This is going to be a long one.
I am able to stay on my dad’s insurance (through the military) because we file paperwork that says I’m incapacitated for now and he pays for more that 50% of my needs. We started doing that when I was 21 and when we sent in all the paperwork last year they only renewed my insurance for one year and said that if we want to keep doing this we’re going to have to get a letter from my doctor saying that I am permanently disabled by my bipolar. Private insurance is so expensive (we don’t pay for tri care) and I have amazing prescription coverage and low co pays. I don’t even know if a private provider would cover my pre existing conditions.
Now, I know that having BP will be a life long struggle but there is something about this title that just makes me feel horrible. It makes me feel like there is no hope. How can my doctor tell me that I’m going to get a grasp on this and feel normal one day and write me a letter saying I’m permanently disabled at the same time? I’m going to ask him if he writes the letter if he’s stretching the truth to help me keep my insurance or if this is a serious label. I know there are a lot of people who are on disability because of their BP and that’s fine, I don’t judge them or feel weird about that but there is something about calling myself disabled that really bothers me.
I don’t think I’m better than anyone, please don’t misunderstand. I had a really hard time when I got diagnosed in the first place and now this feels like another label of something “wrong” with me. How will I ever feel normal? I guess I will just have to do what I have to do in order to make sure that I’m able to keep myself healthy.

[Forgive77]

I don't know much about labling yourself disabled and what that might do for your career or quality of life. I'm sorry you have to make some tough choices. If you blieve in a higher power...pray...and maybe an answer will come to you. That's all I would be able to do, and trust that the "right" thing will happen.

[mgran]

Hi Joan, I found myself in a similar situation, and it really gutted me. I have a housing officer who helps me with financial issues that arose in my last serious mania, and who has helped me with benefits, supported me with disability interviews etc. She's also a mental health nurse, and has written me letters to support the British equivalent of disabilty payements... she's said that I have a "serious and enduring mental health issue."
Well, schizoaffective (or bipolar) is a serious issue, and while it's not necessarily going to be permanent, there is a permanent risk that the disease might return... in which case her statement ( serious and enduring) is accurate. I think this is what your doctor is doing. I really do understand how horrible it is hearing the diagnoses (I had it multiple times... the last two being bipolar and schizoaffective. Just don't worry about how the label makes you feel... what it actually does is inform other medical professionals whereabout you stand on a spectrum. Your doctor is looking out for your interests... and yes, you can get better despite that judgement.

DON'T WORRY!

You'll be fine.

(((hug)))

[dragonfly2]

There's a difference between being considered "permanently disabled" and being "always sick". I had a hard time with this as well, but have come to terms with it. I am on Social Security Disability for my bipolar, but I have good periods. That is the nature of the illness. We have good periods. But with me, the bad periods are sudden and unpredictable and prevent me from working on a consistent basis right now. And, just because I am considered "disabled" right now doesn't mean I will never work again. I was on SSDI back in 2000 and eventually was able to return to work in 2003. I worked for seven years in a very technical, demanding position before getting really sick again and having to return to SSDI.

So, being declared "disabled" isn't necessarily the end of the world. If you're really not able to work, which it sounds like to me from what you've said, then it may be worth your while to see if you qualify for SSDI. It's not welfare, it's basically a government insurance plan that you've paid into through your payroll FICA taxes. That's the "I" in SSDI.

I'd get the letter from your doctor.

Originally Posted by dragonfly2

There's a difference between being considered "permanently disabled" and being "always sick". I had a hard time with this as well, but have come to terms with it. I am on Social Security Disability for my bipolar, but I have good periods. That is the nature of the illness. We have good periods. But with me, the bad periods are sudden and unpredictable and prevent me from working on a consistent basis right now. And, just because I am considered "disabled" right now doesn't mean I will never work again. I was on SSDI back in 2000 and eventually was able to return to work in 2003. I worked for seven years in a very technical, demanding position before getting really sick again and having to return to SSDI.

So, being declared "disabled" isn't necessarily the end of the world. If you're really not able to work, which it sounds like to me from what you've said, then it may be worth your while to see if you qualify for SSDI. It's not welfare, it's basically a government insurance plan that you've paid into through your payroll FICA taxes. That's the "I" in SSDI.

I'd get the letter from your doctor.

