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#1
Nov 28, 2017, 05:03 PM
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I recently stopped working again, due to termination, and went back on SSDI. The SSDI I get is really good but still doesn't cover my bills. I am trying so hard to make it all stretch. I'm using every benefit I can but I don't know how I'm going to afford Medicare premiums on top of my bills already.
I get too much from SSDI to qualify for most other benefit programs. I'm doing some freelance work part-time, but it's not even making a dent, and I can't go over a certain monthly limit or I'll get kicked off SSDI. I'm not sure what to do anymore. I'm definitely about to reach an impasse. I have been looking for full-time work, but I moved to this city for the job that I got laid off from, and there's just not a lot of opportunity for the type of work I did here. It's a very competitive field. And I can't afford, financially or psychologically, to move right now to try and find work. I just don't know what to do anymore. Something has got to give. And I'm just afraid it's going to be me. Seesaw
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 What if I fall? Oh, my dear, but what if you fly? Primary Dx: C-PTSD and Severe Chronic Treatment Resistant Major Depressive Disorder Secondary Dx: Generalized Anxiety Disorder with mild Agoraphobia. Meds I've tried: Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Effexor, Remeron, Elavil, Wellbutrin, Risperidone, Abilify, Prazosin, Paxil, Trazadone, Tramadol, Topomax, Xanax, Propranolol, Valium, Visteril, Vraylar, Selinor, Clonopin, Ambien Treatments I've done: CBT, DBT, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Talk therapy, psychotherapy, exercise, diet, sleeping more, sleeping less... |
 FooZe, HALLIEBETH87, jaynedough, Purple,Violet,Blue, unaluna
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#2
Dec 03, 2017, 01:57 AM
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I would encourage you to make a distinction between expenditures you must make to keep body and soul together here and now and "bills." Bills often are for expenditures made in the past that perhaps involved living beyond one's means. Sometimes it is necessary, practical and simply in one's best interests to default.
It is not against the law to default on paying bills. Providing yourself with food and shelter right now comes first. Servicing consumer debt need not be top priority. Medicare premiums have to take priority over any consumer debt you may be trying to pay. |
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#3
Dec 03, 2017, 08:45 AM
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Quote:
__________________
What if I fall? Oh, my dear, but what if you fly? Primary Dx: C-PTSD and Severe Chronic Treatment Resistant Major Depressive Disorder Secondary Dx: Generalized Anxiety Disorder with mild Agoraphobia. Meds I've tried: Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Effexor, Remeron, Elavil, Wellbutrin, Risperidone, Abilify, Prazosin, Paxil, Trazadone, Tramadol, Topomax, Xanax, Propranolol, Valium, Visteril, Vraylar, Selinor, Clonopin, Ambien Treatments I've done: CBT, DBT, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Talk therapy, psychotherapy, exercise, diet, sleeping more, sleeping less... |
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#4
Dec 03, 2017, 11:54 AM
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You need to prioritize Medicare premiums. They don't come after "bills." They are the most important financial obligation. I've seen threads where people have gotten in real financial trouble by failing to do that. Don't they automatically take out for Medicare, so you have no choice?
I'm on SSDI. I don't pay any Medicare premiums - I guess because I'm low enough on income. I have all I need of life's essentials. I pay no consumer debt because I defaulted on it when I got disabled. I have a friend who starves herself because she says "Before food, I have to pay bills." I think that's poor self-care. I'm glad to hear you live within your means. Good luck with your work search. |
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#5
Dec 03, 2017, 12:05 PM
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__________________
What if I fall? Oh, my dear, but what if you fly? Primary Dx: C-PTSD and Severe Chronic Treatment Resistant Major Depressive Disorder Secondary Dx: Generalized Anxiety Disorder with mild Agoraphobia. Meds I've tried: Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Effexor, Remeron, Elavil, Wellbutrin, Risperidone, Abilify, Prazosin, Paxil, Trazadone, Tramadol, Topomax, Xanax, Propranolol, Valium, Visteril, Vraylar, Selinor, Clonopin, Ambien Treatments I've done: CBT, DBT, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Talk therapy, psychotherapy, exercise, diet, sleeping more, sleeping less... |
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#6
Dec 03, 2017, 02:56 PM
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People on Medicare only pay about $3-10 per office visit copay and between $1-5 for the cost of their prescriptions. Do you mean that you pay more than that? Or are you paying for COBRA right now under your former employer's heath insurance plan?
