The good news is that the death rate for stroke has fallen significantly in recent years. The bad news is that approximately 7 million stroke survivors are living with the after-effects of a "brain attack," which can include pain, emotional disturbances, problems with thinking and comprehension, problems with memory and even paralysis. A stroke affects more than your mind and body though, often wreaking havoc on your finances as well.
Just as your body needs care and rehabilitation, your finances also need tending as you adjust to a loss of income and increased healthcare costs. National Stroke Association recommends that survivors and their caregivers look into a number of support options following a stroke, including the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. If you have worked and paid FICA taxes, you have paid for this insurance and have the option to claim your SSDI benefits.
Understanding SSDI, how it works and how it can help ease the financial burden of a stroke is a vital part of recovery. That is why Allsup has teamed with National Stroke Association to help survivors and their caregivers and/or family members navigate the SSDI process, which is notoriously complex and frustrating. In 2010, there's an estimated nationwide backlog of nearly two million Social Security disability claims. Americans with disabilities are waiting an average of 14 ½ months to receive hearings before the judges who determine their eligibility for benefits.
An overwhelming majority of SSDI applicants face grave financial and personal setbacks while waiting to be approved for disability benefits, including worsening illness, drained retirement funds or other savings, the loss of health insurance, missed mortgage payments and even foreclosure and bankruptcy. The following tips can help stroke survivors regain financial and physical health at the same time.
Apply for disability benefits from Social Security. This is an insurance program taxpayers and their employers have funded. The monthly income provided under SSDI is not the only benefit. SSDI also makes it possible for stroke survivors to get healthcare through Medicare 24 months after the date they qualify for SSDI cash benefits. Also, in some cases, individuals may be able to stay on COBRA for 11 additional months if they receive SSDI benefits.
It can be a long and frustrating process to apply for SSDI. National Stroke Association recommends stroke survivors-especially those with cognitive deficits-seek help with their SSDI application. A representative with expert knowledge of how to prepare your claim can make it easier and faster for the government to decide if you qualify for SSDI. On average, individuals with professional representation are approved faster and at higher rates than those applying on their own.
Choose the best Medicare plan for you. If you qualify for Medicare, you face a maze of choices. You may have as many as 30 plans to choose from for prescription drugs alone. The choice can be confusing, but it is very important that you choose the plan that best meets your needs. If you choose the wrong plan, you could end up paying a lot more for your care.
You want to look for a plan that will cover the special services you need for stroke care. For example, some Medigap plans cover more of the costs of skilled nursing care. Depending on where you live, you may be able to get a Medicare Special Needs Plan (SNP) for stroke patients. A plan like this tailors its benefits, doctors and drug coverage to best meet your needs for stroke care.
Look for other ways to lower the cost of your care. You may be able to save money on your prescription drugs. If you are on Medicare due to disability or because you are age 65 or older, see if you qualify for the Extra Help program. Some states have State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs that help people pay for prescriptions. Also, the company that makes a drug you take might have a program to help you pay for it.
Access programs designed to help ease into life after stroke, such as National Stroke Association's recovery-focused webcast programs called Living After Stroke and iHOPE. Living After Stroke demonstrates how to make kitchen, bathroom and total home modifications for safety and comfort, explains available transportation options and discusses recovery and emotionally adjustment. iHope covers topics such as depression after stroke, how to deal with different types of pain and mobility problems and the importance of self-care for caregivers. Both programs are accessible on
Organizations such as National Stroke Association have made great strides in raising public awareness about stroke prevention, stroke symptoms, and the effects of stroke. For stroke survivors and their families, raising awareness of the help that is available to meet the challenges of life after stroke is equally important.
Source:
Allsup