Surprise! Your social security application is due NOW!

September 7, 2012

About 10 years ago I bought my first new car.  I negotiated a good price, got them to throw in extras like an extended warranty, and then moved on to the contract, where I proceeded, to the saleman’s chagrin, to read every single word.  It took a ridiculously long time, but I wanted to make sure I read it all.  I caught something important, actually, and had them change it.  I think it’s very important to read every word of these long, annoying contracts.  And I think the same is true of important applications, like for social security.

That’s why I’m certain that no mention was made of the deadline for the second part of the application when I was filling out the first part.  I would have read it.  And it would have stuck with me.  You see, the way it works is that first you fill out the main application.  Then you fill out the disability application.  Then, if you want, you fill out an application for SSI.  I read several times that my SSI application date was being set based on when I started that first application (and they only tell you that after you start!) but I saw no mention of the disability application, so I logically assumed I could just do it whenever I wanted.  Obviously I knew it had to be done somewhat soon so that they could start processing my application, but a few days here or there wouldn’t matter, right?

Obviously, I didn’t learn my lesson from the MassHealth paperwork procrastination.  I put off that first part of the social security application for a couple of weeks, but after that I did have to legitimately wait for my lawyer to get back to me with answers to my questions.  Then on Tuesday night, with a big sigh of relief, I submitted the first application online.  On Wednesday I drove over to the local social security office with my W2 and signed medical release form.  I felt good about this!  Then Thursday I was busy and today, well, I meant to work on that application.  Really, I did.  But, well, it would still be waiting for me tomorrow, right?  Or Sunday, definitely by Sunday.

Yeah, I know, I was procrastinating, but it was only a couple of days.  Then I checked my mail today and there was a letter from the Social Security Administration.  It said that I had 10 days (from the day I applied – which was already 2 days ago!) to submit a whole bunch of things, including this additional application!  I was horrified.  If they had said upfront that 10 days after the first application I’d have to have the second one in, I would have finished them both before hitting that “submit” button.  I could have prepared.  I would have done it all differently.  But of course they didn’t offer any information like that.  No, that would have been too helpful.

I read all sorts of checklists, but it wasn’t mentioned there.  I read the introductions to the forms and all sorts of boring information about the materials I’d need, but it wasn’t mentioned there either.  Now I’m really worried!  I started working on the application today, and I emailed more questions to my lawyer.  If I need to fill in certain info then I’m screwed, because it will take time to get my older medical records, and that’s time that I just don’t have.  And what’s this about wanting my short term disability pay stubs?  What pay stubs?  It was direct deposit, and really, shouldn’t the insurance company be reporting that directly to the federal government anyway?  Can’t the SSA see the IRS’ files?

Of course, I got this letter after 5pm on a Friday, so now I have to wait all weekend.  First thing Monday, though, I’ll be calling the SSA.  This time, there won’t be any procrastination.  I can’t afford to take that chance!

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Posted by chronicrants

Health insurance “options”

September 4, 2012

2 Comments | Decisions, Expectations, Frustration, Healthcare, Limitations, Medication, Politics, Raves, Unpredictable | Permalink
Posted by chronicrants

Holes in the so-called safety nets

August 28, 2012

There’s this idea that the so-called social safety nets are just hanging out, waiting for us to jump into them whenever we feel like it.  To listen to the politicians speak, these safety nets are easily gotten, easily abused, taken for granted, and a huge waste of money.  If you don’t live in the U.S. and/or don’t know what I’m talking about, check out the links for explanations.

I can’t speak about every type of “safety net” because I haven’t tried them all.  And I can’t speak to all of the politicians’ points.  But I can definitely say that these services are not so easy to get!

In this fight for services, I have a lot going for me: I’m intelligent, I am well educated, I have unlimited internet access and my own private computer, I am well organized, and I used to deal with red tape and bureaucracy on a regular basis at a previous job.  So even while other people struggle, this should be really easy for me, right?  Yeah, right.

A couple weeks ago I made it very clear how I feel about Medicaid.  And I was thankful that at least in my state, I’m eligible to apply for Medicaid, called MassHealth here.  Of course, there’s a downside: I followed all the rules and it’s still not working out well.  When my former employer’s benefits office told me I was losing my health insurance in just two short months, they told me that it would take 3 weeks for my MassHealth application to be processed, so I should wait to apply.  If I applied too soon, my current insurance could get in the way, so I should time it to get MassHealth just as my insurance ran out.  I called MassHealth’s customer service line several times and spoke to three separate people.  Each person told me the application would take 3 weeks to process.  The automated system said that the current processing time is 15 business days.  Ok, so it’s 3 weeks; that’s not so bad.  But it turns out, it’s 3 weeks to process the initial application!  After that application, it takes 90 days to process the supplemental disability application!  The supplemental disability application states that this time can be speeded up by including medical records, so I included all of mine back to January 2011, even though they really only needed the 12 months..  Today I spoke to the office that handles those applications.  It was explained that they are still required to contact my doctors and to give them 30 days to respond with my medical records.  Yes, these will just be duplicates of the records that I already provided.  So what was the point of including those records?  None.  I did not save time, I just spent more on postage and wasted paper.  Fantastic.  So now I will have a 2-month gap between when my insurance ends and when I could even potentially be approved for MassHealth.  Of course, they could still deny my application.  And what am I supposed to do in the meantime?  Well, I can stop seeing doctors and taking medications, but that’s not entirely an option.  There’s one medication that I can’t stop without doing serious harm, and another that would do moderate harm.  I can either pay for these out of pocket myself, or I can spend $550 per month for COBRA.  Great options.  But I guess it’s my own fault – I followed the rules.

