Re: Medical benefits/disability

[Guest guest]

Hi Abby,

Boy....I can SO SO remember that feeling of panic and despair. I

wish I could reach through the computer and give you a hug.

From your post, I can't tell what country you live in. You said your

husband is a 'chemist'. I know in England they refer to pharmacists

as 'chemists....I lived there for 7 years.

I live in Canada. I was 'forced' out of work end of 2003 because I

was missing so much work and there were 20 stairs up to my office (

I'm a counselor). I applied for unemployment Insurance...medical

leave....which was good for 15 weeks. There was a 5 week wait for

that and I had to have a friend help me out a bit then. Then I

applied through Social Insurance for medical income support. I got

that and they covered my prescriptions. Now I have been moved

to " CPP-Disability " ...a special plan where you recieve your Canada

Pension Plan benefits early...only it is an increased amount if you

have children.

One thing I know...most countries have some sort of emergency thing

for persons with disabilities. Google it and see what you can find.

One thing......I had to make a few sacrifices, but I also had to be

a 'squeaky wheel'.

If you want a ton of emotional support....just hit my email symbol

at by my name at the side there.......THAT is one thing I CAN

give...it can help!

Here for you Abby.

Di....PLS.......Canada

In PLS-FRIENDS , " AWR " wrote:

>

> I have not posted before, and hope someone can help me. My husband

has been

> diagnosed with PLS, and he is very, very ill. He can hardly walk,

has

> trouble talking, and has emphasema on top of that. I honestly

don't think he

> will be able to live much longer.

>

> He is trying to continue to go to work, and when he goes, he is

paid. If he

> does not go, they kick in with Family and Medical leave act. (He's

a

> chemist, and has a wheel chair at work - they let him sit there to

justify

> his salary - if he is able to get there.)

>

> He needs to go on disability, and the rep at Social Security says

there is

> no doubt he will get disability - but...he will not qualify for

Medicare

> until the end of May, and even then, he has to take reduced

benefits. If he

> quits work, he is without medical insurance, and he is on ten

medications

> that we certainly can't pay for. So - while we wait for the people

at Social

> Security to decide if he can get disability, he has no insurance.

>

> We have no savings and I make too much to qualify for aid but too

little to

> pay for all our expenses and his medical care. We would lose the

house, and

> I don't want that to happen.

>

> Is there anything anyone can think of we can do? I really should

stop work

> to take care of him.

>

> He cannot possibly live much longer, and will get almost no

benefits anyway.

> He's killing himself so we can keep the insurance and keep the

house. (If I

> put him on my insurance, it will be over $600, and we just don't

have it.)

>

> I know I'm being incoherent, but I'm pretty lost here and hope

someone who

> has been through this might be able to come up with some help.

>

> Abby, caregiver to Buddy

>

[Guest guest]

We live in Arkansas, USA. He's a research an analytical chemist.

I'm calling my senators and rep tomorrow. I know them - sort of - from

covering them for a newspaper.

I never thought I'd try to pull strings, but at this point, I'll try

anything. This man has worked all his life, since the age of 14, and

paid into Social Security, and now when he needs help, it's not there.

I don't know much right now, but I do know that I will spend the rest

of my life working for universal health care.

This is crazy - for a person to have to die because there is no help.

Abby

>

> Hi Abby,

> Boy....I can SO SO remember that feeling of panic and despair. I

> wish I could reach through the computer and give you a hug.

>

> From your post, I can't tell what country you live in. You said your

> husband is a 'chemist'. I know in England they refer to pharmacists

> as 'chemists....I lived there for 7 years.

>

> I live in Canada. I was 'forced' out of work end of 2003 because I

> was missing so much work and there were 20 stairs up to my office (

> I'm a counselor). I applied for unemployment Insurance...medical

> leave....which was good for 15 weeks. There was a 5 week wait for

> that and I had to have a friend help me out a bit then. Then I

> applied through Social Insurance for medical income support. I got

> that and they covered my prescriptions. Now I have been moved

> to " CPP-Disability " ...a special plan where you recieve your Canada

> Pension Plan benefits early...only it is an increased amount if you

> have children.

>

> One thing I know...most countries have some sort of emergency thing

> for persons with disabilities. Google it and see what you can find.

