Social Security

Both the federal and state government offer health insurance programs. The federal government offers Social Security, which provides disibility income benefits and administers the Medicare program. All states have workers compensation laws and Medicaid or a similar form of state subsidized health care.

Are you confused over the new Medicare Drug Coverage Plan?  Prescription drug coverage will be a new benefit offered by Medicare in January 2006. This video offers an extensive overview of the new prescription drug benefit, available options and a workshop.

Social Security Benefits

Social Security Benefits
Disability income benefits to workers
Medicare benefits
Retirement benefits to workers and their dependents
Survivor benefits to a workers family

A special insured status is required if a worker is eligible for disability benefits under Social Security. The requirements are that a worker be fully insured and to have earned at least 20 quarters of coverage calendar quarter period ending with the calendar quarter in which the disability begins.

A worker may be eligible for disability income benefits if the required status is achieved, the worker is under age 65, and can satisfy the Social Security definition of total disability.

The amount of the disability benefit is equal to the workers "primary insurance amount" which is the same as the individual's monthly retirement benefit. Disability benefits are only payable for total disability. No benefits are paid for a partial disability.

Family members may also receive disability benefits as a result of the disabled person's work record:

An unmarried child under 18, or under 19, if in high school full time
An unmarried child disabled before age 22
A spouse caring for a child under 16 or disabled
a spouse age 62 or older
A disabled widow or widower age 50 or older
A disabled surviving divorced spouse if the marriage lasted at least 10 years

Workers Compensation

Most states require employers to provide worksman compensation benefits for their employees. Workers compensation is designed to help the person who suffers from loss of income due to injury or sickness which occurs as a result of his or her occupation.

Eligibility...In order to be eligible for workers compensation benefits the disabled worker must:
Work in an occupation that is covered by workers compensation
Have had an accident or sickness that is work related

Benefits...Workers compensation provides for the payment of four types of benefits:

Medical payments
Income benefits
Death benefits
Rehabilitation benefits

Medical benefits...are provided without limit. An injured or diseased employee is entitled to receive all necessary medical and surgical treatment to cure or relieve the condition

Income benefits...are paid to employees who suffer work related disabilities. An elimination period applies before benefits for loss of wages begin. If the disability continues beyond a certain period, retroactive benefits will be paid for the initial waiting period.

For permanent total disability or temporary total disability, the benefit is 66 and two/thirds per cent of weekly wages, subject to minimum and maximum weekly limits.

Death benefits...provide two types of payments. Up to a certain dollar is provided as a burial allowance, and the state also provides weekly income payments for a surviving spouse and or children.

Rehabilitation benefits... are a valuable tool for reducing workers compensation costs and returning disabled employees to their jobs.

Medicaid

Medicaid provides health benefits for the financial needy. It is a state program with some federal financial support. Medicaid is designed for those who are unable to pay for their medical needs. For those persons 65 or over, Medicate principally supplements Medicare for those who cannot pay the expenses not covered by Medicare. Medicaid provides medical assistance for the needy, the blind, the disabled, families with dependent children, or medically needy children under age 21. Generally, Medicaid helps to pay for medical services which the patient cannot pay for.

Medicaid will cover such services as physician's services, hospitalization, diagnostic testing, pregnancies, etc. Medicaid also serves as a supplement to Medicare in some situations. For example, Medicare currently offers extremely limited coverage for nursing home care. Often Medicaid will supplement these limited benefits by paying for nursing home expenses. Other health care expenses not completely covered by Medicare may be paid by Medicaid