All people require health insurance to protect them in the event of disability. Having health insurance is also important for persons with disabilities, because they need it to receive treatment and care from health professionals.
A good health insurance plan will help you cover the costs associated with your disability. This includes rent, mortgage, car payments, food, medical expenses, and insurance premiums. Investments in universal health insurance for people with disabilities can improve the lives of both those individuals and their communities.
Disabled Persons' Benefits
If you're disabled, you may qualify for disability benefits from the government. Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Incentives are among the benefits.
The benefits that you receive may vary depending on where you live. Your state will decide which disability program you qualify for, and how much it will cost you.
Medicare and SSI offer low-income individuals disability benefits. However, they do not cover all medical expenses. You may also be eligible for private disability insurance, life insurance and long-term disability.
Your eligibility for these types of benefits depends on your work history and taxes you've paid. You can apply in person or online for these benefits.
The most common form of disability is mental impairment. This includes conditions such as schizophrenia, autism, bipolar, and depression. A physical disability, such as arthritis and back injuries, is also common.
If you don't have long-term insurance, you can purchase this separately from a medical insurance company. The policies can be pricey, but if a medical condition makes it impossible to work, they are important.
Get Long-Term Disability Insurance
A growing number of employers offer disability insurance, which often comes as part of a larger employee benefit package. LIMRA (a research company that tracks workplace benefits) reports that it is offered by 41 percent of businesses. Some employers even pay the cost of these plans for their employees.
These long-term-disability plans pay out a percentage of your wages, usually 50-70%. However, they typically have a "elimination period," meaning that you have to wait for an injury or illness to qualify for benefits.
This can be especially valuable for workers on lower salaries, who may not have access to any other type disability insurance. It is also beneficial to younger workers who are at risk of losing their job due a disability.
SUNY Long-Term Disability (LTD).
The University of New York offers free LTD coverage to all of its professional, UUP, and MC staff. The University also offers the option for employees to purchase an employee-paid LTD plan, which covers up to 60 percent of their pre-disability earnings, with a salary cap of $16,667 per month.
The Standard offers the LTD program directly, or you can contact your SUNY office for more information. You'll need to complete a short application and submit proof of insurability, such as a health exam.