Can You Still Apply For Disability Benefits With A Poor Medical Treatment History?
Posted on: 8 December 2015
The Social Security Administration, or SSA, places a great deal of importance on your medical records when evaluating whether or not you qualify to receive Social Security disability benefits. If you have been unable to receive medical treatment due to financial problems or other reasons, your chances of receiving disability can be impacted. However, it is still possible. Here are some options for improving the likelihood you can still get benefits.
Apply for Medicaid
What steps you took to get medical treatment will be carefully evaluated if you do not have a strong history of receiving care. If you were unable to receive care due to finances, you need to show that you did everything possible to get help with your medical expenses. By applying for Medicaid or reaching out to community organizations for help, you can prove that you did try to get assistance.
You should also apply for health insurance through the federal government. The Affordable Care Act provides subsidies to help cover some of the costs of health insurance. The act also prevents insurance companies from denying coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and from charging higher fees because of those conditions.
Ask for a Medical Assessment
When you submit your application for benefits, request a medical assessment with a physician through the SSA. The assessment will most likely be conducted by a doctor who is selected by the SSA, but this is your opportunity to thoroughly discuss your symptoms and overall health condition with a doctor.
Depending on your condition, it might be best to request an assessment by a specialist. For instance, if you have a heart condition, request a cardiologist.
During the assessment, it is important that you are honest about your condition and avoid over-exaggerating. Write down your health issues and how they impact your ability to work before the appointment. By doing this, you can ensure that you do not miss any of your symptoms.
If you have any medical records available from past treatments, take a copy with you to the assessment. Be prepared to provide the doctor with information regarding what treatments did and did not work in the past.
Consult with an experienced attorney like Todd East Attorney at Law to further explore other methods of handling a poor medical history when applying for benefits. The attorney can help you understand your options and also help make the case for why you should receive benefits to the SSA.
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