Living on social security.

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Never in my life did I see myself where I am at now. Life on social security means being broke all the time. I work and due to my father's death paid into the system here in Pennsylvania for decades. Because of that, I make too much on social security to get state Medicaid by $48 a month. To go from making just around $4,000 a month down to $1,286 on social security. My bills are $50 more than what I make. I am facing one of three surgery soon. I am going to get one done asap. Now my problem is that my Medicare only covers 80% of my bill. My ostomy supplies are going to have out-of-pocket costs and Medicare doesn't cover incontinence supplies so I am stuck paying for them myself. Life moves from bad to worse as my new doctor feels that reversing my ostomy and then doing the testing that GI Should have done is the best option. At this point I feel like seeing what my other doctor feels is right and then going to the new hospital for a GI appointment with a new doctor. Then if they all agree it's a done deal and I will be going after Florida doctors as well as my current GI For Not Doing right by me. Sucks but even my new surgeon feels like huge mistakes were made.

Feels like my only option is to make a case and hope it makes doctors do right by myself.

 

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Call your local Office for the aging. They might be able to help you. Pennsylvania, unfortunately, is not as generous as some other states. 717-783-1550. I worked for Office for the Aging in New York and got alot of benefits for seniors. Call on Monday. Not sure if you have a spenddown for Community Medicaid. Make sure you ask if thats something that would be available in your state. You'd be asking "can i apply for Community Medicaid with a spenddown." If they don't know what you're talking about, then its not available in Pa. But, if they do know, they should be able to help you.

 

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@jim11776

They referred me to get in touch with the Medicare Medi helpline here in Pennsylvania but the person who they had me call didn't return my call yet.

Step-down does exist in Pennsylvania but only I don't qualify for it because I don't have assets I just make to
Much on social security. I asked about the deductible cost but was told that they only count deductions for Snap benefits and not for Medicad.

 

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sorry you are going through this. some states just make it very difficult to help people. in new york, you can make any amount of monthly income and move it into a trust to protect it and you could then qualify for the medicaid benefit. one of the reasons my taxes are so high. but helping people that need it comes with a price.

 

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Pa has a program called workers with disabilty. I do dog walking part time. And doing so i pay towards my medicade. It's 60.00 a month. Call your assistence office and ask about it.

 

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@RugerAl

I have looked into it and talked about it with DHS. My issue is that I am not well enough to do much. I have a college degree in ministry and was working on a master's in church history. I could use that to work for a church but right now doctors have to figure out what is going on because I don't have any energy and my ostomy hurts all of the time. I am also very skilled in photography and good with video so I am planning on doing something with that soon.

 

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Maybe writting sermons may work? And photgraphy for weddings and other chuch activities when your ready.

 

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@ThatFLGuy Keep checking online for organizations that help. I has a family member was in a similar situation and on a colostomy bag. They held his a$$ for ransom until he got his medical bill paid. Not sure who, but someone stepped in and covered the bill. Just keep looking or try one of those fund raiser sites maybe.