As you all know, once you are approved for Social Security Disability, unless you are of age, you must wait 2 years before you are eligible for Medicare.
There are two bills in Congress right now to eliminate that 2 year waiting period. I suggest we contact our congressmen and ask them what's going on with the bill and to "hurry up and pass it!"
The Senate bill was introduced in March 09 by Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico and by Representative Gene Green of the 29th District from Texas. The bill appears to be languishing while Congress fights over Health Care Reform.
I am asking you today to write, call, or email these two congressmen, and your own congressman, to ask them what is being done on this bill.
Bill S.700 and Bill H.R. 1708 read in part:
Bill S.700 and Bill H.R. 1708 would amend Title II of the Social Security Act to phase out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits, to eliminate the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions.
There are over 100 congressmen who support these bills, but are not actively pursuing them.
I'm not sure why they are not, but I'm guessing they are too busy fighting over Health Care Reform.
So, if this matters to you, or to your loved one, please contact congress and tell them how important it is that they immediately move forward on this issue.
Thanks!!!!
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SS Disability and Medicare (or the lack thereof)
- By NCWife
- Posted October 31, 2009 at 1:09 pm · 13 replies
- In Non-small cell lung cancer - General
- Shared with the public
13 replies
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- By Barb267
- Posted October 31, 2009 at 10:28 pm
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Senator Nelson is sure going to get tired of hearing from me. Sent him an e-mail regarding the health care reform earlier this week and asked him for just this. Now I just sent him off an e-mail about this. Thank you for posting this. I plan on bugging the crap out of my representatives.
Blessings
Barb
- By spouse
- Posted October 31, 2009 at 10:53 pm
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Thanks for posting. Congressman Lincoln Diaz Balart in Florida is actively supporting this after trying to assist Gonzalez. http://www.jorgegonzalezleukemiafund.com/
Unfortunately Jorge died in September without his Medicare.
I will contact my congressman as well as bingaman and green.
Maria
- By spouse
- Posted October 31, 2009 at 11:00 pm
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You can support bill online at http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s700/show
- By NCWife
- Posted November 1, 2009 at 1:13 am
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Barb,
That's awesome! Thank you. I also emailed President Obama about the bill. I don't understand why anyone would be against this bill.
I think our republican congressmen should love this bill since they hate the idea of "death panels". Maybe I should write to Sara Palin. They seem to listen to her - for some reason.
- By NCWife
- Posted November 1, 2009 at 1:15 am
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Maria,
Thank you so much for supporting this and also for providing the address to show our support to congress of (all pending) bills. I have NEVER been so politically involved as I have this year both about this and about health care reform. I guess until a loved one is facing certain death, we tend to be more passive about issues.
Thanks again!
- By beckylynn
- Posted November 1, 2009 at 3:40 am
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NCWife,
My sister was 'fast tracked' for her SSI & Medicare. She had to wait '6' months once approved for her 1st SSI check I believe the medicare kicked in right away.
The hospital administration staff helped with this if I recall. Can you discuss this with your dr's office or hospital depending on where you're being treated.
You should also contact your congressman and request his assistance in getting this 'fast tracked'.
I believe they do this when you are dx with a "terminal illness"
FYI
Becky
- By spouse
- Posted November 1, 2009 at 9:00 am
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Social Security does have a list of 50 conditions that are considered compassionate allowances http://www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances/conditions.htm These cases are approved within a week. However benefits do not start until after the 5 month waiting period and Medicare does not start until 24 months after the first check. Medicare only starts before that for people with ALS and chronic renal disease.
You may be thinking of Medicaid that can start as soon as you are allowed. The problem is that Medicaid is based on income and resources and many doctors do not want to accept it since it pays so little.
Maria
- By NCWife
- Posted November 1, 2009 at 9:35 am
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Becky, can you give me more info on this, please?
He isn't getting SSI, just disability. We don't qualify for SSI.
Thanks for the post and the info!
- By NCWife
- Posted November 1, 2009 at 9:38 am
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Maria,
Yes, that is the way it was explained to us too.
Waiting for 2 years for health insurance (medicare) when you have been diagnosed with cancer and put on social security disability is insane! I wish I had known about this years ago so I could have been screaming about it for a LONG time, LOL
- By Chi-Dreamer
- Posted November 1, 2009 at 6:31 pm
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NCwife,
I only had to wait 1 year before I was placed on Medicare. It went back to my diagnosis of stage 4
Linda
- By beckylynn
- Posted November 2, 2009 at 7:14 am
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NCWife, I apologize it must be medicaid she's on not medicare. I know it's so frustrating to think all those working years you put into the system that when you really need it the wait time is crazy. I only know my sister's hospital helped fast track her but she had a very low income to start with @ $700 a month and no insurance period.
Becky
- By NCWife
- Posted November 2, 2009 at 8:58 am
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Yeah, that's probably the way it was.
I have emailed everybody in Washington that I can think of regarding the pending legislation to change this stupid law. It doesn't look like it really has much opposition so if we as a group could bombard our senators and representatives we might have a chance of getting medicare before we die without having health insurance.
So please, please, it just takes a minute! Go to your state's senate and house rep's website and email them to bring this bill to the forefront ASAP!
Personally, I think this issue is tea-party worthy!!
Thanks again.
- By NCWife
- Posted November 3, 2009 at 9:50 am
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Update: So my email to Senator Lieberman was rejected because I'm not from Connecticut. That just made me see RED.
Medicare coverage is so very important to those of us facing the end. If anybody here is from Connecticut, please, please, contact Senator Lieberman and demand that he support the medicare bill I described above.
Thank you!
P.S. I don't believe this is a political issue - it's a health issue for terminal folks who need help NOW!
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