SSD doesn't qualify for Medical Insurance, WTH?

After a year I haven't had a medical coverage therfore I haven't had any therapy or medicine. I got denied medical assistance because I receive payments from Social Security Disability. Now I'm even more upset and confused. How is someone who is disabled supposed to wait 2 years to get medical coverage? And how is it that if a addict 9no offense to anyone who is) who possibly hasn't paid a dime in taxes qualifies for Medicaid or Medicare (united States medical assistance insurance).. but a veteran who is legally disabled doesn't? I'm so confused and just want to curl up into a ball and dissappear.. I feel so forgotten and neglected...

I haven't talked to anyone of my friends for over a month now because I'm embarrased of the way I act. I was hoping I will get help but now that hope is gone. At least I have you guys though.. it may not be enough but its something.

-singularis

-singularis

I'm sorry I can't offer any advice as I am in Canada. The systems have so many holes, even up here where I live. But never give up hope, as hard as it might be. You just have to hold on to an ounce of hope. It makes me so mad that these systems that are supposed to help the people people who need it fail in so many ways, it's sickening.

I hope someone will be able to offer you some suggestions. I just wanted you to know I feel for you. I am on disability myself, and things haven't been easy. I guess we just have to sick together and keep our hope alive, that things can get better.

From my understanding, SSDI does not qualify you for medical assistance (Medicaid), because the government believes you have enough money to pay for your own insurance. It is only when you have qualified for SSI (when your disability is too low for cost of living) that you are eligible for Medicaid, because SSI means they don't think you have enough money through Disability to pay for your own insurance.

I understand that they expect me to get my own health insurance but my issue is that a couple hundred dollars only goes so far, even in a good economy. How is someone supposed to afford health insurance after important bills like rent, utilities (gas + electric), and food? I wish I can function and just go to work and get my hands dirty fixing helicoptors like I used to. If I can do that again a lot of my problems would be solved. But the reality of it is I can't, not yet at least. I hope one day maybe I would be able to function in a work environment again but until I can get some type of treatment that thought is nothing but a dream and a memory.

By the way I just received some news late yesterday, I might be able to get health insurance, its pretty complicated but there's a chance. Wish me luck! thank you all for your support I really really appreciate it.

-singularis

I get ssdi and also Medicaid and I am also on Medicare.

around july it will be 2 years since I started receiveing payments. So I will then qualify for medicare and medicaid. But for now I'm going to have to go through a program where I would have to work a couple of hours a week. But I thought that people who are on ssdi legally can't work.. anyone else ever hear of this?

-singularis

SSDI means you can't work a FULL TIME job... you can have SSDI and have a part-time job.

You said you were a vet. Have you tried going the the VA (Veteran's Affairs)? I'm a vet too,and I have other insurance, but I could go to the VA and get free care.

Nice I didn't know that. Thanks really.. I'm going consider that when I get back in to treatment, because as of nowi can't even stand being around people I dont know.

-singularis

Unfortuantely I was dischared with an other than honerable discharge. Here's a quick story. Something really, really, screwed up that was done to me (sexual assault) which left me with ptsd. & to top it off I was showing signs of schizoaffective disorder, I would get really nervous around people and jumpy. I had hallucinations that made me act speratic at work, and try to find quiet hiding places at work.. yeah I know weird. I eventually ended up with a formal write up (pg.11) and one njp. They (the marine corps) failed to take a look at my medical history from my therapy sessions or even bother to put the peices together as to why I would kind of lose it, or act weird. I guess they thought it was a more behavioral issue, I really don't know. I ended up getting separated within a month in a half (which is unusually fast) Under Other Than Honerable Condtions for Pattern of Misconduct. Despite the fact one doctor towards the end of my enlisment diagnosed me with ptsd and Schizoaffective disorder.. man I'm shaking my head as I type this. I collected a paper trail & have a lawyer now and I'm fighting for VA benifits and a discherge change.. its gonna be a while before that happens, but I have faith.

This is going to sound crazy but besides all of this I still love the Marine Corps, it will always be a part of me.

-singularis

I hid the forms I had to fill in, because I had someone visiting and I didn't want them to find out I was on benefits. Now I can't remember where I put them. Argh.

Wow. It sounds like you have a really good case. The system really let you down. I definately understand still loving the Corps. I still love the Army.

Yeah I do but its still unfortunate that I have to go through this... eventually everything will get sorted out, until then I'm gonna just try my best to keep occupied because it sure does suck waiting around for this kind of stuff. Thanks for your support.

-singularis

That stinks, for some reason I have a Eidetic memory. Which means I can remember stuff pretty accurately like a movie.. its weird.. I don't like people knowing my situation either, I feel like ill be judged wrong and treated different.. I hope you find em

-singularis

Thanks Singularis, I contacted my support worker and told her what happened. She contacted the department, and they sent me out new forms, so she's coming round soon to help me fill them in.

Hi singularis:

I'm not sure if you got this answered or not. When my son was going through the process of getting onto Medicare, he was receiving services through the county mental health center. He was assigned a case manager. These case managers know the Medicare/Medicaid system inside out, so they can help clients get access to services.

