'A Patient Voice' Community

hello, all --

i'm not 100% positive, but i think R is referring to an earlier thread at http://forums.webmd.com/3/chronic-disease-and-disability-exchange/forum/348/0?@guest@#0 . the info on clinical trials is in PS3 and PS4 of my response in that thread (the second post).

-- susie margaret

I also have hypocalcemia, RA, and other types of arthrits, as well as Grave's disease. I had my thyroid out in 1992 but because of the damage to the parathyroid glands, it caused the problem with hypocalcemia. I am on several types of meds, and vitamines, including 50,000 mg of calcium a day. i also have cervical cancer but have been in remission since I had the LEAP procedure 1992, as well. I have been trying to apply for disability since all these problems have had an effect on memory, standing, sitting and even sleep, plus feeling of fatigue, achiness. I was told that boards for disability only look at long or short term and what is being done for the condition. Work is immposible because of the pain I have and the other symptoms I have... Now I am not sure if I should try for it or not but I am at a point where financially, I need to do something. My meds are expensive and insurance doesn't cover it all. any help would be appreciated.

hello, J --

i don't know what you mean by "boards for disability only looking at long term or short term"; who referred to this? if you are talking about social security disability benefits (see PS1), there are currently no provisions for short-term disability (PS2) that i know of. if i am wrong, i hope someone more knowledgeable will correct me.

are you using a lawyer or disability advocate (PS3)? if you have not consulted someone (PS4), i think it would be a good idea. it is to their benefit to give you a realistic assessment, because even if they accept your case, they get a fee only if you/they win (if you/they win, the fee comes out of retroactive benefits, not from the benefits that you start receiving as of a favorable decision). these initial assessments are usually free.

with respect to your meds, we have a list of resources for finding free/low-cost meds or help with medication costs (including copays); i will include it as PS5 in my subsequent post. don't try to tackle the whole list at once; it will be too overwhelming. check out one or two entries, see what they say, then check out a few more.

i hope this helps.

-- susie margaret

PS1 -- perhaps you are referring to disability coverage under your employer's health insurance plan? if so, that would be a matter of contract, and you need to look at the policy provisions.

PS2 -- this topic is covered in the "frequently asked Qs" section of the social security admin website, http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1650 . it occurs to me that you may be thinking of the soc sec admin's periodic review of whether you are still entitled to disability benefits that you have already been awarded, http://www.ssa.gov/redbook/eng/returning-to-work.htm#2 .

PS3 -- disability advocates do all of the same things that lawyers do in social security cases, except that they are not lawyers. social security disability claims are one of the few parts of the law where your representative does not have to be a lawyer.

PS4 -- you can find specialists in social security law in the yellow pages under "attorneys," then looking for the large ads that say "social security," "disability benefits," or something that sounds similar. you can find disability advocates in the yellow page listings under "social security disability benefits" and "social security services."

PS5 -- this footnote is included in a subsequent post.

hello, J --

here is footnote PS5 applicable to my previous post. i hope it helps.

-- susie margaret

PS5 -- here is a list of resources for finding free/low-cost meds or financial assistance for meds --

-- ask your prescribing dr or your primary-care dr for samples;

-- ask a pharmacist if s/he knows of local/state/national programs for getting free/low-cost meds or help with the cost of meds (be sure to ask specifically about copay programs);

-- ask a pharmacist if any of the meds you are taking have generic equivalents, which are much less expensive than brand-name ones; many discount stores (target, wal-mart, etc.) and grocery store pharmacies dispense generic meds at $4/month and antibiotics for free;

-- look at the labels on your current meds, get the manufacturer's name for each, then apply to each manufacturer's patient assistance program;

-- check out the listings from these websites -- http://www.pparx.org/prescription_assistance_programs , http://www.needymeds.org/indices/pap.shtml , http://www.rxoutreach.com , http://www.gskforyou.com/10_programs.htm , http://www.211.org , http://www.copays.org ; and http://www.rxassist.org/default.cfm;

-- check out the website for the national conference of state legislatures, which lists prescription assistance programs by state (subsidy programs, table 1, and discount programs, table 2, each can be reached by a link within the text); the page with the listings requires a little maneuvering but is well worth the effort -- http://www.ncsl.org/IssuesResearch/Health/StatePharmaceuticalAssistanceProgramsNCSL200/tabid/14334/Default.aspx#Discount ;

-- call your city, county, or state dept of health and dept of family services (or something that sounds equivalent), and ask if there are state or local programs for prescription assistance;

-- go to the website for your state government, e.g., http://www.your_state.gov , and click on every social services link you can find; and

-- ask around at food banks, shelters, united way and other charitable organizations, the YMCA/YWCA, and similar places about local programs thru churches, fraternal organizations, etc.