I don't know how SSI or Medicare works so I can't help you there. All I can offer is to call each of your creditors (credit card, utility company, cellphone carrier) and work out payment plans with them. They are very flexible as long as their customer contacts them and asks for payment arrangements. |
 seesaw
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#7
Dec 03, 2017, 03:02 PM
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__________________
What if I fall? Oh, my dear, but what if you fly? Primary Dx: C-PTSD and Severe Chronic Treatment Resistant Major Depressive Disorder Secondary Dx: Generalized Anxiety Disorder with mild Agoraphobia. Meds I've tried: Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Effexor, Remeron, Elavil, Wellbutrin, Risperidone, Abilify, Prazosin, Paxil, Trazadone, Tramadol, Topomax, Xanax, Propranolol, Valium, Visteril, Vraylar, Selinor, Clonopin, Ambien Treatments I've done: CBT, DBT, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Talk therapy, psychotherapy, exercise, diet, sleeping more, sleeping less... |
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#8
Dec 03, 2017, 03:07 PM
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| seesaw
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#9
Dec 03, 2017, 03:55 PM
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Get yourself a Medicare Advantage plan. Here's a link showing some plans in Florida":
https://health.usnews.com/medicare/f...medicare-plans If you drop your Medicare Part D coverage, which is an option for you, you will hurt yourself financially down the road. That's why I say you can't afford to do that now, especially if you are struggling, due to a limited income. Here's a link and an excerpt: https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare...estion_70.html "Even a person with the healthiest lifestyle suddenly can be struck by an unforeseen disease or an accidental injury that requires expensive drugs to treat. Some drugs, especially for cancer, can cost thousands of dollars a month. You are not allowed to enroll or re-enroll in Part D, outside the annual open enrollment period, just because you suddenly develop an urgent medical need for prescription drugs and cannot afford to pay the full price out of pocket." I urge you to read the article at this last link very closely, so you understand the longterm penalty you might bring on yourself, if you drop Part D. At least know the consequences. I apologize for sounding like I'm uncaring of the difficulty you face in trying to do the best you can in a very tough situation. It's true that I don't know the particulars of your specific situation. What I do know is that the system has been purposely set up so that just about no one can blow off Medicare Part D, without regretting doing that down the road. I, myself, do not have to pay any Part D premium, which indicates that my income is even lower than yours. So I, too, struggle with trying to keep a roof over my head. Before I got SSDI, I was suicidal from fear of homelessness. I also don't know much about Florida. I suspect that it may not be the easiest place to try to get by on a very limited income. Politics can have something to do with that. I live in a blue state where public policy about helping low income persons access healthcare is much better than it is in red states. Also cost of living is lower here than in most places. (Your air conditioning bill alone must be quite a burden.) Since you've been on and off and on SSDI, you must be making a valiant effort to remain employed, despite a major health issue. Many who could don't bother. I commend you for that. You probably could have just thrown in the towel. (I did.) I'm sorry you got laid off, after moving to take the job. How disheartening! You are considering a kind of complicated set of options, due to your wanting to work and earn what you can. It's less complicated for me because I'm not going to even try to work. I do qualify for just about every benefit out there, from Section 8 housing subsidy to a subsdized telephone line. You should do whatever, in your own judgement, makes the most sense to you. It's not for me to say. I'm sorry for coming off that way. Let your judgement be informed by knowledge of and consideration of consequences, both short and long term. It's obvious that you're intelligent. Sometimes, when we compare our options, we find there isn't an option that doesn't have a serious downside. That is dismaying. It's tough to go through that when you are sincerely trying to do your best, as I believe you are. |
| Neenagirl
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| Neenagirl, seesaw
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#10
Dec 03, 2017, 05:02 PM
