Things just get better (sarcasm)...

mymaria · Experienced user Joined: 28 Feb 2008 Posts: 57

Well, my wife is doing much better THANK GOD, THE GOOD DOCTORS, NURSES and SCIENTISTS THAT CONTINUE TO HELP FIND WAYS TO MAKE OUR LIVES ARE LITTLE MORE MANAGEABLE! My wife and daughter are coming home this Friday. My wife will resume chemo in an out-patient status, etc.

A little about where I am coming from:
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8807

Anyway, medical bills are pouring in and things are tough w/o having my wife's income. And there is little or no chance that my wife will be returning to work soon (as it should be). Even with insurance, her treatment has been monumental. A lot of out of pocket responsibilities have made things extremely tight.

Needing and wanting to keep our house among other things may require that we file for bankruptcy. Need to plan and see what other options there may be.

My wife's family is inquiring as to whether we will file suit against my wife's former OBGYN for missing the tumor back in spring of 2007. Seriously not certain if we have a clear-cut case and medical malpractice lawsuits are difficult and expensive. But more importantly, salivating about the idea of ruining someone else's life does not set well with me. He has been in private practice for less than 5-years, has a family, and was sincerely distraught (not nervously, but saddened) when he heard that my wife had cancer. I don't blame him for the cancer; He didn't put it there and though his diagnosis would have helped tremendously, it's clear to me that the cancer was already there and likely spreading.

I actually harbor little or no blame towards him. My wife is also not eager to discuss/decide on the course of a lawsuit. We consider ourselves to be practicing as opposed to church-going Christians. The idea of forgiveness is strong in us (unlike my wife's family- akin to jackals hovering over a lame springbok and have been scarcely supportive to me and my son throughout this whole thing).

Anyway, thought i'd vent a little. Sorry if I placed this in the incorrect forum.

Richard
_________________
Dallas, TX

ksplat

Dear Richard

I wanted to let you know how sorry I am that you are experiencing alot of difficulties financially & emotionally. The choices you are being faced with must be soooo hard & I can't imagine being faced with this as well as having yr wife ill with cancer. It is so unfair.

I was very happy to hear yr wife & daughter would be home for Easter & that her chemo will be give to her as an out-patient. This must be a relief for you.

My prayers & thoughts are with you all.

God bless, Angie.
_________________
Brother diagnosed with GBMIV Feb 07
Treatment: Radiotherapy, Temodal, Gliadel Wafers, Dexamethasone, Keppra, Dilantin, Clexane
Went to our Heavenly Father after a 19mth battle,, 47 years young.
23 Sep 2008
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=19227

"Without Faith We Have Nothing"

Barbara K · Regular Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 33

Your wife may be eligible under a Free Medical Assistance Program for Breast & Cervical cancer for uninsured patients. Depending on which state you reside in, the income requirements are very liberal for this program.

Here's the link for general information about this program.

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/legislation/law106-354.htm

Barbara K.

mymaria · Experienced user Joined: 28 Feb 2008 Posts: 57

Thanks Barbara,

My wife is under my insurance. It's the out-of-pocket expenses that are gripping us. We're in the position now that that my wife is unable to work and will probably not be able to for some time, to consider bankruptcy. Other bills piling up as well....

We have retained a malpractice attorney and hopefully will be able to recover some of the costs. It's a long shot, but there may be a case.

Richard
_________________
Dallas, TX

Barbara K · Regular Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 33

You're welcome, Richard.

If your wife has been diagnosed with metastatic cancer, then she automatically meets the disability requirement for Social Security Disability.
http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify4.htm

i.e. Her disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.

For more specific information about the disability requirements per type of cancer, use this link.
http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/13.00-NeoplasticDiseases-Malignant-Adult.htm

There is no income limit and no resource limit to apply for Social Security Disability. The amount she can receive under Social Security Disability is based on the money deducted from her paychecks and sent to Social Security during all the years she was working.

She would have to be receiving Social Security Disability for two years before she could get Medicare Insurance, but since she's covered under your insurance, then you don't have to worry about her coverage during that two year time frame. In the meantime, she'll have a steady monthly income to help with those other expenses.

You can complete the application online and then Social Security will contact you with an appointment to sign other forms including release of information forms so they can obtain documentation of your wife's cancer.

Warning: The online application forms and medical disability report form you need to complete are very long and tedious to complete. Expect to spend at least nine hours online before you finish all the forms.

Because it takes such a long time to complete the online forms, Social Security has set up a system where you can save what you've completed and then you can come back at another time and/or day and finish filling out the form from the point where you stopped.

Of course, if you slog through all the paperwork online, then you've accomplished 90% of the work for the interviewer at the Social Security office and your application will be processed a lot faster.

After the application is accepted at the Social Security office and she has personally signed all the medical release forms she needs to sign during her official office visit in this application process, it will take another 60 to 90 days for Social Security to determine eligibility and the amount of her monthly disability check. Of course, once a decision has been made, eligibility is retroactive to the date of application and the first check will be a lump sum check covering that 60 to 90 day time frame.

Barbara K. (retired government employee who knows all this tedious and boring stuff)

Barbara K · Regular Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 33

Richard;

This message covers a few things I forgot to mention in my previous message about the Social Security Disability application process.

When she completes her application online at this link.
http://www.ssa.gov/applyfordisability/adult.htm

There's an Adult Disability Starter Kit form that asks her to list income and resources such as checking accounts both hers and joint, savings accounts, cars and property. This is because the application includes the SSI (Supplemental Security Income) program where those income and resources are used while determining eligibility for that program. SSI (Supplemental Security Income is for those people who have NEVER worked and have NEVER had money deducted from their paychecks for Social Security.

Your wife's Social Security Disability income will come from the money deducted from her paychecks to Social Security all the years she was employed.

Your income will have not be needed to determine her eligibility for Social Security Disability.

However, for SSI, your income will be counted and your income would automatically make her ineligible for SSI but that doesn't matter anyway because she has a work history.

For Social Security Disability, they will look at your wife's current earnings.
This link explains the earned income limit for your wife.

http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dwork2.htm

My apologies for any confusion I may have caused with my messages.

Barbara K.

Barbara K · Regular Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 33

Arrgghhh.

I swear my brain is leaking data like a sieve today.

As long as your wife is under age 66, then a portion of the income she receives from Social Security Disability will be taxable based on your income when you file your joint income tax form.

However, Social Security also has an option where she can choose to have a certain portion of her Disability check deducted for Federal taxes and then you won't have any big surprises when you file your joint income tax return.

For State and Local taxes, generally, Social Security Disability income is not taxable regardless of what your income is.

Whew!

I think I've hit all the bases now.

Barbara K. hearing Abbott & Costello now in the back of her mind while they go through their skit of Who's on First. ( I have a very warped sense of humor)

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