It sounds like you have been through a lot, and I can truly empathize with the pain, frustration, and challenges you are facing.
I have been on Worker’s Comp disability for over two years now due to a fall at work, which affected the entire left side of my body from head to toe. I have already had spinal fusion surgery at L4-L5, which has not healed properly. My treating doctors are determined by my Worker’s Compensation adjuster, and I have no control over the doctors I see, my care concerning medication, treatments, alternative methods, surgeries, etc. It takes an absurd amount of time for them to approve doctor appointments, doctor's orders, prescribed treatments, and additional physical therapy, which only prolongs the pain and worsens it.
The fall caused the need for spinal fusion surgery, a full tear in my rotator cuff, a bulging disc in my neck, ongoing neurological issues from the concussion, and now a herniated disc impinging on the nerve roots at L5-S1. The nerve damage pain I am experiencing from all of this is unbearable at times. The financial hardship due to being out of work for such a long time, and receiving 2/3 of my previous weekly pay, has caused a tremendous amount of anxiety for me and I suffer debilitating bouts of depression, all of which have been diagnosed during a psychological evaluation, and the recommended therapy and medications have been denied by the adjuster.
Being out of work for two years has been exceedingly difficult, but I have used that time to research extensively my conditions, and the available treatments and lab tests that were not disclosed to me by my doctors or the adjuster. As soon as my case is settled, I will be able to choose the doctors I feel are the best for me, and hopefully, that will help.
In doing my research, I discovered many different lab tests for my conditions that were never offered to me. Being on Worker’s Compensation has been a financial strain and paying for lab work out-of-pocket was not an option for me. That is until I found Jason Health. It is a website (jasonhealth.com) where you can choose and order lab tests without a doctor's referral or prescription. The cost is very reasonable, and I have used them many times, and all of my tests were performed at a Quest lab.
I saw my PCP recently and she ordered an extensive amount of blood work, and my total cost through Jason Health was $131. My labs came back showing many tests that were out of range. My red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and ferritin were all extremely low, and my platelet count was remarkably high. These results determined that my iron levels are off and I am anemic to the point where I will need infusions. This shed a lot of light on how I have been feeling, and the symptoms and pain I am still experiencing from the injuries of my fall. Until I see my PCP in October, I am going to do extensive research on my abnormal results and hopefully find out how this is all related.
The most helpful advice I can give is to research your symptoms, explore potential causes, and look into lab tests that could provide more clarity. Take back control of your health and don't give up!
Wishing you the best of luck …
Meg, workers comp is not designed to get disability payments to cover all of your disabilities unless you don’t qualify for Medicare. All it’s good for is if you go back to work . Workers comp is a minor disability payment indicating you expect to return to work. You are definitely disabled and need a decent income to survive.
I’m in my 60’s and disabled..
They make disability payments until you reach 65 or whatever it is higher now.
I qualified at 60 and when I reached 65 they dropped my SSDI to regular Social Security. But my disability did not disappear. They don’t cut you of and your plan B is usually your payment and it rises once a year. Right now all I pay is around $175.00 a month and it goes up yearly very little. Direct Deposit you won’t realize the difference in your check because they also raise your monthly payments based on the cost of living. All of this may not pertain to you but I wasn’t at the age of retirement before my disability kicked in.and now I’m 71 and have received disability payments with no employer assistance. Just a thought. Do not transfer to an advantage plan. You don’t need a limit on your payment or an existing pre condition preventing you from qualifying. High monthly payments that rise every year eventually costs to much.
Medicare advantage plans are taking care of shareholders and not you. I collect a monthly payment of $1800 to $2,000 a month.Good luck