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Unfortunately I can't go into more detail about my finances here. I don't think I will be hit with a penalty on Part D because when I became eligible for Medicare I had insurance through work. Then I lost my job. This is the first period I've been able to enroll in Part D. And it is a priority within my budget to pay for the premiums. I'm just very sensitive to people telling me I shouldn't spend money here or there. The fact of the matter is that my SSDI (not SSI) is too much to allow me to qualify for most other welfare benefits. I just qualified for SNAP but I only qualify for $15 a month, so that should help me buy toilet paper. People like to blame you when the expenses get more than what you bring in, but it's not always that person's fault. I liquidated over $35,000 in savings 5 years ago to pay for hospitalizations and medical treatment. I have to make the decisions that are the best for me and my situation. I recognize that, due to my hard work and ambition, when I had to go on SSDI, at least I had a high-paying enough job that I can still pay my rent each month with my SSDI. I know people who don't qualify for SSDI and only get SSI and get very little each month. At least I can still live on my own (for the time being). I'm just trying to keep things from getting worse and, hopefully, find a way to make them better. I don't think I deserve to be criticized for that. I've been considering a Part C plan versus a Part D plan. I have actually already read that article you linked to...I've been doing a lot of medicare research lately. I have to say, that for government publications, the latest guide to medicare is actually quite easy to understand. I have to call Medicare tomorrow because I need to clarify a couple of questions before I make my decision, but at least I will then be covered starting January 1 again. Again, thank you for taking the time to link to those resources and your kind words of support. I appreciate it. Seesaw
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What if I fall? Oh, my dear, but what if you fly? Primary Dx: C-PTSD and Severe Chronic Treatment Resistant Major Depressive Disorder Secondary Dx: Generalized Anxiety Disorder with mild Agoraphobia. Meds I've tried: Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Effexor, Remeron, Elavil, Wellbutrin, Risperidone, Abilify, Prazosin, Paxil, Trazadone, Tramadol, Topomax, Xanax, Propranolol, Valium, Visteril, Vraylar, Selinor, Clonopin, Ambien Treatments I've done: CBT, DBT, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Talk therapy, psychotherapy, exercise, diet, sleeping more, sleeping less... Last edited by FooZe; Dec 03, 2017 at 06:02 PM. Reason: administrative edit to bring within guidelines |
| Rose76
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#11
Dec 03, 2017, 06:01 PM
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SNAP has an income cap of $1200 a month. And, you can't buy toilet paper with SNAP either. Only food items. And certain food items. SNAP usually allots people a max of $200 a month for food which is on a Debit card. Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy: Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco. Any nonfood items, such as: pet foods soaps, paper products. household supplies. vitamins and medicines. foods that will be eaten in the store. hot foods. I don't think you have SNAP because if you did, you'd have to make less than $1200K a month with your SSDI. And the Medicare Part D is for prescription discounts. Sorry, I support you going through a rough time, but even I don't get SNAP and I make far less than you do with two jobs. Please don't make statements that just aren't true. Some of us have had SNAP and know the rules. There's no way you would just awarded $15 a month for SNAP. Last edited by FooZe; Dec 03, 2017 at 06:44 PM. Reason: administrative edit (to quote only) |
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#12
Dec 03, 2017, 06:14 PM
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Quote:
__________________
What if I fall? Oh, my dear, but what if you fly? Primary Dx: C-PTSD and Severe Chronic Treatment Resistant Major Depressive Disorder Secondary Dx: Generalized Anxiety Disorder with mild Agoraphobia. Meds I've tried: Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Effexor, Remeron, Elavil, Wellbutrin, Risperidone, Abilify, Prazosin, Paxil, Trazadone, Tramadol, Topomax, Xanax, Propranolol, Valium, Visteril, Vraylar, Selinor, Clonopin, Ambien Treatments I've done: CBT, DBT, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Talk therapy, psychotherapy, exercise, diet, sleeping more, sleeping less... |
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#13
Dec 03, 2017, 07:15 PM
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#14
Dec 03, 2017, 07:20 PM
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Seesaw
__________________
What if I fall? Oh, my dear, but what if you fly? Primary Dx: C-PTSD and Severe Chronic Treatment Resistant Major Depressive Disorder Secondary Dx: Generalized Anxiety Disorder with mild Agoraphobia. Meds I've tried: Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Effexor, Remeron, Elavil, Wellbutrin, Risperidone, Abilify, Prazosin, Paxil, Trazadone, Tramadol, Topomax, Xanax, Propranolol, Valium, Visteril, Vraylar, Selinor, Clonopin, Ambien Treatments I've done: CBT, DBT, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Talk therapy, psychotherapy, exercise, diet, sleeping more, sleeping less... |
| Anonymous43456
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#15
Dec 03, 2017, 07:38 PM
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Yep! That's exactly it! Again, sorry for jumping to conclusions based on my own hard path. That's what the folks call "projection." Whoops.
