Locked Out Of The System

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Ok, back in school i was diagnosed with moderate AS, had an IEP and all that. Nowadays, i am employed for barely over minimum wage. Company health insurance costs $70 per week and has a deductible of $2000. I do not qualify for medicaid because i am single with no children, and have no proof of disability.

Without medicaid, i cannot afford to get a clinical diagnosis, and without said diagnosis, i cannot get medicaid. I have not had a physical since 2003, i have not seen a dentist since 2003. Last year i paid out of pocket for an eye exam and glasses, i put that off as long as i could.

I feel like i am "locked out" of the healthcare system, and i have exactly ZERO faith in the Obama plan. His plan addresses the "poor" but it only goes so far down the scale. In 2006, i made $9800 but was considered "too rich" for medicaid. Under the obama plan, which is little more than a "mandate", i will be forced to buy the ridiculously expensive company insurance that will decrease my effective take home net pay to roughly $140 per week.

Getting a second job is entirely out of the question, by the time i get home from the convenience store job, im ready to rip somebody's vocal chords out through their butt-pipe. Dealing with stupid BS all day, constant degradation, no breaks at all (im lucky if i get time for a candy bar for lunch). By the time 3 oclock comes around, im barely functioning. Work takes so much from me that in the afternoons after work, i just sit in my room on the computer, i dont look at anyone, speak to anyone, or go out in public.

Any suggestions?

Medicaid eligibility starts with the income limits. But you can also qualify if you have additional medical expenses. Do you have anyone helping you with this stuff? Sometimes the paperwork maze can be daunting.

i dont have medical expenses. i am in great health except for AS, it would just be good to know that if something catastrophic happened, i could get treatment.

i found no issues in paperwork, the application for medicaid is only two pages long and asks very simple questions.

It's a perverse system.

In NY state the 2011 individual income limit is 9200/year. Conservatives would cringe at this, but just work a few less hours. You only need to shave off about $10/week from your 2006 level. That's only 1.5 fewer hours per week.

I would forget about trying to get on Medicaid. I was on Medicaid for years because I was receiving SSI because of physical disabilities & all the docs & psychs here refuse to accept it because they don't pay enough. Medicaid is a bogus program that the gov has so they can claim very low income have health coverage when in reality those recipients have access to nothing

It depends on where you are. I'm on Medicaid now and have access to sufficient medical care to handle my problems so far.

It's not perfect, but it's not useless either.

Then what would you suggest?

It's useless when no one will accept it.


Charity hospitals or other charity organizations might be willing to help. Get your family to pay or you could go see docs & psychs & then don't pay the bill or file medical bankruptcy; lots on very low income here do that. They won't touch your house, one vehicle & they won't garnish your income if it's really low. There's not many options I'm afraid. I wish they were more. The majority of the money I got from SSI & from working went towards my medical stuff

Uh... What (exactly) do you seek in medical treatment? You are "healthy" right now per your own statement. If you hate your job so much I do hope you are on the path for something different in the future even if it is taking some small courses on days off or something...

i would like to have "routine maintenance" type stuff. a dental exam, standard physical, not have to shell out three weeks pay for an eye exam and glasses, y'know, the kind of things that even lower middle class people take for granted.

as for job prospects, they are severely limited due to my not being able to drive. my "clumsiness" for lack of a better word almost completely prevents that. Believe it or not, my dream job would be driving a Greyhound bus (would satisfy my lifelong special interests), but, if i cant pass a simple class C license test then im out of luck . im as burned out as i can be at work, but nobody cares.

in todays America, there is no more "pulling yourself up by the bootstraps". with the "live below your means" mindset that government is trying to push on us, the lowest of the low class (myself) is being squeezed out of existence. Heck, even the people at my church judge me because i ride a bicycle ten miles to and from. (its hard to find an evangelical church that doesnt (secretly) worship money)

Hmmmm.... sounds bad man. I have all the health insurance in the world and do not make use of that routine maintenance stuff 'cause I so hate going to the Drs. Haven't been to dentist in 7 years, physical for more than 20, etc...

Seriously, I would put every ounce of energy I had in the world into making some sort of change in that job situation despite the health care or lack thereof thing. It sounds really, really unhealthy for you. You are right that this country is more about us helping ourselves than others helping us and the weak get pushed aside. So the way to survive is to get focused on fixing things that you can. You should think outside of the box on this one. For the pay, can you do Autism Advocacy work or some similar thing and make just as much with more satisfaction? Tie into any of the existing free autistic resources in your community. You don't need a DX to take advantage of most of them.

Referencing my above posts.

its kind of ironic. Im an avowed Creationist, i think charles darwin was a drunk and a fool, but when it comes to societal forces- i firmly believe in the existence of social darwinism, and that no matter what party controlls Washington, we still have a laisse-faire business environment.

i do not affirm or approve of social darwinism, but i do reconize its ever strengthening existence. whats worse, the ideology has infected socially conservative churches. I consider myself an evangelical Christian, but a disappointed one. I most recently attended a Calvary Chapel, their doctrine was sound, but, at the root of it is money. When the associate pastor is driving a brand new Audi, and the least expensive car in the parking lot is a GMC Yukon and the Pastor is standing up there wearing freaking Hollister (yes its a casual dress type church), that sends a very powerful message.

Im not asking for an Esacalade or an Audi, nor am i asking for a nice house, im not even asking for an apartment. Im just trying to climb the social ladder until i reach "lower class", but every time i put a hand on the first rung, they guy above me kicks me. (proverbially)

I thought I covered that with the bolded part.

I am sorry if it sounded like I trivialized your problems. It's really awful that it's impossible for you to find anyone who will take Medicaid. What I meant was where I am there are a lot of service providers who do take Medicaid and that it may not be useless for the OP if he lives in a similar area.

Actually, this makes sense. If you are making minimum wage with no benefits, ANY job might be an improvement. You don't have anything to lose in the way of benefits, career path or whatever. Paradoxically, you are completely free. You can do just about anything and not lose a thing for trying.

I don't know what state you live in. Here in NYC you are eligible for Family Health Plus, which is medicaid for people who have a slightly higher income, if you make less than $900 a month and don't have more than $11,000 in the bank. There are also free health clinics here in the city. They are usually community health centers that have storefronts in low income neighborhoods. You can also see doctors at Bellevue hospital on a sliding scale that starts at $5 a visit. There may be similar opportunities at public hospitals where you live.

Also, if you make less than what Social Security considers "Substantial Gainful Activity" you can apply for disability. If you are accepted (though it's a lengthy and difficult process that can take quite a long time), you will also get Medicare. According to this chart, making less than $1000 a month would qualify you.
http://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/sga.html
I would look for a social service agency or a lawyer who specializes in Social Security disability to help you. Ironically, you will have to have medical records documenting your disability, but you might be able to find free or low-cost health clinics that will allow you to do that.

Best of luck.