can u work with aids and no college?

[2tcells]

So I would like to get off ssi someday I wonder if anybody on here in the u.s. with just a h.s. diploma is able to work and afford there meds also? My meds are about 4-5 thousand a month if I didn't have medicaid, so do any jobs for people with h.s. diplomas have insurance that will pay this much a month? What kind of jobs do you guys have? Do places not hire you because of high insurance bills?  Im just sick of living on 600 bucks a month with 2 kids so I want to know if its possible to work and get my meds all the time without any college

[marcmoral16]

There are a lot of companies that offer full medical benefits. Working full time for most major retailers give you health insurance. The question comes down to what your willing to do. Most involve retail jobs some can be office jobs. You can google and find out a lot of what companies offer for health insurance.

Just a matter of what you want to do.

[BT65]

You don't say where you are, but I'm guessing in the US?  With the new healthcare law, you would most likely be able to get insurance through the exchanges.  Of course, your state may have Medicaid for working disabled people, where you would may pay a small premium, based on your earnings, and be able to keep Medicaid. 

You should contact your nearest ASO.  They should be able to assist you with returning to work, and being able to keep healthcare.

[Cpt.Mauzer]

Assuming you are in the US, the new healthcare laws will make it much easier for people who may not even get benefits at their job to get insurance.  This in addition to the fact that we can no longer be denied because of preexisting conditions makes it somewhat easier.  I personally do not know what the price of decent insurance is on the "healthcare exchange" websites as I have private insurance, but the goal is to at least make it somewhat doable for you.  Additionally I think all (or at least most) states have programs set up to help you pay for medication.  In addition if you call the drug companies they have programs that reduce the cost of the medication (I did this myself and it reduces my copay for the meds to zero).

If you are not in the US, I assume you are in an english speaking country, in which case you probably live somewhere with some sort of government run healthcare, I would give them a call and see what your options are.  There are almost always ways to make your medication affordable because governments realize the public health benefits of getting people on long-term care.

[ryanocerous]

If you start to make an income over that which allows you to be covered by Medicaid, you will most likely qualify for your state's ADAP program, which covers the cost of your medication, and in most cases, much of the cost of your premiums under the new Affordable Healthcare Act. I know that in Illinois, ADAP will cover up to $750 on your premiums, meds aside. If you start making between 16K and 50K a year, apply for ADAP and AHC, talk to an assistance specialist, and you'll pretty much be set.

[leatherman]

i would also suggest that you take the time to discuss this decision with your doctor and/or case manager. I say this because you were just in the hospital with PCP and AIDS just a couple months ago (5ish or so, why that's not even 6 months ago) and while you've gotten UD in this time, your immune system hasn't recovered very much at all. (54 is quite low!)

I went back to work too soon after I had PCP/AIDS (think about all those germs you'll come into contact with at a job - with your very damaged immune system that has not recovered yet) and had to quit my job when I ended up incredibly sick again and back in the hospital. You may have to just take the hit of limited income right now - to keep qualifying for the healthcare you still desperately need at this time.

[BT65]

If you start to make an income over that which allows you to be covered by Medicaid, you will most likely qualify for your state's ADAP program, which covers the cost of your medication, and in most cases, much of the cost of your premiums under the new Affordable Healthcare Act. I know that in Illinois, ADAP will cover up to $750 on your premiums, meds aside. If you start making between 16K and 50K a year, apply for ADAP and AHC, talk to an assistance specialist, and you'll pretty much be set.

This is a state by state issue.  Here in Indiana, adap will not cover insurance premiums.  I am just aware of this because I am a case manager at an ASO in Hoosierville.  We were told a couple months ago, at a training in Indianapolis, that if someone on adap applies for insurance coverage through the exchanges, they will lose adap/eip (here adap/eip pays for everything, including meds, doctor visits, labs, procedures etc).  So, everyone really needs to talk to a case manager in their own state prior to jumping into anything. 

[livingmmy9lives]

I have only medicare for insurance - would like to have better coverage so I can afford to go to all my doctors appointments. I don't go to all my doctors appointments because my doctor sends me to a lot of specialists and the 20% co-pays have quickly gotten to the point where I cannot afford to pay them all. How do you find out if your state's ADAP program helps cover health insurance premiums? Usually when I present questions like this to the local ASO they have no idea. The local ASO advised their clients to not sign up for the affordable care act because they said I'm better off with just medicare.

[tednlou2]

I have only medicare for insurance - would like to have better coverage so I can afford to go to all my doctors appointments. I don't go to all my doctors appointments because my doctor sends me to a lot of specialists and the 20% co-pays have quickly gotten to the point where I cannot afford to pay them all. How do you find out if your state's ADAP program helps cover health insurance premiums? Usually when I present questions like this to the local ASO they have no idea. The local ASO advised their clients to not sign up for the affordable care act because they said I'm better off with just medicare.

Have you checked to see if you qualify for the "Extra Help" QMB program?  It pays your part B and D premiums, deductibles, and all that.  Many also qualify to get Medicaid pay the 20% that Medicare doesn't.  So, you would owe nothing.  And, the donut hole does not apply to those getting extra help. 

http://www.q1medicare.com/PartD-LISWhaIsPDP-ExtraHelpIncomeLimit.php

[livingmmy9lives]

Thanks Tednlou2 I appreciate the info - I replied in the other thread to avoid being reprimanded.