>

> One thing......I had to make a few sacrifices, but I also had to be

> a 'squeaky wheel'.

>

> If you want a ton of emotional support....just hit my email symbol

> at by my name at the side there.......THAT is one thing I CAN

> give...it can help!

>

> Here for you Abby.

>

> Di....PLS.......Canada

>

[Guest guest]

Atta girl Abby! Get mad...good and mad...pull those strings! There

IS so much unfairness.....but let your anger work for you. Go for it!

Hugs!

Di...........Canada

PLS-FRIENDS , " agneswross " wrote:

>

> We live in Arkansas, USA. He's a research an analytical chemist.

> I'm calling my senators and rep tomorrow. I know them - sort of -

from

> covering them for a newspaper.

>

> I never thought I'd try to pull strings, but at this point, I'll

try

> anything. This man has worked all his life, since the age of 14,

and

> paid into Social Security, and now when he needs help, it's not

there.

>

> I don't know much right now, but I do know that I will spend the

rest

> of my life working for universal health care.

>

> This is crazy - for a person to have to die because there is no

help.

>

> Abby

>

>

>

> >

> > Hi Abby,

> > Boy....I can SO SO remember that feeling of panic and despair. I

> > wish I could reach through the computer and give you a hug.

> >

> > From your post, I can't tell what country you live in. You said

your

> > husband is a 'chemist'. I know in England they refer to

pharmacists

> > as 'chemists....I lived there for 7 years.

> >

> > I live in Canada. I was 'forced' out of work end of 2003 because

I

> > was missing so much work and there were 20 stairs up to my

office (

> > I'm a counselor). I applied for unemployment Insurance...medical

> > leave....which was good for 15 weeks. There was a 5 week wait

for

> > that and I had to have a friend help me out a bit then. Then I

> > applied through Social Insurance for medical income support. I

got

> > that and they covered my prescriptions. Now I have been moved

> > to " CPP-Disability " ...a special plan where you recieve your

Canada

> > Pension Plan benefits early...only it is an increased amount if

you

> > have children.

> >

> > One thing I know...most countries have some sort of emergency

thing

> > for persons with disabilities. Google it and see what you can

find.

> >

> > One thing......I had to make a few sacrifices, but I also had to

be

> > a 'squeaky wheel'.

> >

> > If you want a ton of emotional support....just hit my email

symbol

> > at by my name at the side there.......THAT is one thing I CAN

> > give...it can help!

> >

> > Here for you Abby.

> >

> > Di....PLS.......Canada

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Will his company help by giving him a severance package where they pay for

the medical insurance (Cobra) until he's approved for Medicare OR give him a

cash severance package that will cover his Cobra insurance premiums for 6

months?

Lynn

Medical benefits/disability

I have not posted before, and hope someone can help me. My husband has

been

diagnosed with PLS, and he is very, very ill. He can hardly walk, has

trouble talking, and has emphasema on top of that. I honestly don't think

he

will be able to live much longer.

He is trying to continue to go to work, and when he goes, he is paid. If

he

does not go, they kick in with Family and Medical leave act. (He's a

chemist, and has a wheel chair at work - they let him sit there to justify

his salary - if he is able to get there.)

He needs to go on disability, and the rep at Social Security says there is

no doubt he will get disability - but...he will not qualify for Medicare

until the end of May, and even then, he has to take reduced benefits. If

he

quits work, he is without medical insurance, and he is on ten medications

that we certainly can't pay for. So - while we wait for the people at

Social

Security to decide if he can get disability, he has no insurance.

We have no savings and I make too much to qualify for aid but too little

to

pay for all our expenses and his medical care. We would lose the house,

and

I don't want that to happen.

Is there anything anyone can think of we can do? I really should stop work

to take care of him.

He cannot possibly live much longer, and will get almost no benefits

anyway.

He's killing himself so we can keep the insurance and keep the house. (If

I

put him on my insurance, it will be over $600, and we just don't have it.)

I know I'm being incoherent, but I'm pretty lost here and hope someone who

has been through this might be able to come up with some help.

Abby, caregiver to Buddy

[Guest guest]

I'll ask him to try that tomorrow, but I doubt it. Doesn't seem likely.