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| seesaw
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#16
Dec 03, 2017, 07:39 PM
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Let's all console each other. I get exactly $25 a month from SNAP. I think $15 comes from the federal government and $10 from my state. The reason there is variation from state to state is because states can choose if they even want to add to the federal amount and by how much. Like I said, seesaw, Florida is not the best place to be poor in.
I figure that $25/month comes out to $300/year. I look at that as expanding my annual budget by $300, which I can spend anyway I want. (I can't use the actual EBT card for wine. But I do buy about $25 worth of wine a month that I couldn't afford, unless I got that SNAP subsidy.) So I figure SNAP gets me my wine.  Cheers, everone! Happy hour is upon us. 
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#17
Dec 03, 2017, 07:40 PM
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Quote:
__________________
What if I fall? Oh, my dear, but what if you fly? Primary Dx: C-PTSD and Severe Chronic Treatment Resistant Major Depressive Disorder Secondary Dx: Generalized Anxiety Disorder with mild Agoraphobia. Meds I've tried: Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Effexor, Remeron, Elavil, Wellbutrin, Risperidone, Abilify, Prazosin, Paxil, Trazadone, Tramadol, Topomax, Xanax, Propranolol, Valium, Visteril, Vraylar, Selinor, Clonopin, Ambien Treatments I've done: CBT, DBT, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Talk therapy, psychotherapy, exercise, diet, sleeping more, sleeping less... |
| Rose76
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| Rose76
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#18
Dec 03, 2017, 10:13 PM
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Medicare Part C and "Medicare Advantage Plan" mean the same thing. Looks like we're on the same page as far as how to optimize your Medicare dollars. Most financially strapped people do best on an Advantage program. I'm not on one for two reasons: for people as poor as me, the federal gov't provides assistance through the "Extra Help" program. So I don't have to worry much about prescription costs. I only pay a very small co-pay. Here's a link about that program:
https://www.ssa.gov/medicare/prescriptionhelp/ The place to apply for the "Extra Help" Part D program is at your Social Security office, (not at Income Support.) (Usually the federal government contacts you to tell you you're eligible. Since you haven't heard, you might not be poor enough. But read up on it and see what you think.) The other reason I don't get in an Advantage program is that, in my county, there is a special program giving me access to the state university hospital system. I have no copays. I also get a special limited form of Medicaid. It pays my Part B premium for me. For that I do have to regularly submit income documentation to my local state Income Support office. Again, the federal government notified me about that benefit. I put this stuff here for the edification of anyone glancing at the thread. A lot of people are very confused about this stuff. I've got some of it clearly figured out. |
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#19
Dec 05, 2017, 08:30 PM
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__________________
Sue Dx: Depression, ADHD |
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#20
Dec 08, 2017, 12:58 AM
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I tend to leave mail unopened for quite a while. Well, both my S.O. and I got notices saying we'ld be having to start paying premiums for our Part D Prescription coverages, which cost us zero premium in 2017. Now we know how you feel, seesaw.
