can't find a job at all right now. She has an Associates Degree in paralegal, and can't find anything with it, not even fast food type jobs, so she has to take care of her needs financially.
She cannot do this most of the time though, because we know nothing about cars, so we have no choice but to lease, and her lease is like $300 /mo, then her car insurance is $150 mo on top of that, then groceries for her and her daughter, that pretty much takes care of her income..
which leaves "me" to try to cover the household expenses.. mortgage, utilities, telephone and cable bill, things of that nature.
I signed up for both SSD and SSI back in April, and was approved for both, but I have not recieved SSD yet. I started getting SSI in August, but they cut it back to $200 a month, is all, because of my wifes income. which I don't think is fair, but thats the way the system works. Now that its October, they say that I'll be starting to get an SSD check every month of $800, which I have not recieved yet, so because I was told that in October, my SSI was dropped, and I didn't get any money at all for October.. I called 'em and they said a $1,600 check will arrive in November for SSD for Oct and Nov, but I've yet to see that.
so in the meantime, I haven't had a penny to live on.
Medicare doesn't kick in for another 2 years they said, but I did sign up for Medicaid, which I started receiving back in August of 07, but it doesn't cover much..
my dentists, and the doctors my family physician sent me to for my crohns disease, don't accept Medicaid, so I am not able to get the medical care that I need for the Crohns issues I have.
About the only thing I can even use Medicaid for, is to get my medications for $3, but that does me no good when the doctors don't accept Medicaid so I can get in to have prescriptions filled to start with, so its just kinda a crappy system altogether I think.
In the meantime, I got signed up for Vocational Rehabilitation, and there in the process of sending me back to school. I should graduate in June of 08 with an Associates, then another 18 months, I'll have my bachelors in Business and Data Communications, which I am looking most forward to, so I can find a job I can do rather I have vision, or not, but it all takes time, so in the meantime, I'm trying to find some source of income, which I was hoping the Social Security sytem could provide, at least for a little while until I find employment, but I mean, this system sucks! it really does.
Posts You May Be Interested In
-
theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
-
I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
There are days when I just want to toss in the towel....say heck with it and walk into the lake..
yet God keeps giving me a last ray of hope...and another and another....
so still trying....hoping somehow someday we can get those tests done (2 MRI, bone scan, have to see neurologist)
then onto whatever he wants to do...
my main md wants me to see a heart specialist...
in a word YIKES!
Jan
When asking about Medicaid I was told you have to be disabled to the point of home care because you are bed ridden or partial home care. It is very tough to qualify for Medicaid these days.
I do not know what other Counties or States offer but the Community Health Center here is a private, 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. I hope this will help others in searching for local financial medical help.
.
tcoburn I think there must be some job available her daughter could do even if she is over qualified and may have to take less pay than what she is normally use to. At 25 and considering your situation it appears just a little help form her would lighten your burden.
tcoburn good luck to you and family in getting financial help.
Best wishes.
Medicaid varies wildly from state to state. There seem to be no firm guidelines.
I ask her about and attorney. She said most don't get and attorney unless they are refused the first time. I am looking at it now as dealing with the IRS. My experience, it is just another Gov. agency that takes your money and doesn't want to give anything back in return. Since I now got the IRS response From the Soc. Sec. Dept. I am going to find and attorney with the first visit free to get some advice from the other side before I rule out and attorney. I have heard that if you get and attorney they can only receive 15% of $5,000 nothing more. Something to do some serious research on. I will keep all updated on my findings and experience.
Good Luck to all.
As for medicare and medicaid, I am on both. SSDI I believe it is. It takes alot of persistance to get on. Don't give up! But, from my experience, if they see you working EVEN PART TIME they then think that you really do not need to be on it. Many people on disability are forced b/c of these circumstances to have to work "off the books" that is out of the eyes of the govt through doing things like housecleaning, repairs for people, selling things on ebay or craigs list etc. Just wanted to give you the "inside" scoop! Blessings to you.... Hang in there. Do not give up hope. Be faithful in the little. I was denied 3x before getting on. That is usually the magic number from what I've heard. 2 or 3. Govt politics. Keep being persistant! Keep HOPE!