How can I help my friend, who is blind? He got shut off of Medicare, and Medicaid.?

Question

My friend got shut off of Medicare and Medicaid because he couldn't see good enough to fill out the paperwork they wanted.

In the meantime, he has neurofibromatosis. So I don't feel they should have been able to shut him off. What can I do to help.

He didn't have much chance of living past 7 yr's old! But now he is almost 40, and all of this is ruining his life.

Answer 1

There seems to be a lot of confusion in the information you have received from your friend. If he has become eligible for Medicare then it's not being taken away all of a sudden. May be your friend never received it because he was not able to fill out papers. You can take your friend to the Social Security Office and help him to clarify issue with Medicare. If he cannot see then most likely he needs and Authorized Representative. He can discuss it with SSA as well.



He lost Medicaid most likely because he did not submit papers for review. It's required by the State to do those ever so often. You can contact Medicaid and help your friend to reopen his Medicaid insurance. It sounds like your friend has been actually neglecting himself.

Answer 2

There is no way to be 'shut off' Medicare. He was receiving this as part of his SSDI. Several questions you need to ask him:

1. Is there a problem with your SSDI check? (this could affect his medical benefits and you would need to take him to Social security office to get straighened out)

2. How does he know he is 'shut off'? did he get a letter in the mail? Make sure YOU read it because if he can't see good enough to fill out the paperwork, maybe he is not seeing good enough to read the paperwork he got.



Individuals who are disabled early in life are often chronicly depressed. Sometimes, helpful individuals such as yourself must step in to guide him. Please don't wait for a magical social worker to step in and sweep him off his feet and get him back on everything again this type of service does not exist for free. However, there are disability advocates listed in your yellow pages which will give you names and numbers of paid individuals who will be happy to accept your money for what you can do for free.

Answer 3

Take him down to the offices with you. He has to ask you to help him when they ask him to do something. But you should be able to help him.



The doctor who is treating him for neurofibromatosis can certify that he still has it.



Similarly, his ophthalmologist can certify that he is legally blind.



I know it sounds stupid, but they have to recertify the client periodically ("yes, my legs are still missing")