Location: North Carolina
Medicaid Eligibility in NC: Yes Mark qualifies, but not until his SSD application is accepted.
Heather, Mark’s wife, describes their situation:
In September of 2004, Mark suffered a massive heart attack which required an emergency triple bypass surgery. At the time, he had health insurance through his former employer. He had retired early after being offered a retirement package, designed to weed out high paid employees from his company’s payroll.
It was determined that Mark was permanently disabled to his chronic heart disease and the damage done by the heart attack. He filed for Social Security disability in December of 2005. When Mark and I married in 2006, I was beginning to have severe low back pain, due to ruptured discs from an auto accident in 2001 and working in an industry which required heavy lifting. We added Mark to my health insurance after our marriage. Neither of us, nor my sixteen year old daughter had ever been without health insurance coverage and had no clue about the issues we were about to face. My lower back pain required me to seek more treatment, and new symptoms emerged. I was diagnosed with endometriosis after surgery in January of 2006.
I was removed from my full time job in May of 2008, taking an FMLA leave for my multiple issues. I attempted to return to work in July of the same year, but had to go on disability again in September. After totally exhausting my federally mandated work leave, my employer had to terminate me. We began to pay for health insurance through the COBRA plan. We both had money saved in 401k plans and profit sharing plans through our employers. This money was used to help pay for health insurance and medications, as well as to cover our basic needs. We also had sent our daughter to college in 2008. So our monthly cost of living was being sponsored by the funds we had saved for our “golden years”. Finally, in October of 2009, I had a lumbar spinal fusion and began the long recovery. My employee sponsored disability insurance provider required me to seek Social Security Disability (SSD) as well.
- Heather and Mark
Mark and I have both been turned down by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and are both working on appeals at various stages. Mark had routine blood work in November of 2009 and learned that he had type 1, insulin-dependent, diabetes. He had never had a high glucose level in his life, and at 45, was devastated by this diagnosis. We learned about his particular case, and that his pancreas no longer produces insulin at all. Mark has worked to educate himself and manage his blood sugar successfully. We both learned that there are several supplies necessary for testing one’s glucose, and even for administering insulin. When my COBRA benefits stopped in June of this year (2010) I found out that my meager disability check was not enough to cover even half of our expenses.
I began searching for patient assistance programs for help in meeting our needs until we can obtain some type of basic coverage. We did qualify for assistance on the two types of insulin Mark needs under a co-pay assistance program. However, when we lost the health insurance, we no longer qualified.
In my internet based searches, I found Act 1 Diabetes and saw info on your program. It stated that you were able to provide emergency supplies for people to manage their diabetes. I sent an e-mail, late on a Sunday night. The following day, Katie S replied and asked a few basic questions. I answered the questions and by Thursday afternoon of the same week, we received a package of everything Mark needs to test his glucose. It has been so uplifting to know that an organization exists that so quickly responds to the needs of people living with diabetes. We are so grateful and ready to become involved with Act 1 in any way we can.
To support our supply exchange efforts, please contact supplies@act1diabetes.org