? about Social Security, Medicare and PD

[bwisern]

Ok, here goes:  Husband age 38 started PD dialysis 10/08, determined "disabled" on July 22, 08.  We have been notified that he has a 5month elim from date of disability before is eligible for SS payments-  Is this everyone else's experience?

Also, was told by numerous people, including the Renal social worker, that with PD he is eligible for Medicare A and B from date of dialysis.  It is now January and he has received nothing in regards to this.  Maybe I should also say that when we had our "intake" appointment at the social security office our intake person was falling asleep as she was typing our info in.  I am going to have to take another day off work to have another appointment to get this set up.  I know that my insurance will be primary for 30 months, but he is still eligible for it.

He hasn't worked since 2/06, was "permanently laid off" after he was medically transferred to another department in his plant, because the heat in the position he had been in was literally killing him. We were hoping that there would be some back pay from the date of dialysis, and now all of a sudden we are told of the 5 month elim.

I was just wondering if anyone else has similar experiences or more info.

[peleroja]

Yeah, that sounds about right.  I started PD 5 years ago, and if I recall, it was something like 8 months before I ever saw any money for being disabled.  Hang in there; it does all resolve in the end. 

[willieandwinnie]

I had to deal with those dumb asses for almost 2 years.  If you go to the search at the top and type in Social Security you can read lots of pass rants about those folks. Oh, don't get me started, only gives me a headache. 

[thegrammalady]

i wasn't working when i was diagnosed so there was no current insurance. medicare kicked in 4 month after first dialysis and ssdi took 9 months to process. it is my understanding that medicare is supposed to  wave the 4 month waiting period if you start training for pd.

[bwisern]

That is what I thought, and one of the reason's that he chose PD.  We have an "phone interview" next week to get the kids set up, so I will be asking many questions about that.  Thanks for the info!!  Hope you are doing well!

[boxman55]

It took me five months to receive disability payments and my medicare A&B started on 11/06 when I started dialysis in 8/06 got first payment 4/07...Boxman

[Rerun]

Medicare kicks in on the first dialysis if you do "home training" that is for PD or hemo.  If you are going to be in-center Medicare starts the forth month after your first dialysis.  If you start dialysis January 1 then Medicare kicks in April 1 (April Fools day) how appropriate! 

If you have private health insurance they are primary for the first 30 months of dialysis but Medicare is still secondary so they should pay something on your bills.

Social Security Disability does have a 6 month waiting period.  I guess they hope you die, but if you live six months then I guess they figure you may need some financial help.  No matter when he applied for Social Security disability they look at "when he quit working due to the illness".  Seems that you need to ask about back pay.  He quit working Feb of 06 and applied for disability July of 08? 

Best of luck.                 

[MiSSis]

I stopped working in Nov'98 due to heart problems not kidney failure.  The company I worked for gave me 12 months full-pay but after only 6 months I was required to file for Soc Sec Disability.  Because of my previous history of kidney failure, 2 times on dialysis and 2 transplants and new heart problems, I was approved quickly.  I was also given 6 months SS disability pay retroactively which I had to return to the company.  Medicare also kicked in right away since I'd been on it previously because of dialysis and transplant.  I'm now at an age where I could probably officially retire from my company but I'm not sure if I'd be better off financially or not and I'm almost afraid to start asking those questions in case they try to force me into a direction I don't want to go.  Selfishly I'd only want to retire if it would be to my advantage.

[Rerun]

I stopped working in Nov'98 due to heart problems not kidney failure.  The company I worked for gave me 12 months full-pay but after only 6 months I was required to file for Soc Sec Disability.  Because of my previous history of kidney failure, 2 times on dialysis and 2 transplants and new heart problems, I was approved quickly.  I was also given 6 months SS disability pay retroactively which I had to return to the company.  Medicare also kicked in right away since I'd been on it previously because of dialysis and transplant.  I'm now at an age where I could probably officially retire from my company but I'm not sure if I'd be better off financially or not and I'm almost afraid to start asking those questions in case they try to force me into a direction I don't want to go.  Selfishly I'd only want to retire if it would be to my advantage.

If you can work, work.  Retiring on a disability gives you about 40% of what your making.  If you can wait until retirement age you get about 80%.

