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Just venting. Nothing more.
Posted: Jul 30, 2010
I want to start by saying I am very grateful that my disability claim was approved the first time. I am close to retirement age, so that made it a bit easier. I could only work part-time due to my physical condition, and therefore was paying my own health insurance. That amounted to $400.00 per month.
Now, since I am on disability, I qualify for an income based limited health plan with Highmark Blue Shield which runs $130.00 per month. That, of course, means I am not able to earn any money whatsoever, or I will lose the insurance. When I applied for disability I knew that you were permitted to earn at least some money per month to help. Now with the health insurance I am not. I am trapped. I can't go without health coverage.
I get my monthy check from SSD which is a decent one, but being alone and paying everything is horrible. I get the check and in no time I'm at the bank drawing out of my personal savings, little as it is, to get by.
As I said before, I am thankful my claim was approved, but I am so down, knowing every month it's the same thing. I am locked into having no money ever for anything other than bills, food, gas for the car, etc. I don't think having a disability should feel like a punishment, but right now it does.
I appologize for letting it out. I just wrote out checks an hour ago.
Thanks.
;
I am curious. - sm
[ In Reply To ..]Which state/county do you live in? Are you certain you have exhausted all health care options? When you say limited care, limited how? Does it make the care for disablity affordable? What about Medicaid or county health care? Can you qualify for any other assistance such as help with utilities (our power company has a program), food stamps or other types of welfare that could help ease the budget situation at all? There should be some way that would allow you to create a lifestyle within the SSD guidelines allowing you to supplement your income.
South Central PA - Feeling Sad
[ In Reply To ..]The plan is called Special Care. It limits you to 4 doctor visits with your primary care a year, at I think a $10.00 co-pay. It will cover chemo/radiation. It will cover surgery if preapproved. I don't think it covers any prescription meds. It will cover $1,000 for imaging in a certain time period. (I have to read up on it again, so much info). They will cover also $1,000 in that time period for the radiologist's reading of the scan. That gives you the general idea. It is certainly better than nothing. I have not looked into Welfare, food stamps,etc. because I don't think you get that in PA with any money in the bank. I have to have at least a little something to fall back on. I will have to give up internet and am thinking about giving up my home phone and just keeping the cell. I will do some inquiring. Thanks for caring.
I live in PA also - Trying to Help
[ In Reply To ..]and I have looked into Welfare also, and as far as I understand it, they base how much you qualify for based on your yearly income, not how much is in your account at the moment. You should contact the Welfare office, they also have a website and see about applying. It doesn't hurt to just inquire.
Utilities - Feeling Sad
[ In Reply To ..]I forgot to mention that I rent an apartment, and all utilities are included in my rent, thankfully.
That IS a blessing. - A couple of things (sm)
[ In Reply To ..]Your PA SNAP (food stamps progam) application will ask about cash on hand, savings, etc, but having some will not disqualify you for help. Those questions are really aimed at determining if you need emergency assistance (expedited processing). If you are able to show what you described in your first post (what comes in goes out, leaving you with next to nothing) and meet income guidelines, you should be able to get some help. The link below can give you some basic info. Don't worry about property (your car, for example). That does not disqualify you either.
Your insurance program sounds workable, but the work restriction is odious. When I became disabled with back pain and depression (but could not qualify for SSD), I lost my house and car and had to move back home with my mother where I lived for nearly 7 years. I got food stamps and because I was unemployed I received medical services from the county, which did not have the restrictions you desribe. I received good medical care through that system, sliding scale drug coverage ($5 for each prescription, regardless of what it was). I definitely had to learn to navigate that system in terms of the long waits for appointments and even with an appointment, the clinics were always overbooked. I adjusted, brought my lunch with me and always had something to read while waiting. Still, I cannot complain about the care I got there.
My husband is currently undergoing treatment for hepaitis C which he got from a blood transfusion years ago. He goes to the county for this as well. So far, he has gotten timely and responsive care (ultrasounds, MRIs, CAT scans, liver biopsy and now subsidized medication with interferon and ribavirin). My brother in law is receiving top-notch care for panreatic cancer there as well.
You might consider looking into it in your area. Sometimes they set you up with their care in conjunction with Medicaid until you qualify for Medicare. Our county system has excellent counselors for social services outreach. In any case, if you can manage it, it would enable you to work parttime within those SSD guidelines. Just a thought.
When I was in that situation, it helped me a great deal to become proactive. I had to make a few lifestyle changes along the way. One of them was learning how to relax and enjoy myself FOR FREE or very little money...read, write, exercise, take walks, swim, cook, garden, meditate, couponing, haunting consignment shops, bargain hunt, make friends, spend time with family, my cats (which were a Godsend) etc. I hope you find a way to hang onto your internet.
Best luck with whatever you decide.
http://www.mahalo.com/how-to-apply-for-food-stamps-in-pennsylvania
Thank you - Feeling Sad
[ In Reply To ..]How nice of you to share so much with me, and for your helpful suggestions. I will certainly investiate and see if I can't improve my situation. Thanks to all who responded and care. Life can be so challenging and sometimes it just hurts. I contacted Comcast and they tell me they have a "slower" high speed internet that would save me $20.00 per month. I think I will go with that because I need to have that connection with people. I just wrote a children's story and am planning to send it to some publishers. I love to write, and you are correct. It is very therapeutic. I use my imagination and it takes me to a fun place. My sincere thanks again to all. Wish me luck with my story.
Hope to hear from you when it all turns out better than you imagined. - Take care. nm
[ In Reply To ..]nm
My children's story - Feeling Sad
[ In Reply To ..]I did not respond to your post before because I didn't want to say something negative about my situation again, but here goes. Because of the income based health insurance, and not being permitted to earn money, I can't submit my manuscript to a publisher until I am eligible for Medicare. That will be about 1 1/2 years from now. Once you are approved for disability, no matter what age, you can get Medicare in two years. If a publisher would accept my work they want your social security number and send you a check. I would end up losing my health insurance with the added income. Thank you so much for your kindness. Maybe one day my friends will say "I knew you when." My strength has always been in my writing. I have many poems, and a few songs I have written just for fun. This one I would really like to submit.
That is a blessing - Judy
[ In Reply To ..]We had to cut down also on expenses, so we just have DSL with no phone line and use Skype which is a computer phone which costs us $12.00 for 3 months and apx $10.00 for the phone number, a one time fee. Our DSL is with AT&T and it costs us $24.95, it is a low speed DSL, but it is working for us.
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