In the previous post, we discussed how families with children with disabilities who are coming of age for the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program in a state without Medicare expansion might deal with the likely failure of the system to provide the health care of your loved one. We’re doing the same thing here, but looking at a handful of smaller shows.
military benefits
If you are a veteran and the parent of a disabled adult child, you can ask the military to designate your child as a disabled Dependent, which will qualify him or her for limited TRICARE benefits. Like most of these benefits, those offered by SSI and Medicare are more comprehensive, but if they don’t qualify, TRICARE can at least contribute something.
start a charity
There are a number of ways to solicit charitable donations in today’s connected world, from old-school options like putting coin banks on local store counters, to social media-friendly options like GoFundMe. These can be very successful short-term options, but they tend not to last very long. Also, in most states, the only smart way to handle the earnings of such a charity is to set up a special needs trust: any other outlays could end up counting as income for the person with special needs, and therefore Therefore, they accidentally get kicked out of Medicaid or SSI. Ask an attorney before going down this path.
Apply for a grant
Not that there are many grants in the United States for families, most are from organizations, for organizations, but some do. The list available at JoyfulJourneyMom.com is a good place to start looking for resources nationwide; for more local opportunities, ask your local Agency on Aging. Finally, consider finding resources specific to your loved one’s disability, like this list for people on the autism spectrum.
Look for a tax exemption
For certain extremely poor families who spend an extraordinary amount on the care of a disabled loved one, the medical expense tax exemption may be worth it. Essentially, anything you pay for your family’s medical expenses above 10% of your adjusted gross income is deducted from that taxable income. It’s really not much, but for families in such dire straits that 11% or more of their gross income goes toward medical bills, it could literally be a lifesaver.
Leveraging Existing Resources
Many families, though poor in income due to economic circumstances and burdened with staggering amounts of debt, have some amazing resources at their disposal. If you know for a fact that your disabled loved one will be able to get coverage at a certain point, you might consider getting a reverse mortgage and taking some money out of your home’s equity to help them get that far.
bridge loans
Similarly, several lending institutions (particularly credit unions and other local banks) offer “bridge loans” to families who can demonstrate that they have a defined waiting period that they must meet in order to successfully “bridge” to Medicaid or a similar comprehensive program. These loans will have to be repaid, but they are a tool that should not be dismissed out of hand.