[MiSSis]

Rerun, Between SS disability and a disability pension from my company I receive about 65% of the salary I was receiving when I had to stop working.  As much as I think about going back to work, I'm realistic enough to know that I couldn't perform at the level they would expect me too.  After 10 years of not working, my husband and I have fortunately been able to adjust our standard of living to where we can live pretty comfortably with less income.  I guess I pretty lucky in that way.  Although I miss working, I truly don't know if I'd be capable of putting in the 10 hour days that I did before I was ill and was that much younger.

[Rerun]

I agree.  I would love to go back to work also, but I know I could not do the job that I USED to do and that would make me crazy.  AND if I get a part-time job it better be more than Social Security pays me or it is not worth it.  I get Social Security and a disability check too, but it is only 40% of what I was making.  Which I still feel lucky.  Some people only get Social Security. 

[paul.karen]

This is all so confusing.

I have worked since i was 16 and im afraid of what the future holds.  I pray once i start PD i will be able to continue to work.  If not i will lose everyhting i have, far as i can see..

[Jess21]

It took forever to my Medicare to start showing up too.  Actually, I got a "failure/late to pay" notice from FMC once because they didn't have my medicare info in the computer, so according to the computer, I wasn't paying my bills.    I took that notice straight to my social worker, didn't hear anything else on that subject! But with how many I've gotten because of "computer error", my credit score is probably lower than dirt by now. Once I got a over $100,000 bill cause my insurance messed up when I was in the hospital!  Turns out I owed less than $100, but still I don't like seeing my name and that many 00s after amount due!
But I've been on dialysis over a year, and I think somebody still owes my mom money for a FMC bill she paid when I first started dialysis. Probably will never see it.

[boxman55]

Rerun, can you explain how you get both social security and disability...Boxman

[dh514]

Rerun,

 I signed up for Medicare on October 12th and started PD training on October 20th. My insurance has paid what they are going to pay and I am being billed ridiculous amounts of money. Will medicare go back to day one and do  I just ignore the bills in the meantime? All the social worker told me is basically don't worry about it, however when the bills are coming to you how can you not worry about it and if Medicare does not pay it how would anyone pay these bills?

[Rerun]

Rerun,

 I signed up for Medicare on October 12th and started PD training on October 20th. My insurance has paid what they are going to pay and I am being billed ridiculous amounts of money. Will medicare go back to day one and do  I just ignore the bills in the meantime? All the social worker told me is basically don't worry about it, however when the bills are coming to you how can you not worry about it and if Medicare does not pay it how would anyone pay these bills?

When you get your Medicare number or card call these doctors and give it to them.  They will then bill Medicare as your secondary. 

[Rerun]

Rerun, can you explain how you get both social security and disability...Boxman

I worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  I paid into their disability system and Social Security.  I had to apply for Social Security disability before I could apply for my federal job disability.  Of course SS said "no" because I was still working.  That was fine.  All my requirement on my job side was that I did apply.  Then I could apply for disability through my job and it was granted.  They were paying me and so when I went to apply with SS again I was not working and it was granted.  The two of them got together and split the amount they were paying me.  I had to pay some back because they over lapped for a couple of months.  That was fun.

[bwisern]

Well, hubby had a phone appointment today with SS to get the kids set up.  He will be getting his disability check starting in Feb  and the kids will get their's the next week.  No back pay, but that's ok, at least we get something.  They did admit to him that someone messed up along the way and we should have received Medicare since he is doing home PD and is working to correct that. 

 Now if we can get the social worker/nurse to make the d@#n referral to the transplant center!!  They have been supposedly working on this since October???  I know when my mom was referred for a liver her doctor told her he was going to make the referral and 2 days later she had an appointment at the center.  I have been trying to cut them some slack because as a nurse I know what that side is about, but as a caregiver I know what this side is about and my patience is about thin!  The longer the referral takes the longer the potential weight is.  I really don't want to have to do MY JOB as a nurse, wife, mother, caretaker... and THEIR JOB too.   UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh
Just been a wonderful day!!  Needed to vent.   

[jessup]

 
I reckon use the stick mate and don't take the gloves off
Give em heaps
Hang in there - I know exactly how you feel - keep humbugging the b#@$ards
Lots of love to all