Disabilities don’t wait
Having to file for disability is a monumental thing to do in a person’s life. On July of 2006 I had to do just that. I had been in the workforce for over twenty-five years and I had health care.. Being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1997, health care is a necessity for me. Despite the many fears of losing my job in 06′ and having to file for disability, I was relieved I would at least have Medicare. Well, that feeling of relief turned into shock and worry. I learned I had to wait two years after I received my first disability check before I would be eligible for Medicare. Two years! I became even more worried when I learned I would have to rely on Missouri’s Medicaid system. My worries were valid because I could not meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid due to the unaffordable formula of “spend down”. This year’s Republican controlled House and Senate in Missouri has made certain that me and hundreds of thousands of men, women and children will continue to go without Medicaid. In stead of listening to the mandate from Missouri voters for health care reform and restoration of the inhumane cuts they made in 2005, the majority of Republicans are allowing people to die and get sick rather than admit they are and were wrong.. During the two year wait I found myself, a single father of three, on disability, with a chronic disease and no health care. A person with MS, or any illness, needs constant physical therapy, medications, monthly blood work and doctor visits, access to the latest disease modifying technologies and any and all things related to health care. During my two year wait I could only pick and choose what medications I could afford and the rest I had to go without so I could pay for the basic living expenses. During the two year wait my mobility has gotten worse, my pain has increased, my bowel and bladder control has weakened, depression has intensified, fatigue is overwhelming, cognitive skills have suffered and worst of all my ability to interact with my children like I use to was declining as well. All of this because of the two year waiting period for Medicare. This has to change, it must be done away with now! If I didn’t have to wait I would have been more mobile, be able to fill all of my prescriptions, have more independence in using the bathroom, depression would have been dealt with, cognitive skills improved, energy increased, and best of all, my ability to interact with my children would have been improved. We obviously can not trust certain state legislators with our lives, so we must focus on real healh care reform on a federal level starting with the two year wait for Medicare. If a person is sick does it make sense to wait two years before going to the doctor? No it doesn’t, neither does the two year waiting period for Medicare!
Richard Green
Ozark, Mo.
These are the things that can go wrong and ruin all of the best laid plans. It is long past time we got our corporations out of the business of providing health care, and go with a universal health care system. This move in and of it’s self would remove a huge operating cost for businesses. Correct me if I am wrong but I believe we are the only industrialized nation that does not have national health care. Why are we so driven to help all of the rest of the world, instead of first educating our population. From cradle to grave education should be free for the asking, and simple task of passing entrance exams. Rebuilding our roads, bridges, rail systems etc. What is it half of our budget spent protecting the rest of the world from themselves, Instead of bringing our troops home and spending all those trillions here. National health care is just the first of many changes needed in the coming years if our country is to remain the king of the hills.
This is great. Health Care, Education, and damn near everything else is free? Do you have a clue in the world about economics? There is NO such thing as free. Who pays for it tictac? Is it the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, or the Eater Bunny?
Please point out where in the Constitution is says all things are free.
By the way, where did you learn these “fact’ that everything you wish for is free?
Richard,
You are a perfect example of the why we need universal health care. If we had some legislators in this state that cared about anyone besides Corporations, their croonies, and handing out tax breaks to the wealthest citizens, this would not be happening in this state. Unfortunately we are stuck with the selfish, greedy, uncaring ilk of ultra conservative Republicans.
My heart goes out to Richard and it sickens me that American citizens are treated with such disregard for life and illnesses that effect so many in this state. Missouri ranks almost last in everything, so we must keep up our reputable uncaring mandate that has ruled for way too long. You are so lucky to still be here Richard. 2 years without health insurance while having MS could not of been easy.
I have an Aunt on disablility and she gets $751.00/month to live on. She also gets a whooping $42.00/month in food stamps. That will cover a box and generic mac n cheese and a hotdog per day. She did not have to wait 2 years for Medicare, thank God or she would not be here today.
I bet that not many neocons will respond to this post because the truth hurts and it is much easier to live behind your warped narrow minded views than learn how our state takes care of the most vulnerable.
Of course SuperDave spews more of his “I do not know what I am talking about”. If he bothered to read your letter and everything that you have overcome, the response he gave would not be there.
People like SuperDave lack empathy. They have never suffered a life threatning illness without health insurance. The social programs that they hate are designed for people just like you Richard. It is a disgrace that you had to go without for 2 years. Shame on you SuperDave for your callous disregard for human life!!!
Debra and tictac, why don’t you two send Mr. Green some money.
While I can sympathize with Mr. Green’s plight, my mother has MS, I don’t know who he wants to take the money from in order to provide for his care. Do I send Mr. Green money every month or do I send it to my own mother that supported and raised me for 18 years? Or do folks like tictac and debra advocate government take money from me in order to send it to Mr. Green thus leaving me with less to support my family and help my mother?
