Medical Resources for SDS Adults

Health care is always an issue when dealing with a chronic disease. If it is possible for you to have medical insurance thru an employer, that is great. Too often, however, if you work part-time health insurance is not offered as a benefit. It then becomes problematic to get and afford medical care.

We have a few suggestions.

Social Security Disability
If you are unable to work due to SDS consider applying for Social Security Disability. Approval will provide you with Medicare, Medicare D (drug program) and possibly SSI (Supplemental Security Insurance) and other benefits that will pay for medical costs.

Sometimes it is difficult to get approval for diseases as rare as SDS simply because the doctors who review the applications are not familiar with rare diseases. Be prepared to provide info about SDS, i.e. copies of medical articles (which SDSF can provide to you). Make sure your attending physicians are aware that you are making this application so they can be prepare to provide needed info to examiners.

There are some hematological conditions which automatically qualify for Social Security Disability on their own merit-aside from any accompanying disease or condition.

	Chronic Neutropenia - this must be proven by 3 instances within a 5 month time of an ANC less than 1000.
	Chronic Anemia - hematocrit of under 30% with a requirement of at least one transfusion on an average of once every 2 months.
	Chronic Thrombocytopenia (due to any cause), with platelet counts repeatedly below 40,000/ cubic millimeter. With: A. At least one spontaneous hemorrhage, requiring transfusion, within 5 months prior to adjudication; or B. Intracranial bleeding within 12 months prior to adjudication.

If you have one of the above conditions it will simplify your application for Disability. However, the fact that you may not have one or more of the above conditions should not stop you from filing based on your diagnosis of SDS.