Do I Qualify for Disability Insurance: SSDI & SSI
Many people realize that the umbrella term of disability does not always capture the unique experiences felt by those who are living with them. However, there are options for those living with disabilities when it comes to their health coverage needs.
It can be tricky to say exactly how much a certain disability is costing in terms of the amount of income an individual is prevented from earning due to their impairment. And so, working out the proper figures for every individual receiving supplemental income in the United States is a monumental task for the government to try to carry out.
But, still, the provider of these insurance benefits must attempt to classify and sort out all of these disabilities so that they fit into a quantifiable category. That is the only way to guarantee that the maximum benefits and financial reprieve will be provided to the greatest number of people who are in need.
Disabilities & Insurance: What Qualifies?
So, the first step an individual who has a disability should take when they are considering their health insurance is to simply identify what their disability is. Documenting this information is essential to the insurance provider, because they need to have a medical record of the disability. If you are unable to define your disability in these terms, you will not be able to obtain any benefits from the government.
One way you can make sure you qualify is to read Social Security’s list of disabling medical conditions to see if yours qualifies for benefits. Social Security also provides a step-by-step guide to see if you have a disability that can be useful for getting started in deciding what coverage your disability qualifies for.
The Definition of a “Disability”
At a glance, a disability is defined by the U.S. Government as causing one or more of the following things:
- The inability to do substantial gainful activity (i.e. work)
- Lasting at least one year or resulting in death
- Listed as a medical impairment by Social Security
With this tool, we can readily sort between disabilities that do and do not qualify for Medicaid coverage. Any disability that does not meet one of the above criteria will not enable an individual to receive any of the benefits or coverage provided by Medicaid. If you are still not sure what to do after going through this whole process, then it is probably best for you to proceed with a medical professional to help you decide to what extent you qualify for Medicaid coverage.
Some Further Reading You Can Do
Fortunately, there are a number of easy-to-use and widely accessible resources available on the internet that are designed to help people clarify the insurance benefits that are available to them. Consulting these resources will lead them in the right direction, and then depending on what specific disability plan they qualify for, a further course of action can be determined.
The aim of this phase is in the process of figuring out the ideal health insurance plan for your personal experience as living with a disability. If you want to hop right over to these resources, then look no further. Below, we will provide several of these links for you to start researching now.
Public Resources for Disabilities
These are a few reputable sites to refer to about health insurance and benefits for people with disabilities:
Medicaid | U.S. Government Official Site
Benefits and Insurance for People with Disabilities | USAGov
How to Qualify for Medicaid | Healthcare.gov
Disability Benefits: Long & Short Term
Some benefits of Medicaid coverage are given to you in the short term only, while others may be longer term.
One specific type of benefit for people with disabilities is called Supplemental Security Income (or S.S.I.) and this is for individuals over the age of 65 with a disability that are unable to work or produce their own income. This supplemental income is designed to allow disabled seniors to remain afloat even though they no longer have the ability to do work and create a steady income.
Although you have to apply for supplemental security income, you may appeal the decision if you are denied it the first time. If you are currently receiving SSI, then you may still be able to work without impacting your benefits. However, this is only true of work that you are earning below a certain amount for. There is much more detailed information you may look up if you wish regarding how to work while you are receiving disability benefits. This can be found in the SSA Publication | PDF the government released to the public.
Do I Qualify for Medicaid Disability?
Finding the right health insurance can be quick and easy, depending on what state you live in, and whether or not you meet the requirements for Medicaid coverage there. For those who live with disabilities, Medicaid is the right coverage for them, because they stand to gain the most from it in benefits.
But, it is important to know what you are looking for. If you take the right steps and know what policy will benefit you the most, finding proper health insurance is not as daunting a task as you might think. With the information we have at our disposal online, we can find the information we need to make the right choice when it comes to picking an insurance policy.
In Conclusion
So, if you have a qualifying disability but you are not covered by Medicaid properly to receive your benefits, then you are essentially leaving money on the table. Learning what benefits you are entitled to by law will help you start to make the most out of the health insurance coverage given for your work preventing disability.
These days, it is relatively quick and easy to determine whether or not you qualify for Medicaid and other benefits by simply referring to the United States Government’s online resources. These organized web pages are user-friendly and pretty seamless to navigate. So, it should not be any trouble making the most out of all of the long and the short term benefits you’re entitled to because of your disability.
Know what you can expect to encounter while applying for supplemental security income or other disability benefits by keeping these key factors in mind. For more, please visit: Disability Benefits | SSA.gov to explore more ways health insurance plans can provide benefits for people who are living with government recognized disabilities.
If you need a licensed agent to help you find the best health insurance plans, we are here to help.
