need a MDCR supplement insurance plus some disability questions

[sailboatjeff]

Hello, I am somewhat new here but have been a lurker off and on for the last few months. I have been on PD since April 2011. My situation is this: I have a job but have been off for the last 2.5 months. Getting through the spring until June, when I could take time off, was excruciating. I have my job for the same reasons most have theirs, the pay and the INSURANCE. It is about time that I need to get back to work or I will lose my job. Going back to work will be ok for a few weeks but I know I will end up getting "run down" fast and will be shocked if I can make it until Christmas. I know I qualify for MDCR and can qualify for for disability if I push the issue. The trouble is that if I go this route I would obviously have to give up my job (most likely going to happen anyway) and the great insurance. My job doesn't pay that much so job vs disability would be almost a break even once MDCR B is factored in plus a couple other expenses. My quandary is this: I need to get a MDCR supplement but I am under 65. Does anyone know of any company that sells MDCR supplement to people under 65? I have looked online and the ones listed, when I call, all have some excuse as to why they don't sell in Indiana.

Also, I have heard and read many conflicting reports, even from SS employees, regarding disability. I have heard ESRD and dialysis auto qualifies for disability regardless of any other situation (working or not) and I have heard that a person with these issues also must be unemployed. I have also heard that there would be a hearing/there wouldn't be a hearing and also that checks come in 3 weeks or 5 months. I do know that general disability requests require a hearing and the 5 month wait but I have gotten a lot of conflicting info regarding ESRD/dialysis requirements for disability. Even the lady at SS that was a supervisor has given me conflicting information, it seems to change with every conversation. Fresenius is seemingly "blowing me off" and I think it is because right now they are getting good payout from my insurance and they will lose a lot of revenue when I go MDCR.

Any help on these issues would be greatly appreciated, thank you very much!

Jeff

[AnnieB]

I could be wrong, but I think you have to be already not working when you apply for disability.

[sailboatjeff]

I am currently not working but have a job waiting for me to come back to soon if I am not going to apply for disability.

[lmunchkin]

Hi Jeff.  I hate to be stupid here, but what is MDCR? 

My husband worked 7 years while dialysising.  He would go out on the company disability for awhile, but would go back to work once it ran out.  Over the years, he just couldnt hang with it anymore, so he stopped work and filed Soc. Sec. Disab.  He already had 7yrs of records from hospitals, nephs and the clinics because he got Medicare coverage.  So when he went with SSD (over the phone interview) he was immediately accepted because he had ESRD.  He had to wait to receive check for 6mths (if I recall).

You cannot be working when you file.  Permanent disablity is just that "Permanent".  Once you get it, you will not be able to work again.  Unless you find something to do that is cash only, otherwise Nothing you can do.  Now I work, and with what I make and his Disab. check we manage!  I wish he had stopped long ago, but am proud of his effort.  He seemed less depressed when he worked cause it kept him useful.  Now, he realizes he can't do those things anymore and trys to make himself useful around the house.

When he worked, he had company insurance that paid everything Medicare did not pay.  When he stopped working, he carried Cobra for 18 months, but now has a supplement to Medicare and he is not yet 65.  He will be in January.  This insurance stuff is very confusing and I still don't get it.  So you are not alone in this.  But if you file permanent Disability, then you should not be working.  You will be denied if you are working.  The hardest thing for us, was waiting the 6 months for 1st check.  Just be sure you have some money to live on during that time.  We had a reserve to see us through!

God Bless,
lmunchkin

[sailboatjeff]

Thanks lmunchkin for your input,

MDCR = medicare

whats company provides your husband's supplement insurance?I am not working at the moment but if i want to retain my job, i need to get back to work by the end of August. If I can find a supplement insurance, I will not go back to work and go the disability route. I know going back to work I will be ok for about 2 weeks then it will be all down hill from there, i am not happy about being run down so much more, cant hardly get anything done. I used to be able to push mow our lawn (1/3 acre) in less than an hour, now it takes 3 if i can get it all done in 1 day, then after this i am down for the day, only being 45 years old and used to being able to be a "work horse" this is really depressing at times. I know everyone has similar or worse issues so i am not looking for sympathy. i am also not one of those people that says "hey, i think i can get disability checks, lets go for it!"