>

> Will his company help by giving him a severance package where they

pay for

> the medical insurance (Cobra) until he's approved for Medicare OR

give him a

> cash severance package that will cover his Cobra insurance premiums

for 6

> months?

>

> Lynn

> Medical benefits/disability

>

>

> I have not posted before, and hope someone can help me. My husband has

> been

> diagnosed with PLS, and he is very, very ill. He can hardly walk, has

> trouble talking, and has emphasema on top of that. I honestly

don't think

> he

> will be able to live much longer.

>

> He is trying to continue to go to work, and when he goes, he is

paid. If

> he

> does not go, they kick in with Family and Medical leave act. (He's a

> chemist, and has a wheel chair at work - they let him sit there to

justify

> his salary - if he is able to get there.)

>

> He needs to go on disability, and the rep at Social Security says

there is

> no doubt he will get disability - but...he will not qualify for

Medicare

> until the end of May, and even then, he has to take reduced

benefits. If

> he

> quits work, he is without medical insurance, and he is on ten

medications

> that we certainly can't pay for. So - while we wait for the people at

> Social

> Security to decide if he can get disability, he has no insurance.

>

> We have no savings and I make too much to qualify for aid but too

little

> to

> pay for all our expenses and his medical care. We would lose the

house,

> and

> I don't want that to happen.

[Guest guest]

Abby, I wish like Di said reach out and give you a hug.Yes it stinks that we

have paid into this system and when we need help it starts the wait game.

Does your husband have short/long term disability there at work? That help us

though the waiting period for SS security to kick in. I waited 6 months

before I received SS, but that was back in 1995 . things have come a long way

since them.

Luckily my husband is the main bread winner in our family so I sense the

fear you have.

Go ahead and whatever strings you have. those strings can direct you to

people you would otherwise have to wait to see.

Please come back to us just to vent your frustrations we totally understand

your journey your traveling.

Flora/Florida

[Guest guest]

I don't sense intolerance---desperation perhaps and realism. check out whether

or not your county has any benefits until medicaid kicks in/and medicare. i was

lucky in my county for that in fl but still ended up waiting 5 months for SSDI.

others here have suggested assistance from mda as that varies from chapter to

chapter (mine cannot let me in as they are over wrought already).

additionally, there are pharmaceutical companies that will assist in the meds

should he not be able to get benefits. Needymeds.com can lead you into the meds

and companies to contanct.

that is about all i know, sorry but i wish you good thoughts and try to hang

in there.

Tawny

AWR ross415@...> wrote:

I have not posted before, and hope someone can help me. My husband has been

diagnosed with PLS, and he is very, very ill. He can hardly walk, has

trouble talking, and has emphasema on top of that. I honestly don't think he

will be able to live much longer.

He is trying to continue to go to work, and when he goes, he is paid. If he

does not go, they kick in with Family and Medical leave act. (He's a

chemist, and has a wheel chair at work - they let him sit there to justify

his salary - if he is able to get there.)

He needs to go on disability, and the rep at Social Security says there is

no doubt he will get disability - but...he will not qualify for Medicare

until the end of May, and even then, he has to take reduced benefits. If he

quits work, he is without medical insurance, and he is on ten medications

that we certainly can't pay for. So - while we wait for the people at Social

Security to decide if he can get disability, he has no insurance.

We have no savings and I make too much to qualify for aid but too little to

pay for all our expenses and his medical care. We would lose the house, and

I don't want that to happen.

Is there anything anyone can think of we can do? I really should stop work

to take care of him.

He cannot possibly live much longer, and will get almost no benefits anyway.

He's killing himself so we can keep the insurance and keep the house. (If I

put him on my insurance, it will be over $600, and we just don't have it.)

I know I'm being incoherent, but I'm pretty lost here and hope someone who

has been through this might be able to come up with some help.

Abby, caregiver to Buddy

[Guest guest]

in the states it is federal law that while he is under family medical leave act

and has even the slightest bit of leave time that the company pay for cobra.

some companies will work with you if they are able....forgot about that in last

post.

Tawny

Lynn Holmes lynn.holmes@...> wrote:

Will his company help by giving him a severance package where they pay for

the medical insurance (Cobra) until he's approved for Medicare OR give him a

cash severance package that will cover his Cobra insurance premiums for 6

months?

