LafayetteLady
Posts: 7683
Joined: 5/2/2007 From: Northern New Jersey Status: offline
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Well if you are already on it, then how did you get there? You must know something about getting it. I have no idea what you mean by "medical," but medicare and medicaid are different. MediCARE is for the aged and disabled, and is part of Social Security and Social Security Disability. You can't have Medicare without one of those. You need to apply. The web site is www.SSA.gov. You should be able to navigate on your own from that point. MediCAID is medical benefits for the poor and needy. This comes in various forms. Most states have some kind of "Family Care" which is a form of Medicaid that is only available for people with children. This coverage is actually better than Medicare. It covers doctors, prescriptions and hospitals, usually at no cost, whereas Medicare does have a deduction from your Social Security payment, and does not cover all medications. The MediCAID for single people is more difficult to get. If you are receiving social service benefits (welfare), you should also receive some form of medicaid. If it is merely because you can't afford your own insurance, well, sadly, you are screwed. There is a THIRD type of MediCAID which is available to those who are receiving welfare but have chronic health problems. These are people who are not receiving Disability, but still have health problems that require more coverage. The only way to find out if you are eligible for those services is to go to your local Social Services Office. One final option is to apply at your local hospital for Charity Care. They will look at income and determine if you are eligible. You may be eligible for partial coverage or full coverage. Most local hospitals now also have in-house clinics a person can go to for basic care rather than the emergency room. Oh yea, and SSI and SSD are not the same thing. SSI is Supplemental Security Income and is for people who did not earn enough to receive Social Security Disability or plain Social Security.
< Message edited by LafayetteLady -- 10/23/2011 4:13:14 PM >
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