There is a link list to the main page of social secruity. Hopefully you will find the information on there site.

I have checked all that SS has on their site. There seems to be no one in Florida that will write a Medigap policy for any one under age 65. I was just wondering how others are getting by.

Because Medicare was privatized and regionalized, anyone seeking to gain health coverage is at the mercy of private insurance corporations. It may be best to seek programs which cover your BASIC health needs, and then seek out volunteer in-home assistance for other health issues. To me, paying low-cost for prescriptions and mobility aids are cost savers. It is sometimes best to avoid the mainstream providers for health nedds. Another thought: look into holistic and self-help options.

If you are approved for SSDI (not SSI) you are eligible to receive Medicare in two years. You will have to pay your premiums (unless you also have Medicaid or fall under "low income standards), and will have to pick a prescription plan (Part D). There is also a premium for this. Of course, there are deductibles and co-pays. There are a lot of choices to make, so when it comes, you'll want to research it thoroughly.

If you receive even $1 of SSI, you automatically become eligible for Medicaid.

Sadly, most companies that offer HMO or MediGap policies do not offer them to those under 62 or 65. This is yet another issue Drew and I are tackling in our advocacy attempts. If you are 50+, you can join AARP. We are just beginning discussions with the Utah office on this issue. Medicare is better than nothing, and offers good coverage. If you've been without coverage, it's a good place to start, because if you have any kind of break in coverage, it makes it that much harder to get it again.

Great information! Thank you so much. I am sure you will be a valuable member to our group.

I receive SSDI and medicaid. I'm in South Carolina, I don't know how things work in other states. Within weeks of being awarded SSDI I received a package in the mail telling me I had been approved for medicaid. It was that simple. I didn't need to go to social services to apply, it was done completely by mail.

I was asked to choose a health plan from one of 12 different plans. The plans varied: Some limited doctor visits, some limited the amount of prescriptions per month. Some required small co-pays. Some included lab and x-rays. Others paid for one dental cleaning and an annual eye exam. Some paid for glasses or contacts. They all paid for family planning, diabetes equipment, hospitalization and home health care. You had to decide on your life style which plan best met your needs.

I am bipolar so seeing a psychiatrist was a must have for me. I chose unlimited doctor visits. I also wanted to be able to have my teeth cleaned and an eye exam so I chose a plan that included those. However the plan that included those limited my prescriptions to four a month. I pay out of pocket for all my medications after the first four.

I'm really happy with the plan. I see a private psychiatrist at no cost to me. I now have a general physcian that allows me to make appointments (no standing in line at clinics all day when I'm sick.)In the last 30 days I have had an MRI, a sleep study and a scalp biopsy all paid for by medicaid. No co-pays.

It should also be noted that I have learned that even though the plan I chose "limits prescriptions to 4 a month" I have recently found out that I can challenge them and that in certain circumstances they will pay for more. They ask that a doctor explain in writing why it is medically necessary for me to have that medication and it can take up to two weeks to get the approval but some of my medications for bipolar are $400+ a month so it's well worth "challenging" the health plan for those meds.

So, that's how it works here in South Carolina!

www.SCchoices.com or 1-877-552-4642

Medicaid benefits do differ from state to state, and often, within a state, from year to year. If you have Medicaid and receive SSDI, your monthly amount must be less than $636, which would give you the $1 of SI to qualify for Medicaid. Otherwise, if you receive SSDI, you'll become eligible for Medicare. Some people get both - they are referred to as "dual-eligible".

It would be so helpful if everyone who receives these health care benefits to become active advocates, especially in front of legislators. The lawmakers are the ones who make the decisions as to what Medicaid will cover. Groups such as AARP are vocal about Medicare issues. Changes may not happen, even with robust advocacy, but it's guaranteed not to happen without it. For example, a couple of years ago, Utah wanted to limit prescriptions. We (not just me personally, but a combination of advocacy organizations) got recipients from all over the state to come and testify, held press conferences, newspaper/radio/TV interviews, etc. When the vote came down, enough state senators and representatives said no, and the bill failed. It doesn't always work out in our favor, but they know on Capitol Hill that people with disabilities voices are growing stronger and more cohesive.

There will always be far too many who say "It's not my job to take care of others." Let them say it, but tell them the consequences if we don't have the treatments and services we need to become and remain active and involved members of our communities. As I said to one gentleman who protested: "You have a choice. We all pay into the pot so I can get my meds and other forms of treatment. When I do, I do not get hospitalized or use the ER, I can raise my children, take care of my home and be a contributing member of society. Perhaps at some point I can work full time and pay taxes. Or, without the things I need, I can be institutionalized - long term - and always remain a burden. I don't know if he ever changed his mind, but this is the type of picture we have to paint. Our recovery takes a village (so to speak). And however many or whatever interventions we need, we use them to push ourselves to some level of recovery.

I won't get on my soapbox about recovery issues right now.