[bny806]

I have a question for yall.. We are in the process of buying a new house and though I am working now and doing well on IVIG, I do worry about what if I get worse and can't keep up with my job.. My job has disability which they say is 60% of what you made.. but I am curious,

do most people get medicare for their insurance in addition to their private disability,

or does the face that you get private disability disqualify you from medicare help?

I just want to be smart with our home purchase, and curious for any advice, or previous experiences!

Thank yall in advance!

[cait24]

I am very curious myself. I am 53 and a single parent. I have 5 years at which I can take early retirement with medical benefits. The way I feel know, I am not sure I can last 5 more years working. I know I have a disability package at 60%. But I do not understand how social security disability or medicare apply. Can you get that in addition or is it excluded or prorated. I have a daughter heading to college in a few years and financially, I am very worried.

It would help put my mind at ease and be able to come up with a Plan B if I understood how these things worked.

Right now my plan is to try to keep working and keep the house (I have to stay in the school system for 2 more years). After 2 years, I hope to sell the house while my daughter goes to college and go into one of those small one-level retirement complexes with a pool.

It would really help me plan if i knew how social security, disability, medicare fit in to a private disability plan. Any light or guidance would be very much appreciated.
thanks, kathie

[southblues]

I think it will depend on where you are.

In the state of Georgia, after 10- 13 years of service as a state employee, depending on which branch you are employed in, you can go on disability retirement. This will allow you to keep your insurance at the same rate as the people that are still working. The problem is that your retirement will only give you a very small amount of money since you didn't work long. Additional disability insurance should add to that amount.

I would go to my human resources people and talk to them about what the deal is. You don't have to tell them that you have an illness. Just ask the questions in a generic manner.

[cait24]

Thanks, it is good to know I will probably keep my health insurance. I work for a university so the benefits are pretty good. But I know if I talk to HR, it will get back to my boss and impact my treatment while I am still working. Sad but true. But I guess I can call the state disability and they can tell me.

thanks
kathie

[Southern Bell]

My experience with social security disability was that I first hired a good attorney who had experience with the process since I've been told that most of the time you are denied the first time you apply. I did not have employment insurance or disability benefits.

Getting disability depends on proof that you can no longer work, and you must have earned 6 to 20 credits in the 3 to 10 years before you become disabled (one credit equals $11.20 of wages) because what you are actually applying for are early social security benefits and you had to have paid FICA taxes. To prove that you can no longer work you have to have a doctor's written statement that you are disabled. My attorney had a form for my neuro to fill out and he sent that to the SS administration with a letter stating that there was no question that I was eligible. The SS administration will determine whether you have to prove again that you are elible in three or seven years depending on you disability. Luckily I don't have to prove again for seven years.

After I received SS disability, I was basicly forced to be on medicare. I wasn't happy about that but my private insurance premiums were going through the roof but medicare truly limits the doctors you can see.

Hope this helps.

Southern Bell

[cait24]

Southern Bell, thanks, this was very helpful.

kathie