Mr. Green,
My heart goes out to you and your family. You have a chronic condition that has diminished your quality of life and your ability to support yourself and your family. None of this is your fault but you are paying the price.
Our Social Security Disability, Medicare, and Medicaid systems are broken. People who sincerely need the services are denied because of fraud and theft perpetuated on the programs by what I would call criminals. People, fueled by unscrupulous attorneys, are told that disability money is theirs and they are entitled to it. So they come up with some nonsense, file their claim, and if denied, hire one of these crooked lawyers to get “their money”.
I have 3 family members on SSN Disability. 2 of them have chronic, serious, health problems and have fought the same issues you have. The other one weighs 600 lbs, has throughout her entire adult life done everything she could think of to avoid having to work. She had a good job and was financially able to take over supporting her family when her husband went on disability after suffering a dibilitating stroke. She then figured out that obesity equals disability. Already grossly overweight, she began filing for disability. After being denied, she just kept gaining weight until she literally couldn’t move and the company she worked for deemed her a liability. She’s been on “disability” ever since. It’s disgusting. It’s criminal. And it’s robbing people who truly need the services. What if 1/3 of all people on disability are there for dubious, self-inflicted, reversable conditions? Would these programs have adequate funds if these deadbeats were kicked off?
The blame needs to be put on the government because they do not go after fraud, waste, and theft. They just sign people up, hand out money, and then place restrictions on the programs because there is not enough money.
This is that evil guy that thinks people should do all they can to take care of themselves and not “expect” or “demand” others take care of them. I am the guy that knows that money doesn’t grow on trees and understands assets and debits. I am the guy who sees daily, as American Girl described, people who look for what they think is the easy fix which is disability paid by everyone else. Am I supposed to apologize for expect others to do all they can to take care of themselves. Are there extraordinary circumstances? You bet there is. However, most on disability could work if they wanted but have decided to have someone else do the work for them. Also, those same people are not the least bit appreciative of getting help but are more demanding then those very people who are paying for it.
Debra, if you had to run a business you would be dead in the water in no time with your attitude and absolute ignorance on how to budget. Again, our educational system is at fault because “REAL” economics is really not taught.
I came from a neighborhood where many families, including my own, were on welfare and knew how to use the system. As I have mentioned on here before, most enjoy their free time to do what they want at the expense of the people who actually work for a living and have to pay higher taxes to pay for the leeches of society, which is consistently growing every day.
There is no such thing as free. Its simple economics and morals, which some do not want to include when talking about living off of other people. I give to charity, I pay lots in taxes, and all I get is we want more. Where in the hell are the morals of people who believe they are entitled to other peoples money? Could one of you liberals please explain that to me and then tell me just how much I should be allowed to keep?
Logicprevails,
If Richard was not made to wait 2 years for medicare, his situation would be much better today.
If your Mother did not have you, who would she go to?
Because your Mother has you to count on, you cannot put yourself in Richard’s shoes because his children are not grown and CANNOT help him out financially.
Explain to me why this Man Richard should of had to wait 2 years to receive medicare?
That is the point!!!
SuperDave,
Because your were raised by a mother who leached and sucked welfare so she could do nothing and live off the government does not mean that everyone that gets government assistance is like your family. Kinda lumping all together aren’t you Superdave.
Your statement that most people on disability could work but choose not to is RIDICULOUS! Are you a doctor now SuperDAve? My aunt cannot work, she weighs 95 pounds and lives on oxygen. It is hard for her to even get herself dressed or shower without her in care nurse that visits a few times a week.
You act as if living on disability is some cake walk. With $42.00/month in food stamps and $751.00/month disability check, my aunt is living lavish. You are so warped. Your family was leaches so everyone must be!
Medicare fraud is committed by doctors and administrators, not patients. Name one case where the patient was involved in this crime! You can’t because it does not happen.
Yeah, SuperDave nothing is free except your up bringing. Since your Family sucked up the welfare and fed you growing up, no one else should qualify. Would you of eaten as a child if not for the welfare your family received. Since your parents did not want to work but continued to have children, what does that have to do with people that really need assistance. NOTHING!
Quite lumping everyone together SuperdumbDave who now thinks he is a doctor and anyone on disability can work they just do not want to.
Just like saying all muslims are terriost! All neocons are heartless!
All mexicans want to sneak across the border! All on government assistance are lazy and do not want to work!
I do not run a business and send my children to public school, so what!
What does that have to do with Richard’s letter?
Dave–
Don’t we ALL contribute to the SS fund, like Mr Green who worked for 25 years ? And don’t we deserve a return on our investment …. kind of like insurance ?
Oh yeah, that’s what Social Security is supposed to be about!
BTW, you should keep ALL that it is legal to do, but not a penny more.