When Medical Evidence is Important to Winning a Disability Case, What Can You do If You Are Denied Medicaid and Can't Afford Medical Treatment?

 Medical evidence is important to winning a disability claim.  However, I have been denied Medicaid health insurance and cannot afford medical treatment.  So, what do I do now?

 

Having consistent medical treatment is the best way to increase the chances of winning a disability claim. But unfortunately, some claimants maybe denied Medicaid health insurance or have little to no finances to pay for medical treatment on their own.  Nevertheless, claimants can take steps to overcome those barriers.

 

As a first step, claimants can perform an internet search for “free or sliding scale medical clinics” in their hometown area.  Importantly, if these clinics end up denying or wait listing claimants, claimants should try to document that in writing from the clinic when possible.  Similarly, claimants can also seek out church and other charitable organizations who may be able to aid in helping them obtain affordable medical access.  If these measures are not successful, a claimant could then start creating a daily diary of their medical impairments.  For example, if a claimant has migraines or panic attacks, he/she could create a daily journal that documents the trigger(s) for the impairment; the date and time it occurred; and the duration. 

 

 

In sum, taking the above steps when a claimant cannot afford medical treatment, can decrease the likelihood that a disability claim will be denied solely on the basis of not seeking consistent medical treatment. 


-Quentin Sanders
Social Security Disability Hearing Attorney
Martin, Jones, & Piemonte

Website: www.mjpdisability.com

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