Need Advice Please

[Connie]

Hello,
My husband is the one with PD. He was dx in 2004 and will be 63 next summer.
He is going to put in for early retirement this March with a company he has been with for 20yrs. The problem is.....he will have no health insurance to cover us. Will he be able to get medicaid? Is it true that if you apply for medicaid that they can take your saving? I have heard so many horror stories and it sure is scarey. We are going to sell our home and get a condo that we can pay off. I think that he will start collecting SS in July when he turns 63.

Work is just getting to hard for him. He is a simi driver for UPS. He drives about 10 hours a night. His body is stiff and legs are starting to get weaker. The doctor has him on Sinemet and it does help some. When he is home on the weekends he only takes half the dose and does so well.

Thank you for any advice, I just don't know what to do or when to do it.

[judytiger]

Hi Connie. Hoping that someone who knows the answer to your question will come by soon.

My husband retired on disability a number of years ago and was eligible for SS disability and therefore Medicare covered him.

I suspect that you will need a COBRA policy to cover him from the time he retires until he is eligible for Social Security at age 65, at that time he can get Medicare. UNFORTUNATELY COBRA policies are really expensive, but that might be your only choice.

I take it that you are NOT near 65 and are healthy, you should be able to get an individual health coverage policy from any of the carriers, like BCBS, etc.

At least, you two have a few months to investigate the health care options and to get a feel for the costs.

Judy
Wife of PDer and MSer

[mamafigure]

Have you talked to Social Security about disability?

My daughter gets SSI, but I am totally ignorant of what is available for adults. I do know that many lawyers are trained in disability law. Perhaps one would know if there was an agency to file with and what would be needed to do so.

Sorry that I am so ignorant.

Mama

[Connie]

Thank you for your response,and helpful advise. I think the most logical thing to do is talk to a lawyer. My main concern is health insurance. My husband is able to collect SS next July when he turns 63. He'll also collect his pension. He'll have two years until he can go on medicare. I'll have to pay health insurance for 3yrs.

I will have my Husband check into the Cobra from work.