I am in such an odd place right now. Sorry, this is kind of a rant but . . .

I am on SSDI and have Medicare. I was dropped from Medicaid as of the 1st of the month as DD18 turned 18 in Aug; therefore, my income mix changed. (Think tax bracket change.) I miss the cut off for Medicaid by $32. Medicaid is my secondary insurance and they pay the 20% of my medical costs, my Medicare premium and Part D ($130/month), and my prescription co-pays.

Knowing that everything is going to change I did some cost analysis this morning. OMG!!! I am in a dilemma now. My total out of pockets cost in the next year will be $600 a month. This leaves me very little money leftover. Technically speaking, I wouldn't be able to afford rent, food, utilities, and other little expenses.

Then I did some checking in to the welfare programs in my state as I am trying to figure out how I am going to make it. Financially, I would be far better off telling SSDI I don't want it any more. If I did that, all my medical costs would be covered. I would get a much higher amount in food stamps AND would qualify for other assistance. This would put me ahead. In reality, I know I won't do this and will find a way to make things work.

Isn't this just the craziest thing? It really doesn't make sense. If I were a total crack head, not working, and playing the system, I'd be just fine. However, I am not that person. When I was working, I was a hard worker and always had excellent yearly reviews and received many extra bonuses because of my work ethics and being a hard worker.

Ok, vent over. . . Phew!

Oh btw - as far as welfare, there are people that truly do need the help and aren't addicts. I do feel it would be selfish and unfair of me to drop the SSDI so I can be in the welfare system. The area in which one of my local welfare offices is located (where I applied years ago) is the crystal meth/crack section of town. So, so sad and yet so irritating.

There are so many of us that fall through the cracks and those of us with disabilities and not being able to work are in that crack. We are a forgotten group. We can't go out and get a job or even a 2nd job. I think that is what irritates me so much.

I have BEGGED them to allow me to drop the SSDI because as long as I am on it, I am FORCED to take MEdicare as my primary! I have 2 count um, 2 golden policies that will cover anything, and everything, but as long as I am "disabled" the state/feds require me to accept SSDI, and as part of my retirement settlement from state service THEY applied for SSDI for me. It completely messes everything up! It keeps me on the fringe, and locked into a bracket that is limiting to say the least. It doesnt matter how much money I have in the bank, savings, or investments, I am locked into SSDI. I cant refuse it because its tied into my retirement. As long as SSDI pays me X per month, the state can reduce my retirement check by X because that allows the paycheck to match 75% of what my highest earning year average was, and saves them money. Madness! complete madness!

My sister on the other hand, is a layabout crack head who knows how to work the system. (yes, folks she is actually a crack head!) she gets free furniture (good stuff!) from social service programs. free dental free prescriptions, and no copays for anything she gets medically. Her rent is subisdized, and she doesnt have to contribute to it, she gets free oil in the winter, and different agencies drop off free food at her door. She collected welfare for children who were not living with her, and has become a master at turning it on its head. I have an old g/f that works for the county where my sister is a client, and she said that she has a masters degree in SS work, and my sister can put her to shame on knowing exactly how manipulate what is and isnt available. Dont bother turning her in, they show up at her door, and she refuses to let them in. they tack on a "will be back in two weeks" notice on her door. That gives her two weeks to prepare for a "surprise" visit.

The system is broken! My sister is an able bodied, healthy woman, who is collecting for 5 children, even though she has only one eligible and he doesnt live with her. We have elderly eating cat food! Its a huge pet peeve of mine that this system doesnt do enough to help those in real need, and does too much to help those that are simply good at the manipulation game.

I hope you are able to find a way to make it better. I hate the system.

Dej - Sorry you are having to deal with this as well. It doesn't really make sense. Also, that is too bad about your sister and that must be so hard on you. I think those that "play the system" are actually very intelligent and need to be working for the government or be lawyers or something because they are able to find loop holes and manipulate very well. I don't have it in me to do that.

It is my understanding that while on SSDI, you have to get the drs approval for you to go back to work full time or you risk losing SSDI altogether if you need it again in the future.

Trish. I don't have any advice on this but want you to know I do get it. I've lost all of my disability insurance because I quit work 6+ years ago to take care of Jim. As far as retirement, forget it, it's not enough to pay for medicare when I retire. While I am not disabled it scares the carp out of me if I was to become disabled. I worked darnit and still do but for free now!!!! Does that not count for anything??? I would gladly pay my SS and Medicare fees if they would let me. Anyway, Obama plans to reform SS starting next year and not sure if that's good or bad but you can be sure my letters will flood his mailbox.

Anyone on SS wont be getting a cost of living allowance for the next two years, yet their Medicare will increase. Maybe by early next year you'll qualify for more when SS doesn't give COLA?

Obama is going to get flooded with my letters now. I am writing one now trying to make my point clear.

I've sent many......all with no response. Not even a form letter.

BTW - For those that are on Medicare here are the numbers that I came up with when I did the cost analysis. Mind you, I was very conservative when I did these calculations. In otherwords, I did not include my PT or neuropsych testing. I did not include my labs that I have to get done every 6 months, yrly woman check ups, and mammograms as I didn't have the amount on my reports.

Medicare Premium - $96.40/mth
Medicare Part D Premium - $44.00/mth
Meds Deductible - $4350/yr = $362/mth
Dr. Visits = $976/yr = $81.33/mth (This is based on 4 neuro visits a year, 2
PCP visits/yr and 1 urologist visit/yr)
Total = $583.73/mth

Now should I get sick or have to go to the hospital or anything out of the ordinary I would have to meet the $3900 deductible for Medicare. Take away my conservative dr visits and add in the Medicare deductible of $3900 and the monthly total changes to $827.90!

I did take the yearly total and broke it down by month. While some months I wouldn't go to the dr but I would have to put aside money for the dr visits or my premium. The yearly total for all medical garbage on the conservative side is around $7,000 and on the full blown side it would be almost $10,000. There goes my SSDI - all to medical costs.

Dang it all! I am not allowed to have a flare that requires PT, hospitalization, and steroids. (Which by the way, the neuro said if I require steroids I would have to be hospitalized because of my bad reactions to the steroids. We made an agreement that the only time I will do that crap again is if I lose my eyesight completely. ) I would not be able to cover the costs.

I share this with all of you because I know some of you are in the same boat as I am and your costs are very similar to mine.

Mr. President, here I come. LOL Seriously, I am going to put these calculations in my letter. Hopefully I calculated correctly.

When living in another state recently, I became familiar with a couple of women who had babies before getting married because Medicaid paid for them as long as the women weren't hitched.

As soon as their family was complete, they married the guys. What a racket.

gmi

LOL My dad was telling me this morning of a couple that legally got divorced so that they can get in the system. CRAZY! She was on welfare and her "husband" continued to work. They made out like bandits.