Medicare - the exact same health set up that retired folks over sixty five relish - may be obtained when receiving SSDI for twenty-four months. (NOTE: ONCE YOU QUALIFY FOR SSDI, you have got to attend FOR twenty nine MONTHS BEFORE RECEIVING YOUR initial CHECK.) health care has 2 parts: half A, that you obtain through your payroll taxes, and that covers nightlong hospital bills, hospices, home health care and really restricted, partial rest home care. And Part B, simple fraction of that is acquired by federal taxation, and fourth part ($84.00 a month in 2006, subtracted from your SSDI check) by you. It pays for doctor, ambulance, hospital room, clinic and most different patient care (except medication and biological process products).
As of May 15th, 2006, Medicare now has a
Part D which covers partial payment of prescriptions. Most people who
qualify for Medicare select a "Supplement" package that covers
additional things such as Doctor visits (minus the co-pay) and other
things usually covered by a Health Insurance Plan. You have to pay extra
for this. If you become eligible for Medicare after May 15th, 2006, you
have to select a carrier for Part D. This can be included in your
"supplemental" package, as mine is, or it can be a separate coverage.
Medicaid
is run by the state and local governments. It completely covers
hospitalization, clinic visits, emergency room visits, doctors' visits,
hospices, home health care, nursing home stays, ambulance and outpatient
prescription drugs. Medicaid has very small co-payments for
prescriptions, doctor visits and some other care. While all hospitals
and almost all drug stores accept Medicaid, most doctors don't, and many
home health agencies, nursing homes, and hospices are also reluctant to
accept Medicaid. People on SSI are eligible for Medicaid, and in most
but not all of the states in the nation, SSI sends lists of recipients
to the local government, which then automatically sends Medicaid cards
out to them. But in some states, you must always apply separately for
Medicaid at the welfare office, even if you're on SSI.
It's
possible - indeed, sometimes it's absolutely necessary - to be on both
Medicare and Medicaid. In that case, Medicare first pays medical bills
up to whatever its rules allow, then Medicaid pays the rest. Always get
Medicaid, if you can, to supplement Medicare, because with it, you'll
have a way to pay deductibles and co-payments that you would otherwise
face without it. Moreover, Medicaid pays for some things Medicare
doesn't cover at all. Conversely, always get and keep Medicare
(including Part B) even if you are already on Medicaid. Medicare pays
doctors and hospitals more than Medicaid does, and therefore will make
them more likely to accept you as a patient and devote adequate time to
your case. Don't be afraid of the Part B monthly premium, either. Once
you're on Medicaid, it will start paying the Medicare premium for you,
and your SSDI check will go up by $84.00.
According to the Social
Security Administration some assets are considered exempt (not
countable) toward SSI eligibility such as:
o The house an individual lives in and the land it is on;
o Personal and household goods (depending on their value);
o Life insurance with a face value of $1,500 or less;
o Burial plots or spaces for the individual and immediate family; burial funds for the individual;
o
A car with a current fair market value up to $4,500. The car may be of
any value, however, if it has been modified to accommodate a person¹s
disability or if it is needed for necessary activities.
Some of an
individual¹s income is also not counted toward SSI eligibility such as:
The first $20 of most income received in a month (from any source); the
first $65 a month earned from working and half the amount over $65;
food stamps; most food clothing and shelter from non-profit
organizations; most home energy assistance. If the individual with a
disability works, any wages used to pay for items needed for work
related to the disability are not counted as income. (Source: Social
Security Administration.) Since eligibility for government benefits is
dependent on these financial restrictions, a person with a disability
would be in jeopardy of losing those benefits if he or she amasses any
resources above the limit.