Disibility won't cover medical expenses

anjelmarie,
when i received my disability in 1996, the waiting period for medicare was one year. now it is two.

i go to a state psychiatric facility to see a pdoc and it is based on my income (they take my medicare). i only pay $8 a visit to see her, $0 for the nurse, and the required support group once a month is also free. however, they don't take medicare for in-patient.

about medications, if you have a Krogers in your area, there is a long list of medicines that are $4 a month (generic) and for three months at a time $10. Walmart also has a very long list of generic medicines that are also $4. some other grocery stores have meds for $3. none of these require insurance or a co-pay.

whe you get medicare, and plan to use the medicare part d prescription drug plan (of your choice) you have to pay around $40 a month just for the "privilege". this is only cost-effective if you are on a brand name drug that costs an arm and a leg (such as Seroquel--won't go generic until possibly 2013--as soon as it does, i will lose the part d plan and go to Krogers if they sell it there).

you can also try:
http://www.needymeds.org/drug_list.taf

(I have heard negative things about that one…I think you can’t have any other assistance with meds to qualify. But I think, not sure, you can also get medication assistance from DFCS--department of famly and children's services)

take care and good luck

Thanks everyone for your advice. I didn't have to wait after all. They gave me Medicare Part A and B in Nov. Then I just joined an HMO plan with BC/BS where I don't have to pay a premium every month as long as i use the doctors listed in their book and stay in my State. Plus I get discounts on meds but they have to be meds on their list also. I was getting my meds at walmart but i found out that Pathmark and other places also have low price meds so now i go to Pathmark. I have to pay a small copay when i go to the doctor and also if i go to the ER and if I'm hospitalized. If i went with a better plan where i can go anywhere and don't need to pay copays it would have been almost $200 i would be paying a month so what i picked should be ok. I also am looking into alternative health care and i found a place that is a school and the students work with the doctors and come up with a treatment plan for you. It is a herbal and accupuncture school. I don't mind trying other things because i have a lot of health issues and i don't feel i get taken seriously sometimes with doctors or they don't help me so i am hoping i can get some help at this place. Again thanks for all your advice.

Good explanatory article: http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/wil...isability.html

good info perna...i am sure this helps the most in knowing what disability actually goes into effect when...as well as when the medicare portion of it will go into effect for those who are new to the disability payments.

anjelmarie...don't forget to go to your local human resource center and apply for medicaid and food stamps...if you get less than $1000, you should be able to get food stamps...and apply for SSI as well...I was getting both SSDI and SSI when I was single, but lost it when I got married and didn't get back on it after I was single again...even though I should have...but my daughter gets money because I get SSDI, and we get food stamps and medicaid as well. I wish you well...

Jewels

medicare kicks in at 25 months I believe but it does not cover medications. you have to get a drug plan to go along with it. I use an advantage program that takes care of all my medicare including medications.

Things must have changed. When i got disability i got medicare too. i do not tell anyone about the reason for my disability. i also have diabetes which has been hard to control so i think they believe the disability is related to that. i do not correct anyone. It is not acceptable to have a mental illness still. The negative un-supportive attitudes do not help with our self-esteem either. i think in general mental illness is too scary for most people to comprehend.Much hope to you . i do not have any suggestions other than what has already been said. Best of luck and much patience as you cope with that awful red tape...

It is unfortunate that you are not getting the support you need from your friends and family. Sadly people still think that when we are depressed we can "snap out of it" and we all know that is not the case.

You do not need to tell people why you are on disability. There will be some rude or nosy people that will have the audacity to ask why and you can just say.... "well... cuz i'm disabled"!!!

nowadays, medicare is offered only after being on SSDI for two years. It is not automatic as it used to be. Wish it were different, because it would help a whole lotta people right now. But unless people start objecting to Obamacare, people won't be getting the help they need, at the time they need it. Things were different a long time ago, but recent changes have made the wealthy wealthier, and the poor, poorer. There is no excuse for the way this country has gone down the tubes. You might try going to the local Health and Human Services department and apply for SSI (which is a state run funding) and medicaid (also state run). And apply for Food stamps also. If you think you have it bad, think of all the seniors that have to pay for their prescriptions out of pocket. Their savings are practically nil because of it. If you think seniors have it good, think again. They too, have trouble getting the basic necessities of life. They just know how to make a penny scream before they let it go. And they know where to go to get fed...follow them around for a while and see...they do not have as much as they want you to believe they have. Yet they still have their dignity, and their pride. Too bad we can't take the lessons they have learned and make them our own. We might be bending over to pick up the pennies on the street like they used to. When money meant something more...something much, much more.

Jewels

Not long ago someone asked why would i choose another kind of existence, considering how hard life as a human has been. i replied that i did not know what it was like to be a water animal or a bird or a molecule, that just because being human has been very hard does not mean all of life is hard. But maybe humans have a tendency to look at hardships as bad, when it is a problem that can be solved with some effort. Life has always been about finding a way to get needs met. Some humans are able to rise to the challenge and make wonderful, easier lives for themselves. Our medical coverage in the US needs to change. No one likes change.
No matter what there will be opposition to change and to remaining stagnant. Thus...jump through the hoops...slide down what ever hole they want....do your best to cope financially, but most importantly find time to remember and be thankful for the blessings you do have. When you get weary of the insurance crap....ask your friends for help...and or support.

Medicare is two years after the initial application for SSD. When approved it looks back at the initial date of application providing you did not at any time let in lapse...e.g. they denied it and you did not follow thru with a request for a hearing etc.
I was a caseworker for the State of Florida and I did disability app's and I also have SSD. Post me if you have a question!

P.s. You got some great advice from people!!!!!!!! Good luck!