Because it's insurance through the military, I actually am not allowed to get disability benefits. Because my Dad signs papers saying that I have to keep the insurance because he pays for everything I'm not allowed to get help other ways. If I went off of Tri Care there would be more limited options for what doctors I could see and what medications would be covered (at least that is what has happened to my friends on disability here in Wyoming) so I will for sure get the letter from my doctor.

It's good to hear that you were able to go back to work and I hope that one day I can do the same. Thanks for responding to me

Originally Posted by Forgive77

I don't know much about labling yourself disabled and what that might do for your career or quality of life. I'm sorry you have to make some tough choices. If you blieve in a higher power...pray...and maybe an answer will come to you. That's all I would be able to do, and trust that the "right" thing will happen.

I will pray for sure. It usually comforts me and makes me feel like I'm not just making random decisions

Originally Posted by mgran

Hi Joan, I found myself in a similar situation, and it really gutted me. I have a housing officer who helps me with financial issues that arose in my last serious mania, and who has helped me with benefits, supported me with disability interviews etc. She's also a mental health nurse, and has written me letters to support the British equivalent of disabilty payements... she's said that I have a "serious and enduring mental health issue."
Well, schizoaffective (or bipolar) is a serious issue, and while it's not necessarily going to be permanent, there is a permanent risk that the disease might return... in which case her statement ( serious and enduring) is accurate. I think this is what your doctor is doing. I really do understand how horrible it is hearing the diagnoses (I had it multiple times... the last two being bipolar and schizoaffective. Just don't worry about how the label makes you feel... what it actually does is inform other medical professionals whereabout you stand on a spectrum. Your doctor is looking out for your interests... and yes, you can get better despite that judgement.

DON'T WORRY!

You'll be fine.

(((hug)))

Thank you. You're words are very encouraging

[Phoenix_1]

In Canada to get any amount of support from CPP disability (Canada Pension Plan - same as US Social Security), you have to be permanently disabled, and never able to work again in any capacity. I applied for CPP disability 2 years ago and was turned down. But my friend knows people on it, and she says if it's a mental disorder, you always get turned down the first time you apply. Which is discrimination, because people with physical disabilities always get accepted. Now that I've been diagnosed with BP I may apply again, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

[dragonfly2]

Phoenix 1 wrote:

In Canada to get any amount of support from CPP disability (Canada Pension Plan - same as US Social Security), you have to be permanently disabled, and never able to work again in any capacity.

That's interesting, that they never, ever expect you to work again. Do they do periodic reviews to make sure you're still disabled? The US SS Disability system has a very elaborate "Ticket to Work" program, with all sorts of incentives for people who feel well enough to try working again. That's how I went back to work. I had the reassurance that if I did get too sick to work again, that I could go back on it, with different provisions as the years went on. I began working again in 2003, but I had a grace period that wouldn't end until spring of next year if I had to go back on it, which I did, last year.

[Merlin]

There are non pension plan disability benefits from the provinces. I know of AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped) in Alberta.

I am on PWD in British Columbia. It's our provincial disability program, ( persons with disability ). It ok, better than nothing. The provincial rates vary, however they are all below the poverty line throughout Canada, I believe.

Dragonfly, the do do periodical checks, I am not sure about CPP tho as that is s federal program you pay into from income taxes.

[Phoenix_1]

I don't believe CPP does any further checks. My ex-husband was a con artist and he was on it for his "bad back". Meanwhile he worked as a courier, and delivered things like tractor tires, doors, heavy stuff that he shouldn't have been able to lift with a bad back. He also had 5 paper routes and newspapers are heavy.

SK has a program called SAID, but you have to be level 2 and live in an approved home. I guess if you're healthy enough to live on your own you don't qualify. That just leaves SAP (Social Assistance) which gives you an extra $50/month if you are disabled. All you need for that is a doctor's note saying that you can't work. And you better be in low-cost government housing, because they give you a whopping $721 a month with the $50 added in. $671 if you're not disabled. That's for a single person.

[dragonfly2]

It's fascinating to see the different country's systems. We don't have state-specific disability programs here, it's all Federal.

Joanna - that's too bad about not being able to receive other benefits because of the health insurance. The SSDI isn't really "assistance" per se, like SSI would be considered. Would you qualify for Wyoming Medicaid at all? However it works out, I hope you're finding the treatment you need.