Re: ssdisablility

[Guest guest]

WOW

This whole thing about SSD has caused a little bit of a fire storm..lol.

Gil,

I agree with you but this is how it was exlained to me. Since Aetna was

paying me $1,700 a month while I was waiting for our goverment to make up

it's mind if I was disabled or not, they took the retro pay based on the

fact that now that I am receiving SSD benefits that they only have to pay me

a partial payment each month because I have another source of income. So

they had the company calculate what they " overpaid " me during the period I

was waiting for SSD and then took it back. I agree to an extent it is not

fair, and believe me I hated not being able to use that money to better my

families situation. But they were legally in their rights to take the money

back, so I had no choice but to watch it go into my account and go out the

next day. All insurance companies will do whatever they can with the law(and

I suspect sometimes outside of the law) to save money so I knew they would

be taking it. My mother and other familie members said I should fight it but

I knew no lawyer would take the case without a retainer, and I can't afford

it. It was hard enough to afford to pay a lawyer to finally get my divorce

from the woman that left me shortly after I was dx'ed. Anyway, I do truly

wish you well Gill with your BMT and please keep us updated on how you are

doing.

As I have stated before in the past when I was on the boards before I am not

even considering a BMT because of the risk factors for someone at my age,

and also because so far since 04 my 400mg's of gleevec have kept me in

remission and despite the side effects I am not having liver issues, so as

my doc's tell me...I just have to deal with the side effects. Don't take

that wrong they do make sure I have the medication that helps me handle the

side effects so when they tell me that they are not being mean about it at

all.

Zavie,

I remember you very well from when I first came to the boards a few years

ago when I was new and scared out of my mind. I told my experience with my

first Onco doc and you as well as some others advised me to go to another

doc. I did that and love the doctors I have now. They all are in an office

called Consultants in Blood Disorders and Cancer, and aside from a run in

with one of the four doctors there, I have nothing but praise for them and

their staff. As I mentioned their on staff social worker is helping me get

my Gleevec free from the manufacturer, and help with my Xanax as well. So

after that little rambling what I am trying to say is I know you have the

best interest of all of us in mind, and I am not the only one who thinks so,

so keep up the good work.

ne,

It does make a major difference that your in Canada and not in the US. I

know you cannot do anything about how the US runs it's programs, but trust

me when I tell you this, here in the US the goverment actually has agents

that go out and investigate anyone they suspect our lying to get SSD and

will put them in jail if they find out they lied. That was why I posted my

warning to you in my first reply about going on that Mountain Climb. I am

sure Canada is much different than here in the states, you have universal

health care where here in the states they will send you to the worst

hospitals in you do not have insurance. My understanding is that in Canada

your taxes people have to pay are higher than here in the states to pay for

the health care system you have, and if that is correct it is perfectly

understandable. It seems to me you have some differences with Zavie and that

is between you guys, but please don't start mud slinging the man because he

has done allot to help those of us that came to this group as noobs and

helps allot with good information and support.

I can understand you not feeling in is any ones business what you do or how

you do it, but it is hard for some that are barely able to keep their

electric on and have the luxury of having cable TV to hear how others can go

to Africa or England or wherever..lol. I know it is not your fault that some

of us are not doing great in the financial area I am just trying to help you

understand why you have gotten some of the responses you have after the

posting about going to Africa.

My prospective has changed dramatically since my dx and even more so since

my former employer pulled the last rug out from under me by taking away my

insurance. Don't get me wrong even when I was making good money working I

still felt sorry for those less fortunate then I was and I still do, but now

I guess I am just angry. I am angry that our country has homeless people but

we send so much money to other countries instead of making sure our own are

taking care of. I am angry when I hear of our politicians having fund

raisers to run for office and raise a million dollars in one evening for TV

ads and such, while 70% of the US population have little or no insurance(my

percentage could be off a bit). I mean the money alone spent to run for

office in this country could go along way in helping those in our country in

need.

I do not begrudge those that work hard and become wealthy from their hard

work, but it sickens me when I see on TV people that obviously have way to

much money on their hands. I mean seriously does anyone need 16 cars, and a

home with 10 bathrooms..lol. I am angry that many of us with CML are almost

treated like criminals because we do not look sick in to others, so they

think we are just " faking " our side effects and our illness is not that bad.

What really gets me is no one will come out and say exactly what we were

exposed to for us to be afflicted with CML in the first place. I know

Benzene is one culprit that has been mentioned but all I get when I ask my

doctors is that they do not really know for sure what causes our bodies to

be mutated. Okay I am off my soap box again..lol, sorry for that little

rant, I am really a nice person..really..hehe:)

Terry

On 7/12/07, lunaemica@... <lunaemica@...> wrote:

>

> Gill,

> I will keep you in my thoughts and hope that your BMT goes extremely well.

> :}

>

>

> [ ] Re: ssdisablility

>

> Hey!

>

> Thank you guys so much for your responses. OK here is my

> background.. I was diagnosed at 21 with CML, and i was also pregnant

> with twins.. I ended up holding of medication until the girls were

> born.. I started Gleevec in Oct 05, and ended up failing it by

> August 06, I ended up becoming resistant to the Gleevec.. I started

> Sprycel September 06 and i fought low blood counts the whole

> time,and eventually became resistant to it also.. I have been off of

> Sprycel since last month.. I have all of my pre-transplant test

> done, and now i am just waiting for my admit date on the 23rd of

> July.. I have a perfect match with my sister! Which we are so happy

> about.. So basically I have failed two medications, I am young (24

> now), and have a perfect match, so i have decided that transplant is

> best for me! My doctor's have given me 80% chance of survival! I

> will try to keep you guys updated on everything! I actually just had

> a BMB today, so i am off to rest!!

>

> Terry why did all of your money go to Aetna? That just doesn't sound

> fair to me!

>

> Thank you so much!

>

> gill

>

>

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Dear Group,

> > > > > >

> > > > > > I was approved for disablilty last year. It was not a long

> > > > process

> > > > > for me but I have heard this was an exception. I was approved

> > > > > because of CML and liver function failure due to Gleevec

> > > (function

> > > > > has returned and I am now on Sprycel and doing well. The

> > > > interview

> > > > > was done over the phone and the Doctor had to send in a

> > > report.

> > > > It

> > > > > took a couple months and then I was approved on the first

> > > try. I

> > > > > have heard you may have to apply several times. I understand

> I

> > > > will

> > > > > probably have to be reviewed in the future. I hope they don't

> > > > take

> > > > > it away from me because I am feeling much better. Maybe they

> > > > > approved it becauce I am 61 and close to getting SS.

> > > > > > Any other questions don't hesitate to ask.

> > > > > > carolyn_kuptz@

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _

> > > > > ____________ __

> > > > > > Need a vacation? Get great deals

> > > > > > to amazing places on Travel.

> > > > > > http://travel. /

> > > > > >

> > > > > >