Insurance

General

• HIICAP (Health Insurance Information, Counseling, and Assistance Program) - NY Office for the Aging: https://aging.ny.gov/HealthBenefits/
• Excellent: Western NY Law Center knowledge-base: http://www.wnylc.com/health/

Social Security Disability

• 5-month waiting period explained (see section entitled "What Happens When You Are Approved For Disability Benefits?"): https://www.disability-benefits-help.org/glossary/social-security-disability-waiting-period
  • They key is "established onset date", which is determined by when you stop working and/or medical records, NOT based on when you apply. Payments begin 5 months after "established onset date".
• Compassionate Allowance: https://www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/ (Speeds up the application process if you have ALS)

Medicare

• No waiting period to get Medicare if you get SSD (disability): https://www.medicare.gov/people-like-me/disability/getting-medicare-disability.html (click on link about ALS)
• ALSA page with Medicare info: http://www.alsa.org/als-care/resources/medicare-information.html
• ALS Medicare Resource Line: https://als.pafcareline.org/
• Center for Medicare Advocacy: http://www.medicareadvocacy.org/
  • Excellent: ALS Medicare Access Project: http://www.medicareadvocacy.org/als-map/
  • Particularly useful page on home health care: http://www.medicareadvocacy.org/medicare-info/home-health-care/
  • and: https://medicareadvocacy.org/case-spotlight-a-medicare-beneficiary-in-need-of-home-health-aides/
• Articles about home health care and Medicare:
  • https://alsnewstoday.com/2019/05/22/surviving-medicare-home-health-agency/
  • https://alsnewstoday.com/2018/05/09/als-medicare-cover-home-healthcare/

Medicaid

• Info about home health care via Medicaid: http://www.wnylc.com/health/16/
• Qualify for Medicaid despite "too much" income: http://www.wnylc.com/health/14/