Stroke is the number one cause of disability in the United States. Few families are ready for the serious financial impact, which may last months, years or more.
Survivors who were employed prior to a stroke may lose their income due to the stroke. This sudden reduction in household income may have a far-reaching effect on the family. Contributors to the household income, who survive a stroke, may have an extended period without income, or work part-time during recovery, or be completely unable to perform the functions of their job. Survivors who did not contribute to the household income, prior to the stroke, might still have many new medical and living costs that impact the whole family. Below you will learn more about some legal planning tools that may be helpful.
Contact their employer's human resource department or personnel office
Inquire about sick leave, short and long-term disability income benefits, health insurance, and other employment benefits. Be sure that you understand what documents the employer, employee, and the insurance company need for a benefit to be applied.
Contact Social Security Administration
The SSA (www.ssa.gov) has two programs that provide money to people who are disabled and unable to work: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI). It takes months to submit the paperwork, so contact them as soon as possible. Apply for benefits even if the survivor goes back to work. If you are denied, find out what is the appeal process and challenge the reasons for denial.
Determine whether the survivors qualify for the provisions of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA)
This legislation protects stroke survivors in some job situations: "If the individual is qualified to perform essential job functions except for limitations caused by a disability, the employer must consider whether the individual could perform these functions with a reasonable accommodation." Before approaching the employer, find what kind of reasonable accommodations the survivor might need. An accommodation might be adjusting work schedules, procuring computer software, or changing the work space. More information is at www.ada.gov.
Research rehabilitation programs
Some private programs can be costly. It is important to know what portion of the bill that the health insurance will pay and what will have to be paid "out-of-pocket." Every health insurance plan has coverage limitations, but you may have options for getting the rehabilitation services covered.
- Ask to work with a case manager for chronic or catastrophic illness.
- Try contacting the "exceptions" department of your health plan.
- Trade inpatient days for outpatient days. Some plans have short inpatient coverage but longer home care/outpatient coverage.
- File an appeal if you feel you are being denied payment or a medical service to which you are entitled.
- Contact your state's health patient advocacy or ombudsman for help.
Use public resources
Every state has a federally funded agency that administers vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, and independent living services. The services available under these programs vary widely depending upon the state. They may include vocational assessments; counseling and guidance; referral to secure necessary services from other agencies; rehabilitation technology services; placement in suitable employment; post-employment services; and/or other goods and services necessary to achieve rehabilitation objectives. To find the vocational rehabilitation program in your state, check The Disability Resources RM Regional Resource Directory http://www.disabilityresources.org/DRMreg.html or the U.S. Department of Education, State Vocational Rehabilitation Services - http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/Programs/EROD/org_list.cfm?category_ID=SVR.
Additional resources for financial issues
