Healthcare Help
 

I've had MS since April 4th. I'm trying to get help with heathcare, since I don't have income and health insurance. I've applied for disability, but it might be August before I get an answer.

What are some ways to get free healthcare? Are there other programs out there?

I know that my state has a healthcare connector, that you can buy your own, and I believe the lowest cost per month runs in under $10/month. Not quite free, but pretty close.

Not sure if your state does, but worth looking into.

Do you have a local MS society that can help you with this info. Also have you done any kind of Google search? Good luck.

hope one of these may help-
http://freeclinicdirectory.org/georgia_care.html

If you get turned down in August, or whenever, don't give up. Reapply within the time period but you really need a lawyer. Find one that specializes in Social Security, and only takes one quarter of your award (not one third, like some).

As for the no insurance...see if there's a teaching hospital anywhere in your area. Whin I lived in Mississippi I had to drive 3 hours round trip to one, but I got a 90% discount at their MS clinic.

Good luck!

Apply for your states Medicaid. I'm sure you qualify based on your income and your medical bills for the past month or two. You may qualify for other programs such as SNAP (food stamps) and cash assistance since you don't have income. However, I am assuming that you are living with someone and that may alter what you qualify for including Medicaid. But it's still worth a try.

http://dch.georgia.gov/medicaid

You can also call them and find out about other programs that might help you. Where I live we have a few low cost health care insurance providers. For these, you must not qualify for state Medicaid but still be low income. Your premiums range from $0 to $40 a month for the insurance. It is worth checking it out.

As for prescriptions, there are places like Target and Wal-Mart that offer prescriptions for $4 (the price may have gone up as I haven't checked in a while). Walgreen's also has a discount program but it's not as good as Target and Wal-Mart and you have to pay a $25 membership fee.

Good luck with your Social Security application. It may take some time to get it but hang in there. If you don't get it on the 1st try, I suggest hiring a lawyer to help you through the appeal(s). Make sure your drs. are on board with it as well as that will really help your case.

I got denied Medicaid. I applied for that first, but was denied because I was not 65 or over, blind, or already receiving disability.

I applied for disability back in the end of April, I do have an attorney if I need him, which he has already spoken to my doctors, plus notified SS that I am his client.

Not Medicare for retired or for Disabled.
But Medicaid for the poor and disabled poor.