Disability would only be temp for me as I am on the transplant waiting list and have been for nearly 2 years
Also, i have been told and read that once on disability, a person can get a job that pays up to $800/month

[KarenInWA]

I never heard of disability being permanent. Also, I thought you could still work up to a point while on disability? I think you're capped to no more than $800 or $1000 a month, but you can still work. There are many on this site who do just that.

One of the great things about transplants is that (hopefully) the patient can then go back to work. Disability does not have to be permanent. I never went on it. I was on dialysis for only 7 months before I got my live donor transplant. No way was I going to let ESRD win and take my livlihood away from me. I couldn't let that happen.

KarenInWA

[KAF454]

ESRD falls under the Genitourinary symptoms and puts you on the fast track to SS Disability. I was really feeling fatigued about 3 months into PD and decided to retire on SSDI. The SS office broke land speed records processing my application. Then when I decided to hang in there and work it was a nightmare to cancel my application.

[MommyChick]

I never heard of disability being permanent. Also, I thought you could still work up to a point while on disability? I think you're capped to no more than $800 or $1000 a month, but you can still work. There are many on this site who do just that.

One of the great things about transplants is that (hopefully) the patient can then go back to work. Disability does not have to be permanent. I never went on it. I was on dialysis for only 7 months before I got my live donor transplant. No way was I going to let ESRD win and take my livlihood away from me. I couldn't let that happen.

KarenInWA

I'v been on SSDI for the last 3 years. I used to work but was eventually laid off. I was also told I could still work if wanted but there was a cap on how much you make per/mth. I think you were right with the cap amount.
Although SSDI isn't an easy process! They can be very rude & stress you out over the whole process.

[lmunchkin]

I guess it is a different case for John.  He is permanently disabliled due not only to ESRD, but his amputations also.  He draws more than a $1000.00 a month too, because he paid in to Social Sec. for 45 yrs.  He has well earned the credits needed. I don't think we could live off a cap of 1000.

Believe me, he will never work again, unless he grows legs!  Lol.  But seriously, I do believe that is the case with him and SSD.  Not real sure on this cause Im no expert, but I know he is permanently disabled and draws a bigger check each month than what I make in a month working! Go figure!

I know he will be 65 in Jan. and has worked since he was 15. We both worked at very young ages.  Heck I started at 13 Babysitting and mowing yards to make some money.  His father died when he was a senior in High School and he had to work.  His mother was a stay at home wife (back in the day) and it was hard for her to raise 4 boys.  They inturn, became men and had to work to help her out. It wasn't easy for them back then, but I bet none of them would have it any other way!

I can't remember exactly what company his company used for Disablity pay for employees while out on Medical Leave.  I do know, that they paid for it. I also remember him having to fight tooth and nail to keep all the paper work up to date.  It was a mess all the time.  We are much more satisfied with SSD.  So far, no problems, no paper work, nothing, naaadaaa!!!!

Got to get to bed folks.  Love to all!~

God Bless,
lmunchkin

[KarenInWA]

I guess it is a different case for John.  He is permanently disabliled due not only to ESRD, but his amputations also.  He draws more than a $1000.00 a month too, because he paid in to Social Sec. for 45 yrs.  He has well earned the credits needed. I don't think we could live off a cap of 1000.

Just to clarify, the $1000 cap has to do with actual income earned *in addition to* whatever you receive on the disability check. So, in addition to whatever you receive on disability, you can get a part time job and make *up to* $1000 (or $800). I think I need to look that up.

As for me, all I know is, when I get my yearly SS statement, it tells me that if I were to be disabled today, I would be collecting somewhere above $1700/mth. So, that means that *in addition* to that, I could get a part time job making anywhere up to $1000 extra, but no more then that. I'll see if I can find a link that describes this.

KarenInWA

[KarenInWA]

I don't know how it works, but there is a whole website dedicated to the Ticket To Work program.

http://www.choosework.net/

KarenInWA

[smcd23]

If you apply for disability for ESRD and are on dialysis you are a quick decision (QDD is the technical term) for benefits. There is a 5 month wait period so you'd have to be out of work or earning less than $1010/month to start the 5 month clock. Then once on you can earn $1010 a month if you go back to work or continue working if under that limit. I can give you the links to the disability criteria when I get home (I'm on my phone right now) or if you want to send a PM I can answer your questions. I have ten years in with SSA and obviously have personal experience too.