Curious - how many PA are on Social Security Disability?

[Guest guest]

This may have been discussed before.

I have had arthritis all my life. I have 3 types

and of course the worst is PA.

Several years ago I fell on my employer's parking

lot, black ice, and fractured my sacrum. I never

was the same again.

I was denied my enbrel by my employer. (They

insisted I get that injection by a DR but we know

that isn't the way it is done. I worked for a

health agency no less!!! I fought this denial of

drug but to no avail. I started falling as my

right leg would just leave me and I'd end up on

my knees. That was until the beginning of April

05 when I fell flat on my face while getting

ready for work. I was in so much pain. After a

few days of bedrest I had an MRI and learned that

I had some discs that were collapsed and also

lots of stenosis. Lots of tests and then surgery

to fuse part of my lumbar and remove stenosis.

My rheumy worked hard for me to learn why I

couldn't have the enbrel. I finally learned that

I could have this drug. No, it was not on my

approved list from the Rx insurance so therefore

it is covered by my major medical portion of my

health insurance. I was so angry that an

employer can be so hard and miserable with no

care or concern of anothers health or pain

issues.

It is a fight to get my health insurance to pay

the bills and I have a fight about every month.

I applied for Social Security Disability in May

of 06 and within two months, August I received a

letter of approval!!! WOW I was delighted. I

am 59 years old. Some say the fact that my

sursgeon and Rheumy gave good medical history

(I've been with rheumy since 84) that this helped

and I had worked for plenty of " quarters " for

payroll purposes.

Then I knew that health insurance would be an

issued. Thanks to AARP, I learned that there

were some cases of getting your COBRA extended.

I did lots of research and talked to many people.

I contacted my employer and they just didn't

respond. So I went back to them and stated my

case. 1. I am on SSDI 2. I am eligible for

extension of COBRA 3. I need to know the rates

and which health insurance carrier they would be

using. That did it! I no longer asked them

anything. I stated my case and they did what the

law states that they must do.

What do you need to do to get this extended? If

you are approved for SSDI within 63 DAYS of the

date you start paying COBRA you can get up to an

eleven month extension of COBRA. You will pay

dearly for this coverage!!! I am now paying $800

a month but it covers me until my medicare starts

on Oct 1, 07.

Don't be afraid to ask questions? Keep at it!

Youi've got to do the work cause NO ONE wants to

tell you what you are elligible for. It isn't

nice but unfortunately that is the way it is.

Keep trying to get the benefits that you need!

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