criss11401
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? North Carolina
I know some of the questions are very "duh" to those well versed in SSDI inner workings, so I apologize if I come off as sounding very noobish. This is due to the fact that, quite frankly, I AM very noobish in these matters, so please be kind. I also apologize if I give you too much/not enough info!
My husband (age 31) recently (November 2009, retroactive to June 2009) qualified for SSDI due to a debilitating mental health condition that leaves him unable to work. The main thing I am confused about is how healthcare works and what services he is eligible for.
He initially received SSI until the SSA determined his amount and began SSDI payments. I am aware that SSI and medicaid go hand in hand. Once his SSDI began, the money he received from SSI was deducted from the SSDI backpay (as it should have been) and he received a letter stating when his "automatic" medicaid coverage would end (again, as expected). A month later he received a different letter stating the coverage would end at a different (and later) date. After contacting the case worker provided on the letter, she informed him that he might qualify for medicaid under a sliding scale fee with a deductable? I assume that means we pay a certain amount per year and then it is as though he has medicaid? When he went to the office in person, they told him he had been denied medicaid coverage and would need to reapply. He HAD been denied coverage in 2008, but they seemed to not be aware that he was CURRENTLY covered, even though he had his card right there with him. The right hand was obviously not aware what the left was doing.
In attempting to research this on my own, I seem to recall coming across something that referenced eligibilty for medicare after a certain amount of time on SSDI. I have always been under the impression that medicare was insurance for retired persons. It is VERY possible that I am just mixing up something totally unrelated - after a while all the articles tend to run together!
My main concern is that he HAS to be covered by some type of insurance, be it private or government, so that he can continue to receive medical treatment for his condition. It seems like every time I speak to someone at a government office, I get a different "official" answer than before (sometimes from the exact same person I talked to previously) and I have confused myself even more by trying to research it. At this point, I am ready to learn to live with less and just pay for a costly private insurance policy so that I don't live in fear of what letter the mailbox may bring today in regards to his healthcare coverage. We are not trying to abuse or work around the system by any means, but if he is eligible for services I certainly would like to utilize them.
Thank you in advance for your help!
I know some of the questions are very "duh" to those well versed in SSDI inner workings, so I apologize if I come off as sounding very noobish. This is due to the fact that, quite frankly, I AM very noobish in these matters, so please be kind. I also apologize if I give you too much/not enough info!
My husband (age 31) recently (November 2009, retroactive to June 2009) qualified for SSDI due to a debilitating mental health condition that leaves him unable to work. The main thing I am confused about is how healthcare works and what services he is eligible for.
He initially received SSI until the SSA determined his amount and began SSDI payments. I am aware that SSI and medicaid go hand in hand. Once his SSDI began, the money he received from SSI was deducted from the SSDI backpay (as it should have been) and he received a letter stating when his "automatic" medicaid coverage would end (again, as expected). A month later he received a different letter stating the coverage would end at a different (and later) date. After contacting the case worker provided on the letter, she informed him that he might qualify for medicaid under a sliding scale fee with a deductable? I assume that means we pay a certain amount per year and then it is as though he has medicaid? When he went to the office in person, they told him he had been denied medicaid coverage and would need to reapply. He HAD been denied coverage in 2008, but they seemed to not be aware that he was CURRENTLY covered, even though he had his card right there with him. The right hand was obviously not aware what the left was doing.
In attempting to research this on my own, I seem to recall coming across something that referenced eligibilty for medicare after a certain amount of time on SSDI. I have always been under the impression that medicare was insurance for retired persons. It is VERY possible that I am just mixing up something totally unrelated - after a while all the articles tend to run together!
My main concern is that he HAS to be covered by some type of insurance, be it private or government, so that he can continue to receive medical treatment for his condition. It seems like every time I speak to someone at a government office, I get a different "official" answer than before (sometimes from the exact same person I talked to previously) and I have confused myself even more by trying to research it. At this point, I am ready to learn to live with less and just pay for a costly private insurance policy so that I don't live in fear of what letter the mailbox may bring today in regards to his healthcare coverage. We are not trying to abuse or work around the system by any means, but if he is eligible for services I certainly would like to utilize them.
Thank you in advance for your help!