Amy... just to clarify... I believe that is 2 years from onset of illness. And there's a period of illness before you qualify for SSDI and then there's the long wait you know about. So practically speaking I think most people end up with the Medicare. But I hear you.
Other problem I haven't figured out yet is once you get SSDI and the medicare for yourself what do your kids get? I know the answer is not medicare. The medicaid would then fall into normal medicaid rules about assets and income. And if you don't meet those (which I won't on SSDI) then what do I have for my one kid who is NOT on SSI? And when they fall off of SSI because of the income/ assets what happens to my 2 others for medication insur? Haven't spent a lot of time worrying about this because I know I can get the hospital here for them as above. But it could cost me a bundle. Thankfully mine are really healthy so I'm not all that worried. But I still think it's an issue.
Janet, you may end up with a hodgepodge of sliding scale docs. But the UNC plan will give you the labs and hospital. And I can tell you that people come from all around the state to use the hospital and plan near me. The pharmacy there is a nightmare wait!
