If you experienced the symptoms triggered by common types of arthritis such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, you should lean on the federal government to help you ride out the financial storm.
Based on the type medical treatment being used, the monthly expense may vary from $1,000 to $3,000 per patient. Therefore treatment alone may cost the patient well over $30,000 a year without any form of health care or financial assistance. Some medical costs of treatment for arthritis can include pain medication such as biologic response modifiers, splints or braces, physical therapy, and steroid injections.
Back to topGet Help from the Social Security Administration
So, is arthritis a disability? The answer to this question will determine how you can get help from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Better known for its retirement program called Social Security, the Social Security Administration (SSA) also runs a program that helps American workers cover the cost associated with a debilitating medical condition like arthritis.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits help American workers bridge the financial gap caused by losing a job. SSDI benefits cover the costs associated with treating arthritis, as well as routine expenses such as food and housing.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) published a reference guide called the Blue Book to determine the eligibility of SSDI applicants. The Blue Book lists every qualifying medical condition, as well as the symptoms that are associated with each qualifying medical condition.
In addition, the SSDI has created a table that explains how long you need to work at an eligible job before the federal agency approves your SSDI application. SSDI pays out only for total disabilities, not for partial or short term medical conditions.
Back to topReceiving Medicare Benefits
Medicare is a better known federal safety net program that helps Americans at least 65 years old cover the costs associated with health care. Americans that receive an end stage renal disease diagnosis also qualify for Medicare approved health care services.
Medicare has multiple parts, and each part provides different types of health care. A state licensed attorney who specializes in helping clients receive Medicare health benefits can help you determine how to file for Medicare.
Every American that qualifies for SSDI benefits also qualifies to receive the health care services offered by Medicare. The catch is you have to wait 24 months after applying for Medicare to receive the program’s services.
You still get SSDI benefits to treat your qualifying disability, but you cannot access Medicare resources for other types of health care programs. During the 24 months of waiting for Medicare to kick in, SSDI recipients can use a health insurance plan that was offered by a former employer.
Getting Back to Work
One of the goals of the SSDI program is to get disabled Americans back to work. The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) program helps Americans afflicted with disabilities to return to work in some capacity.
PASS helps disabled workers set aside financial resources to pursue a career-related goal. For example, a disabled worker in the construction industry receives PASS support to save money for a transitional occupational program in another industry.
Back to topGet a Free Case Evaluation
Filing for SSDI benefits, as well as trying to enroll in Medicare, can take a considerable amount of time. A state licensed lawyer who specializes in helping clients receive approval for disability benefits can help you recover from the financial losses associated with a debilitating disease or illness. Contact a Social Security lawyer today to schedule a free case evaluation.
Back to topAdditional Resources
- Arthritis and Social Security Disability
- Can I Continue Working with Rheumatoid Arthritis?
- How Disabling is Osteoarthritis?
- Is Arthritis a Disability?
- Osteoarthritis and Disability
