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StrategiesForResolvingDebtResultingFromIllness
Doyouownyourhome?Orhaveamortgage?
Callthebankormortgageholderearlyandtrytoworkoutpaymentarrangements.Consider
selling,takingasecondmortgage,takingareversemortgageorestablishinganequitylineof
credit.
Doyourent?
ApplyforSection8housing(avoucher/certificatethathelpsyoupayyourrent),PublicHousing,
orconsidermovingtoaresidencewithlessrent.
Doyouneedfood?
Applyforfoodstamps,theWIC(Women,InfantandChildren’s),utilizeafoodbank,orcheck
withareachurchesforassistance.
Doyouneedhelpwithyourutilities?
CheckifyouqualifyfortheLowIncomeHeatingEnergyAssistanceProgram(LIHEAP)inMD,VA,
&DC.Asktheutilitycompanyiftheyhaveanycharityprogramsavailable.CalltheDepartment
ofSocialServicesinyourareatoseeiftheyhaveanyinformationaboutaCommunityAction
Agency,anorganizationwhocanusuallyassistwhenashutofforevictionnoticeisgiven.Ask
yourdoctortowritealetterofmedicalnecessitytotheutilitycompany,astheymaybemore
willingtoworkwithyourelativetoyourcondition.Lastly,youmaycontacttheStateUtilities
Commissionertorequesttheirreviewofacompassionateappeal.
Haveyoubeendeclareddisabledbyadoctorandyoudonothavehealth
insurance?
Ifso,youshouldapplyforSocialSecurityDisabilityIncome(SSDI)orSocialSecurityIncome(SSI)
andMedicaid.OnceyouapplyforSSDIorSSI,thereisgenerallyawaitingperiodofseveral
monthsbeforeyouwouldreceiveyourbenefits.CheckwithyourSocialSecurityOfficeto
determinewhatbenefitsyouwouldqualifyforandthelengthofyourwaitingperiod.The
nationalnumberfortheSocialSecurityAdministrationis(800)772-1213.Afteryouhavebeen
disabledfor24months,youmayqualifyforMedicare.TheMedicarenationalhonenumberis
(800)633-4227.
AreyouonShort-TermDisabilitythroughyouremployer?
Ifso,investigatewithyouremployerifyouqualifyforLong-TermDisability.Ifyouareoffered
COBRAforcontinuationofyourhealthinsurance,youshouldmakeeveryefforttomaintainthat
coverage.Thiswillallowyoutheopportunitytoestablishhealthinsuranceunderanewplan
withoutalapseincoverageandwillreducethepossibilityofyoubeingheldtoapre-existing
conditionclause.
OnceyourShort-TermDisabilityhasended,ifyoudonothaveLong-TermDisability,youare
301HighGablesDrive/Suite307/NorthPotomac,MD.20878/301.977.3776/www.crittersforthecure.org
5/10/17
unabletoreturntowork,andadoctorhasdeclaredyoudisabled,youshouldapplyforSSDI.You
shouldalsoapplyforMedicaidifyoudidnothavetheoptionofcontinuingyourhealth
insurancecoverage.Asstatedabove,whenyouapplyforSSDIorMedicaid,thereisgenerallya
waitingperiodofseveralmonthsbeforeyouwouldreceiveyourbenefits.CheckwithyourSocial
SecurityOfficetodeterminewhatbenefitsyouqualifyforandthelengthofyourwaitingperiod.
Doyouhaveoutstandingmedicalbills?
AskyourproviderofcaretoallowyoutoapplyforCharityCareorIndigentCare.Ifyoudonot
qualify,asktomakepaymentarrangementsthatyoucanafford.Ifyoucannotestablish
reasonablepaymentarrangements,contactConsumerCreditCounselingServicesforassistance.
Call(800)493-2222or(800)388-2227tolocateanofficenearyou.
Doyouhavecreditcarddebt?
Contactthecreditortomakepaymentarrangements,offeringtopayaminimalpaymentthat
youcanafford.Bespecificintheamount.Ifyouareunabletoestablishpaymentarrangements,
contactConsumerCreditCounselingServicesatthenumberslistedaboveforassistance.
Doyouhavelifeinsurancepolicieswithequity?
Considerusinganorganizationthatloansmoneyagainstwhole-lifepolicies,whichreducesthe
payoutamountatthetimeofdeath.Term-lifepoliciescannotusedbeusedforthispurpose.
Oneorganization,LifeWise,canbereachedat(800)219-7385.
Doyouneedhealthcareandyoudonothavehealthinsurance?
CheckwithyourStateInsuranceCommissionerinthecapitalofyourstatetodetermineifyour
statehasaRiskPool.AskyourproviderofcareforCharityCareofIndigentCare.Considerusing
aHill-Burtonhospital.ThesefacilitiesprovidecaretouninsuredAmericans.Tolocateahospital
inyourarea,call(800)638-0742.
Doyouneedmedication?Areyouareuninsuredorwithoutprescription
samples?
Checkwithyourstatetoseeiftheyoperateaprescriptiondrugprogram.ApplyfortheMedicine
ProgramorhaveyourdoctorapplyfortheIndigentDrugProgramthroughthedrug
manufacturer.CallthePharmaceuticalManufacturers’Association(PHRMA)at(800)762-4636
andaskforthepatienthelplinetogetfurtherinformationonthisprogram.
Remembertotakeadvantageoftheresourceswithinyourcommunity,likeareachurches,Social
ServicesOrganizations,theRedCross,theSalvationArmy,andtheUnitedWay.Youmight
considercoordinatingafundraiser.
301HighGablesDrive/Suite307/NorthPotomac,MD.20878/301.977.3776/www.crittersforthecure.org