Why Disability Policy Needs to Change

We talk about the need for disability policy to change, and people wonder how big the problem is.  Consider this scenario.  It is only one person, but it is a realistic reflection of how disability policy works now.

A woman with a disability makes the decision that working is better than not working, even though she is not able to get health insurance because of her disability.  Of course, since she has no insurance, she never really gets ahead.  However, she considers work to be therapeutic and continues. 

As time goes on, the aging process catches up with her and she is diagnosed with a chronic disease on top of her original disability.  Now there is a significant cost added and she just plain cannot keep up.  Since she is working, she is not eligible for any assistance.  Over time, she loses all that she owns and even becomes homeless.  Ahh!  Now she is eligible for assistance.  She gets disability benefits (since she cannot work during this process), medical assistance (what she most needs) and subsidized housing.  Now she can begin putting her life back together and get back to work.  Right?

Of course, there is the need to continually report and qualify for her benefits.  Every program requires its own reporting, even though they all use the same information.  Some programs even require reports two or three times a year.  This really does nothing to motivate or improve self-esteem.  It is a real downer.  It also forces her to keep her income to a level that does not put her over limits required for receiving assistance.  No way to get ahead.

But, she manages this and is at least grateful that her medical expenses are covered.  She gets the adaptive equipment she needs and takes care of herself medically.  Then it happens.  She turns 65 and it all changes.  Her $700 a month in Social Security benefits gets cut by $115 to pay for Medicare.  Then she finds that her medications are not longer completely covered.   With the extra help available, her plan D provides for a lower copay.  She needs only to pay $1.10 for generic medications and $3.30 for name brand medications, for covered drugs.  And that’s the catch.  “Covered drugs” does not cover all her medications.  Other medical supplies are also cut, mostly in half.  Medicare only covers adaptive equipment that allows her to function in her home.  What is needed to go outside and have any kind of life is not covered.  Added up, her medical expenses again eat up most of her income.  The prospect of again becoming homeless looms.  There is really no way out.

At what point does any of this make sense? 

Annette Bourbonniere

www.accessing-ability.com

401-846-1960

Fax:  401-846-1944

Twitter:  @AccessInclude