Okay, I am going to make myself look like a complete fool here...
you're disabled, yet you have to pay for Medicare? I don't get it at all...my inlaws don't pay for it (they're in their late 80s). Why do you have to pay for it?
I really am not understanding this at all...

I will have to start paying my Medicare premium and my Part D premium. I was on Medicaid and they helped with this portion. It is my understanding that there are programs in my state that will help me pay my premiums if I "qualify". Your in-laws may be part of a program and so they don't have to pay their premiums. I did call a few of the programs here but since I am not "old" I don't qualify. I don't know if it is because I am on SSDI and not SS. That may make a difference.

Everyone is charged a premium for their Medicare and Medicare Part D. How each persons pays, whether it is themselves paying or others paying for them, just depends on the programs. My parents have to pay for their premiums. If I remember correctly, they were "forced" to get Medicare. I don't remember the circumstances but it did have something to do with SS.

Does that help?

Jim's is taken out of his check as far as I know.

Trish,

You should receive a thing in the mail that tells you how to apply for extra help. I know my fiance got it and applied and it now pays his Part B, his Part D, and the copay for his prescriptions. His meds alone are 25K a year. He has a low copay on meds until he reaches catastrophic level in Feb. of each year and then the copay goes away.

I am not positive, but here in Maine I believe he applied under SCHIP or something like that. I know he went to what is called "Senior Spectrum" when they had a benefits coordinator there for elderly and disabled and they were able to put him into the running for all the programs with one application. He didn't qualify for everything, but he qualified for enough so he could afford to live.

He does have a son who is underage and that may have made a difference. He also has a daughter who is in her last year of college and somehow he was able to continue coverage for her until she turns 21, which was a big deal for her since she also has a health condition, requiring treatment and expensive prescriptions.

I believe I got this link from here, maybe from Kitty?
It may help.

http://www.benefitscheckup.org/

Please let us know how it goes for you and if you find anything that helps you so others may try it!

The link wasn't from me but thanks for posting it! It's got a wealth of information on it. It will be beneficial for many here.

OMGOSH!!!!! RW, I could just hug you. This took a ton of bricks off my shoulders. I got more helpful information on this site than I did from my case worker and others in this state. I found that I do qualify for extra help on my medicines and premiums. It is a federal program and the income limits must be different. I am so relieved.

*tkrik wiping tears and giving a big sigh of relief*

sorry for my lil rant. I really do have a hot button with some of my relatives that are brilliant at working the system, while I visit, and help care for elderly that cannot afford meals on wheels or basics like shampoo because every penny goes to deductibles, co pays, and doughut holes. My lil 92 year old friend recently told me she was thinking about shoplifting for her shampoo! We gifted her a basket of goodies for her belated birthday present. I see many folks (yes, some are my family, makes ya proud dont it?) that are simply "good at the system" Case in point. my 26 y/o neice. Has asthma, and is 350lbs. I paid for a college education of 4 years for her. Because she is her momma's child, momma taught her that "you dont have to work!" she lives rent free, no utilities, has cable, phone, high speed internet, and gets free dental, free medical, free oil/heat, free furniture, free food, plus food stamps, and so much more. She is HEALTHY! She needs an inhaler because she is winded from lack of exercise, and drives her FREE CAR to and from town to hang out with her friends! it burns me up!

I cannot turn down SSDI because its tied to my retirement. I was retired due to a fractured spine, and because of the spinal instability I am unable to work as a nurse, in my field of education. There fore I was forced to retire, and as part of the settlement, the state applied for me for SSDI to offset my retirement paycheck. I am reimbursed for the Medicare premium through my state contract, but its maddening! I have a masters degree in nursing, and am unable to work in my chosen field. IF i went to work as a cashier, or other unskilled jobs I would lose my retirement. it would reopen my case. A job making $8 an hour wont even come close to my retirement that was negotiated, so I am trapped. That $8 hour job doesnt include benefits. its a circle that is a trap.

Yes! the system does work for some. Yes! the system is a God send for so many deserving folks who need a hand up, and some help. it has been a God send for many folks that I know personally. The problem is that unless you know how to work the system, you get half the benefits, and dont know which programs to ask for. They wont offer them, you must ask to initiate them. Recently word got out here that the state pays for daycare fees if you make less than x amount per year. So many found out, and asked that it bankrupted the plan, and now only those that are currently enrolled in the system will get the help. Even if they now make past the amount required to enroll. They are not bumping off those who have passed the requirements to make room for those that are in need. Its maddening!

btw, I too have written till my hands are bleeding. I get the feeling that no one is listening. I think my letters are just being dumped into some temp secretary's file to be dealt with in 2020. it will be too late then!

Thanks for letting me vent in your vent.

Dej - I have major issues with food stamps. It does not cover toiletries but covers chips, candy, cookies, soda, etc. With all the technology we have, I don't understand why they can't program the food stamp card to not accept junk food and accept toiletries. Not only that, they give you an incredible amount of money for food stamps.

When I 1st got food stamps the total amount for the 3 of us was a little over $700 a month. It was slightly over my income. Seriously, I was able to feed the 3 of us for around $300 a month with careful planning (buying things on sale, using coupons, etc.).

One Christmas, the youth group at my church collected items for "a family" (we were kept anonymous). I was never so excited to be given toilet paper, shampoo, soap, etc. then I was that Christmas. It was such a blessing.

What you did for that lady is wonderful. When DDs and I started receiving SSDI, I always made sure that when my church had the Christmas collections, I donated toiletries.

BTW - When we 1st got the food stamps DDs would ask for chips and stuff for their lunches. I wouldn't buy them. I explained to them that this was actually tax dollar money that people paid. I was not going to use other peoples money for junk. I asked them how they would feel if they gave someone money for food and they used all that money for junk food. They got the point and never asked for junk again.

I did buy staples though and was able to make treats.