Services like housing vouchers and food stamps are shrouded in mystery.  Even though these are state and federal programs, they are handled at local levels.  It takes a few phone calls to find the right office.  This office will not provide information by phone and there’s nothing helpful online.  They do not make appointments.  They simply say that I should show up with my paperwork, then they’ll tell me which services I’m eligible for.  I don’t even know which services they handle!  So the only way to find out what I might be eligible for is to show up at this office, but of course showing up can be hard for people with health problems.  And I’m slowly learning about others offices that might be able to help with this kind of thing, but only by asking for advice from other people who have gone through this process.  As far as I can tell, there is no one central calling center or web site to provide information on what services exist for people with no income and an inability to work due to health problems.

And then there’s Social Security Disability.  Should I even discuss this?  I’ve found different statistics for how many people are denied the first time they apply, but the lowest number I found is 50%.  If these numbers are right, that means that more than half, possibly much more than half, of applicants are denied the first time they apply.  And quite a few are denied on appeal, too.  The application is long and arduous.  It feels nothing like a safety net and everything like a test.  Filling out the application is a test, waiting to hear back is a test, going through the appeals process is a test.  And if you pass?  You get enough money each month to pay your rent.  Maybe.  If you’re lucky.  Of course, there won’t be much money left over for frivolous things like food, but that’s what food stamps are for… if you can figure out how to apply for them.

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Posted by chronicrants

Medicaid makes me so damn mad

August 16, 2012

Medicaid makes me so damn mad!

Our entire healthcare system in this country is so incredibly broken.  Now, I’ve heard mixed things about healthcare in other countries, but since I’ve never lived in those countries I can’t comment on their healthcare.  My guess is that in most industrialized countries the healthcare is better than what we have here but it still needs improvement, but that’s just a guess.  What I do know about is the broken system in the United States.

I could rant about many different aspects of healthcare, and I have, again and again, but right now I’m thinking about Medicaid.

First, there was a posting in the forum of a personal finance web site.  Personal finance is a hobby of mine, and it often intersects with the health stuff (like in reducing expenses and paying for medical care, etc.)  This particular posting was from someone with a very low income who was wondering how she could possibly afford health insurance.  Several people suggested that she apply for Medicaid and they didn’t realize that in many states, including hers, she isn’t eligible for it.  In some states, people without children simply aren’t eligible, regardless of their financial or medical status.  This is absurd.  Why on earth is this being handled on a state-by-state basis?  When people assume that eligibility requirements are looser than they are, it skews their political beliefs, not to mention their view of their own safety net.  The American public needs a lot of education about this.

Then I applied for Medicaid in my own state.  Thankfully, in Massachusetts a single person can be eligible for Medicaid.  Of course, just because I can and should be eligible doesn’t mean I’ll get it, and if I do get it, I have no idea which of the many plans I would be offered.  This means that I don’t know if I’ll lose my PCP or not.  If I lose my PCP, then I won’t be able to get referrals to my specialists.  That means I would not be able to get my prescriptions.  Then I’d be screwed.  Shit.

I follow politics closely and so I am very aware of the current healthcare debates.  The Republicans were all for healthcare reform until the Democrats enacted it.  Now the Republicans want to repeal it simply because they want to hurt the Democrats.  WTF?!?!?!?!  Since they can’t repeal healthcare reform right now they are doing what they can: many Republican governors are refusing to expand Medicaid, even though they would get complete federal funding at the beginning and quite a large federal subsidy thereafter.  In looking to hurt the Democrats, they are hurting their own citizens.

And then there was this article.  Who on earth thinks that the yearly income limit for Medicaid should be less than the yearly premiums for health insurance?!?  Whether or not you believe that Medicaid should exist, can anyone really argue that as long as it does exist, it should be available for those who need it?  What’s the point in having a system that the people who it was designed to help can’t access?

This is madness, I tell you, madness!!!

I admit that I don’t have all the answers, but I would like to suggest a few anyway.  Please bear with me.  First, Medicaid, like Medicare, needs to be offered on a federal level, or at least it must be subject to federally-mandated minimums.  Clearly states can not be trusted to handle it.  Anyone who thinks that non-parents do not “deserve” healthcare as much as parents needs some serious help.  Also, Medicaid should be used to fill in the gap of people who want health insurance and who truly can not afford it.  If you don’t earn enough to cover basics like rent/mortgage, food, and health insurance, then you should be covered.  Finally, Medicaid reimbursement rates need to be increased.  I’m not suggesting that every medical visit warrants a four-figure reimbursement, but medical facilities must receive reimbursement that at least covers their costs so that they will continue to take on Medicaid patients.  The system doesn’t do the patients any good if reimbursement rates are so low that all doctors refuse them, and that’s what’s happening now (which is why I may lose my PCP.)

Like I said, I don’t have all the answers, but I think this would be a good start.  I’m sure you’re wondering how we’d pay for this.  Well, I don’t know, but let me ask, how are we paying for Medicare?  How much are we spending on graft and fraud?  Isn’t it worth keeping our citizenry healthy so that they can continue to work and thereby pay more in income tax (and probably sales tax too, since they’d be able to spend more?)  Personally, I need health insurance and social security so that I can focus on getting healthy.  Yes, some people may never recover, but there are others (and I sincerely hope that I’m one of them) who can, and who will gladly return to the workplace and to paying their fair share of taxes so that others can enjoy the support of the same system that helped them to recover.  Now that’s a system I’d like to see.

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Posted by chronicrants

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