SSI may cancel Medicaid benefits beause of settlement, what can we do?

Question

My mother has been on kidney dialysis for a couple of years and gets SSI benefits. She got a small settlement ($2400) from a drug company becuase she was on a drug that causes kidney damage. She is on a kidney transplant list.

She called SSI and they told her that she would have to pay back a full month's benefits. Fine, no problem. She got a letter that they may cut off her Medicaid benefits because of this $2400. If they cut her off, she loses her kidney dialysys and will probably die from it.

They told her that she needs to provide reciepts and show how she spent the money. They will review it and go from there. Is there anything we can do? We really can't afford to pay a SSI lawyer.

She bought a car 1 1/2 years ago and I gave her money for that. Would a reciept showing that she paid me back suffice?

Thanks,

Jess

Answer 1

Your answer is Medicare, not Medicaid. Medicare covers dialysis treatments for end-stage kidney disease patients. Talk to your mother's facility manager or social worker where she gets dialysis and they will assist you in making sure Medicare pays for the dialysis.

For more information, read Medicare Coverage of Kidney Dialysis and Kidney Transplant Services found at:
http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/10128_LE.pdf

Answer 2

I would think that your reciept may show some proof of where her money went....Good Luck

Answer 3

wait and see what happen