Help With Medical Bills for the Disabled

Disabled people sometimes live on very limited incomes if they cannot work and rely on Social Security benefits. Like anyone else, people with disabilities sometimes require medical care. In fact, they may have more medical bills than most people if their conditions require regular medical treatment or if they need special equipment due to their conditions. Although proper medical treatment may be crucial to their good health and quality of life, some disabled people have trouble paying their medical bills.

Medicare

• People who qualify for Social Security disability benefits receive Medicare after they've qualified for disability benefits for 24 months. Medicare pays 80 percent of most outpatient health care services in 2011 and also pays a significant portion of inpatient medical care. Medicare also helps pay for prescription drugs. If you receive Social Security disability benefits, you do not need to apply for Medicare. You'll receive information in the mail when you qualify.

Medicaid

• Medicaid helps pay medical bills for people with disabilities who have low incomes, including those who receive Social Security disability benefits and Medicare, providing they still meet income guidelines. Medicaid covers a wide range of health care services for people with disabilities. Medicaid will sometimes pay some past medical bills in addition to future bills after people apply, providing that people qualified for Medicaid at the time they incurred the medical bills. Apply for Medicaid at the welfare office in your county. If you receive Supplemental Security Income, in some states you can apply at any Social Security Administration office as well.

Grants

• Some organizations offer grants to help pay medical bills for people with disabilities. For instance, the United Children's Healthcare Fund helps pay for things like wheelchairs, hearing aids, physical therapy and occupational therapy for children with disabilities.

Other Sources of Help

• Some clinics will provide medical services on a sliding scale, basing costs on patients' incomes. Some clinics also help pay medical bills if their patients need to see specialists outside the clinic. County mental health boards often help pay for mental health care for mentally disabled people with low incomes. If you have a case manager, she can probably point you toward other sources of help with medical bills. The welfare office in your county may also be able to help you find help from other organizations, even if you do not qualify for welfare benefits.