Staying Frugal with medical issues?

[lrjohnson]

Originally Posted by getforfree

I know a few people who are on a disability. Here in CA, you can get $839/month + free medical. I think, they just filled out the application at the SS office, I am not sure. Some clinics even provide a free transportation for those people.

This is for people who are disabled and get SSI (with SSP in California). This is public assistance.

There is also Social Security Disability for those who have work credits with the SSA....this can be quite a bit over $839, and is not public assistance.

Being detemrined disabled is one thing...a hard process as has been noted. What kind of benefits you get is separate and a whole n'nother thing. It's either based on what you put in, and given regardless of current income and property, or, as publci assitance, which is means tested and has income and property limits.

With SSD you do get Medicare (after two years) but it's not free. You may or may not be eligible to "free" Medicaid. With SSI you'll get medicaid, but you won't get medicare until 65 (unless a portion of your benefits are from SSD and the SSI is amking up the difference.)