Lynn

Medical benefits/disability

I have not posted before, and hope someone can help me. My husband has

been

diagnosed with PLS, and he is very, very ill. He can hardly walk, has

trouble talking, and has emphasema on top of that. I honestly don't think

he

will be able to live much longer.

He is trying to continue to go to work, and when he goes, he is paid. If

he

does not go, they kick in with Family and Medical leave act. (He's a

chemist, and has a wheel chair at work - they let him sit there to justify

his salary - if he is able to get there.)

He needs to go on disability, and the rep at Social Security says there is

no doubt he will get disability - but...he will not qualify for Medicare

until the end of May, and even then, he has to take reduced benefits. If

he

quits work, he is without medical insurance, and he is on ten medications

that we certainly can't pay for. So - while we wait for the people at

Social

Security to decide if he can get disability, he has no insurance.

We have no savings and I make too much to qualify for aid but too little

to

pay for all our expenses and his medical care. We would lose the house,

and

I don't want that to happen.

Is there anything anyone can think of we can do? I really should stop work

to take care of him.

He cannot possibly live much longer, and will get almost no benefits

anyway.

He's killing himself so we can keep the insurance and keep the house. (If

I

put him on my insurance, it will be over $600, and we just don't have it.)

I know I'm being incoherent, but I'm pretty lost here and hope someone who

has been through this might be able to come up with some help.

Abby, caregiver to Buddy

[Guest guest]

Abby, I got disability when I first requested it (my neuro said she marked it as

ALS as there is no knowledge of PLS) but there is a six month wait. I first

filed six months before I left work so I would not have a wait but that doesn't

count..............you must wait 6 months. By that I mean I could not file for

disability until I was actually not working. This was a big blow to us

financially too but I am on my husband's insurance so we " made " it sort of. We

actually had to do a refi on our mortgage to make it. I am sorry this is such a

hard time for you right now. I will pray for you and Buddy.

[Guest guest]

Maybe this will help with medications:

Look into prescription help programs. Most pharmaceutical companies have

programs that provide medicines at little cost. A number of companies also

offer discounts on their medicines at the pharmacy to people with low to

modest incomes and no insurance coverage. In addition to its patient

assistance program, GlaxoKline offers savings on outpatient

prescription medicines for uninsured, low-income patients through three

programs.

New from GlaxoKline and 9 other leading pharmaceutical companies is the

free, easy-to-use Together Rx Access™ prescription savings card. It is

designed to provide savings off the customary pharmacy price for some 36

million Americans under age 65 who qualify and who are without public or

private prescription medicine coverage. The card is good for direct savings

on more than 275 brand-name prescription medicines and a wide range of

generics, and savings are received right at the pharmacy counter.

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) can help many uninsured

people get the drugs they need free, nearly free or at significant savings

for those who qualify. With just " one stop, " PPA puts them in touch with

public or private savings programs that often match their needs. PPA offers

information and assistance for accessing more than 1200 drugs.

Through a toll-free number -- 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-) -- and a

user-friendly web site, www.pparx.org, the Partnership for Prescription

Assistance offers quick contact with hundreds of prescription help programs.

(Drug companies offer more than 150 of them.) If you call or go online to

contact PPA, you should have a list of drugs you are taking handy.

Lynn

Medical benefits/disability

>

>

> I have not posted before, and hope someone can help me. My husband has

> been

> diagnosed with PLS, and he is very, very ill. He can hardly walk, has

> trouble talking, and has emphasema on top of that. I honestly

don't think

> he

> will be able to live much longer.

>

> He is trying to continue to go to work, and when he goes, he is

paid. If

> he

> does not go, they kick in with Family and Medical leave act. (He's a

> chemist, and has a wheel chair at work - they let him sit there to

justify

> his salary - if he is able to get there.)

>

> He needs to go on disability, and the rep at Social Security says

there is

> no doubt he will get disability - but...he will not qualify for

Medicare

> until the end of May, and even then, he has to take reduced

benefits. If

> he

> quits work, he is without medical insurance, and he is on ten

medications

> that we certainly can't pay for. So - while we wait for the people at

> Social

> Security to decide if he can get disability, he has no insurance.

>

> We have no savings and I make too much to qualify for aid but too

little

> to

> pay for all our expenses and his medical care. We would lose the

house,

> and

> I don't want that to happen.