Ready to smack dialysis center!

[lorilorilori]

So- I went through the interview with Social Security for my husband, and they wanted to call the dialysis center as well as his doctor. Fine.

A tech- not the manager of the dialysis center, not the doctor- answered the call and told Social Security he was acute, not chronic!!!! I am ready to scream!!!!!!!!!!!!!! her whole attitude was, oh well, if he doesn't get Medicare, he'll get Medicaid. HOW DOES SHE KNOW!!!!

I made sure I had his entire chart before he was discharged.  I had our local Social security office make copies of everything, and everything said chronic. I worked very hard on this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I really don't want to hire Binder and Binder and the like if I don't have to do it.

Monday morning, I have some calls to make. I am aggravated beyond belief.

[Chris]

I would give the name of the manager of the dialysis center to your social security case worker and explain that they need to talk to someone who knows about your husbands case. Odd to me that they would need to call the dialysis center if they have al the information from the doctor and the doctors contact number. I guess it just depends on each individual case worker what they want. Hopefully you wont need Binder and Binder. I would  say ask the centers social worker for help, but if she or he is like the person who answered the phone, ohh boy. Medicaid is another pain in the butt process too which will most likely give you crap and tell you to file for social security. Just be addimate with them and fight with both of them.
Good Luck

[Ladyhawk]

Dear lorilorilori,

I know what you are going through, my husband has been on dialysis for almost 4 years, between social security and medicare my hair turned gray!!! Lol. You have to keep on top of them and keep all and any paper work, call everyday if you have to.  We had no income for over six months when he first got ill, they finally sent an emergency payment and then after three months we had to pay it back, his medicare just got straightened out this year . You have to keep on top of them.

[annabanana]

I agree with Chris...except I'd get the manager to call your case worker. Or write a letter to your case worker.

Then I'd kick that tech's

[Rerun]

SS will take any reason to deny you.

Try again and have the director's number available.

[flip]

I think all states are different. In Kentucky, disability and medicare are automatic when you start dialysis. I didn't have a problem with either one.

[bolta72]

I also had no problem here in Mass.

[KT0930]

Does the tech even know the difference between acute and chronic??? Anyway, SSDI (I guess that's what you were applying for? Not Medicare?) is NOT the same as Medicaid! Moron tech!

[flip]

In this area Medicaid is only available for people with very little or no income.

[Chris]

Does the tech even know the difference between acute and chronic??? Anyway, SSDI (I guess that's what you were applying for? Not Medicare?) is NOT the same as Medicaid! Moron tech!

When I was applying for Medicare my case worker at the sametime set up SSDI, but I'm also partial blind which may have had something to do with it. I just had  my paperwork ready for them and doctor contact numbers which they asked for prior to coming in for my appointment. I just had a total of 2 visits with the case worker and about a 2 to 3 month wait time for final Medicare approval SSDI was a little longer, but did get back pay from the time I submitted my paperwork. I am one of the few who has a good experience with Social Security.

[paris]

No problem in N.C. with Social Secruity Disabilty--ESRD is pretty much an automatic approval.  I put in my paperwork with SS and 3 months later was approved and receiving my checks.  I gave them all the info when applying, they contacted my doctors, etc.  Keep pushing, calling and staying on top.  My case manager with SS was excellent and may be part of the reason it went through so smoothly.  Crossing fingers things go well.

[okarol]

Jenna was approved for both SSDI and Medicare pretty quickly after she began dialysis.

[Lori1851]

I was lucky here, we actually could ahve filed before we did for Dustin. What made me mad was they said your gonna get this x amount of $$$$$ and then they took it away. Dustin doesnt make enough to be on his on. I am thankful though for the coverage he has though.

Lori/Indiana