My recollection is that in our state (Kansas - I think Medicaid may be a bit different from state to state; Medicare is federal) he was given a medical card (Medicaid) as soon as he applied for disability. Kansas (at that time - who knows what the meanies in the current administration do!) gave Medicaid, food stamps, and cash assistance to people waiting to be approved for disability. When he was approved for disability, he retained the Medicaid for one or two years - I can't remember. Then he was automatically put on Medicare.

He still has Medicaid, but it's different now. The only thing his Medicaid does is pay the premiums on his health insurance. I think his Medicare parts A and B are about $140/month. His part D (drugs) is about $30. He doesn't pay those, because the Medicaid program does.

Can you get services through the mental health center and ask for a case manager? That would be a big help, because they know all the assistance programs available - not just Medicare/Medicaid, but also housing, food stamps, voc rehab - things you may not be aware of.

Thanks for the response.. I'm currently trying to do that now. In nj its different and harder to get anytype of assistance because there already is so much people that need it. My case worker said that I need a letter stating I have a part time job. So I guess they want me to work without having had any treatment in over a year.. they're nuts! My aunt owns a house cleaning business so I'm gonna have her type me up the letter and I guess ill have to go help her out a couple times a week.

About housing and foodstamps.. I can only imagine that its going to be just as dissapointing if not more. I really need to move out of where I live.. immediatly! My sister always makes fun of my illness, I'm isolated from reality, and no one understands what I'm going through, they just think I'm lazy.. I don't even want to get started on this...

Thatnks for all your support and really good info I appreciate it

-singularis

It's probably harder now in Kansas as well. My son went through this process before the economy tanked. And before the brilliant voters of Kansas elected our current "Christian" governor who wants all the sick and elder to either get over it or crawl away and die somewhere. Grrrr!!!

Oh, geez! So you have to have a job to prove you can't hold a job?

That's good.

I know it's exhausting to go through the process and it feels like the benefits aren't worth the effort, but every dime counts. This is something a case manager could help with.

Your sister sounds like a meany.

nice! that's great to hear!

you can get medicare thru SSD, but they they deduct a certain amount from your SSD check--unless you get SSI then you get it for free. When you decide you don't want to pay for it is when you don't get it thru SSD. otherwise, I dont know why they told you cant get medicare-medicare is part of ssd!

i made a mistake on that-sorry

Problem solved!!

My case worker received the new requirements for Medicaid or medicare. According to the New requirements I receive $1 more than the maximum amount of benefits allowed. Because of $1 I won't qualify.

But not to worry She understands I need this bad, and submitted my application with a note saying I work for 5hrs a week cleaning a house, for my aunts company. I just received my approval letter and am going to wait for the insurance card etc. in the mail.

IM SOO HAPPY!

Thank you all for your support, I look forward to more conversations.

Ill hopefully have some better advice and outlook on situations after I begin therapy soon. Talk to you all soon!!

I've been away from the Psych Central for a while and I'm just reading titles here and there. This is one issue that really , really grinds me and I don't understand how any sane person can possibly justify how America treats people who though no fault of their own becoume disabled and need help and get thrown into this quagmire.

I can not understand how they ever came up with that 2 year waiting period, for people on disability it is insane. I'm on a board for Disability Rights--an advocacy group, there is one in every state(if you ever have problems related to your disability you can look up Disability Rights for your state and call toll free to see if it might be an issue they can help with. These crazy laws are why I'm on the board we monitor the legislative laws they try to pass every year, there have been some crazy ones! In TX last year they wanted to make it a felony if someone with a mental illness hit a health care worker! What are people supposed to do? Sorry for ranting-and so very happy you got your insurance!

I'm not sure what vet problems Disability Rights helps with but but if you are still struggleing with issue that you can allways call, they sometimes have great referrals. Every year they have to decide which issues will be the priorities and those are the ones that get covered, there are exceptions but its a balancing act with money and so much need.

I'm so glad things worked out for you although I do not understand why you are required to work and then told you make $1 too much! No wonder no UFO's have ever come to visit us! A wee bit of sleep deprived humor. I'm very tired but can't sleep. Take care.

Thank you, I'm on the website for my state disability rights group now. I never heard of this before and will definitely look into getting a little more assistance with the VA issue or anything else I come across. I agree with you 100% on how ridiculous some laws and regulations are for the disabled. You know I really don't like that word "disabled". Maybe it's just me but I think they should redefine that word. I mean we definately have issues that need to be taken care of, but compared to the "normal" people I know we the "disabled" have more drive and potential to move forward and shouldn't be fooled around with or treated like we're broken. That said, I appreciate the info you gave me, it really helps.

Ohh btw, Your alien joke made me laugh.. The aliens did come, but they didn't survive the crash in Roswell because they had no insurance haha My jokes are always corny oops haha

Hey there, liked your joke!

I too hate the word disability! DisabilityRights used to be called Advocacy Rights when I first started, I liked that so much better. Then some bird brain corperate type decided that when people do google searches for help they could find help easier if the name had disablity in it! I haven't noticed any difference in the number of people who find them go up. They sold it to every one by pointing out that it has the word ability in it--whoopy! Give me Advocacy any day! Good luck.