I got him moved into a "dual" plan that combines Medicare and Medicaid and pescription coverage - all for zero premium. (Talk about down to the wire. Today is Dec. 7. Whew.) I had to move to a different prescription plan that would charge me zero premium, which my current plan was not going to keep doing. Funny thing is both plans are from the same company. If you have an Advantage Plan for Medicare, then you must get your prescription coverage from the same plan. Socking subscribers with these non-zero premium is a disgrace. The insurance companies should, instead, be leaning on the drug companies to reduce what they charge. They have the leverage to do it. But, noooooh, they got to put the squeeze on folks getting SSDI and regular Social Security. |
| seesaw
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#21
Dec 08, 2017, 04:09 AM
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I hear what your saying been there still there and I can’t even by the T-shirt.
SSDI sucks! It’s hard to stay afloat for sure.
__________________
Helping others gets me out of my own head ~ |
| Rose76
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#22
Dec 08, 2017, 03:06 PM
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I'm on SSDI and was just hospitalized for 9 days in October. 2 hospitals were involved. I have the bill for one of them, but the other has not yet sent the bill.
So far I am surviving on my income, including a small stipend for being what is called a Senior Companion to an elderly man. I make $2.65 an hour, but it cannot be counted as wages, nor can it count against any of my benefits. I don't know what will happen in the coming year, concerning all of this, however. I am feeling some anxiety about being able to keep my bill paying promises, so I can relate, even though I probably get less SSDI than you do and qualify for a few benefits. One of my biggest expenses is food. I try only to eat fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains and not a lot of meat. I save on the meat end of it, because I prefer fresh to frozen or canned. I know this is probably not wise in terms of my budget, but I find if I obtain canned stuff or frozen stuff, I just cannot force myself to eat it and it goes to waste. I am cutting back on vitamins and other things like that. When I was in the Hospital for those 9 days I did not have any of these and I felt just fine! So.... I am here to give you support and also to receive support. Thanks for this thread.
__________________
Have a blessed day! 
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| Rose76
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#23
Dec 08, 2017, 04:14 PM
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PS. I do like dried fruits also, such as raisins and prunes. I eat nuts and seeds as well.
I grew up on frozen veggies, and some fresh, like salads and summer squash. Rarely we had canned, but I do recall eating some back then, many years ago. I am not at all sure why I now have an aversion to canned and frozen. It might have to do with the fact that I was forced to eat everything on my plate as a child and I resented this. This is just a hunch.
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Have a blessed day!
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#24
Dec 09, 2017, 08:26 AM
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I too can't stand canned vegetables and don't eat them. They are the least nutritious.
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#25
Dec 09, 2017, 08:42 AM
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Well, I made a revised personal budget last night. And I called some of my billing companies and got extensions and created payment plans with them.
I'm laying off my focus of going back to work full-time for a while. I can make ends meet for a little while between SSDI and part-time freelance work. I want to focus on doing some treatment and recovery and learning better coping mechanisms. It would be nice too if eventually my lawsuit pays off, because that income wouldn't affect my SSDI. Seesaw
__________________
What if I fall? Oh, my dear, but what if you fly? Primary Dx: C-PTSD and Severe Chronic Treatment Resistant Major Depressive Disorder Secondary Dx: Generalized Anxiety Disorder with mild Agoraphobia. Meds I've tried: Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Effexor, Remeron, Elavil, Wellbutrin, Risperidone, Abilify, Prazosin, Paxil, Trazadone, Tramadol, Topomax, Xanax, Propranolol, Valium, Visteril, Vraylar, Selinor, Clonopin, Ambien Treatments I've done: CBT, DBT, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Talk therapy, psychotherapy, exercise, diet, sleeping more, sleeping less... |
| Rose76
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| Reply |
This is an old thread. You probably should not post your reply to it, as the original poster is unlikely to see it.|
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