Re:Best week in a year...

[Guest guest]

I work in the Mental Health field as a therapist and have now for 8+

years plus 15+ more in the social services field. As a result of my

education and work history, I have been told by pretty much every

disability attorney I have spoken to that I will NEVER qualify for

disability. The reality is that I worked with a woman who had lived

most of her life in a wheel chair and not only was a therapist but, also

worked at the Social Security office so the concept of qualifying for

disability can be realities. For me this disease is life impacting but,

unless I have literally no quality of life my chances of getting

approved are rare. The agency I work for announced the first of June

that on July first they would be changing our health insurance

plans....to an HSA with a $2500 deductible.....my husband is retired and

gets Social Security because of paying into that System for 40+

years...and we have 2 children 13 and 3 years old. There is no was I

can pay out the $2500 in big chunks for my medications. I had to work

hard but, contacted each company that manufacturers my meds and

submitted for a Healthwell grant.

Even with an attorney, if you are actively employed full time at this

time.....the day after you leave work and apply will not qualify you for

disability unless you are dealing with something like cancer....you are

looking at possibly YEARS to get approved especially depending upon your

age and the extent to which you are impaired. Additionally, the reality

is that even IF you are approved and you have a long work

history....your disability income will far exceed almost every state

standard for qualifying for Medicaid. Perhaps other people have had

different experiences, but the agency I work for had HUNDREDS of clients

who are either currently on Medicaid and Medicare combos or who have

been applying for disability so I see the reports from Social Security

and consult with attorneys...be careful as it can be a shock to your

system as the disability income will be far less than you may expect and

may often be far more than the standards for getting any kind of aid.

It's becoming harder and harder to qualify for disability....I just

started working with someone who has the most severe form of Celiac

disease you can have who worked his entire life in the baking/cooking

field.....this person has been trying for 2 years and has lost 60 pounds

and has additional severe health issues as a result of the primary

disease.....it seems like a slam dunk case.....

The other reality most people may not realize is that many doctors and

specialists are cutting back on seeing patients with Medicaid and

Medicare because of the low reimbursement rates.....so the doctors who

are left that can and do accept the insurance...may not be your first

choice. And getting medications approved can be a tough battle as well.

I am not trying to discourage people but, rather suggest that before

planning on doing something they may need to sit back and look at all

angles....I thought I could put my children on the State's CHIP program

that will cover any child regardless of parents income....found out that

to qualify a child must be without ANY medical coverage for 6

months.....to me that was far too scary of a gamble to take. Find a

GOOD attorney....talk to others on who they used.....I find those

without the fancy TV ads are often more successful and accessible.

Dawn B. in PA