tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post5955211138846423082..comments2024-01-16T01:42:41.699+11:00Comments on Tune into Radio Carly: The cost of having a chronic illness - where's the support for the employed?Carly Findlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368145710452826385noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-7017575253707959382011-07-12T21:40:43.141+10:002011-07-12T21:40:43.141+10:00Yes, I totally understand Carly, especially as som...Yes, I totally understand Carly, especially as someone, like me, who if earning a wage, has always been 'borderline' i.e. earning just enough to not receive discounted health care. My illness costs me quite a lot and is something I can't go without, but since 'I can work' and do, I have to struggle to keep up with this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-16735884152529138752010-06-17T13:30:30.568+10:002010-06-17T13:30:30.568+10:00So true Lizz. When you weigh up the benefits of w...So true Lizz. When you weigh up the benefits of working vs not working, you can understand why some choose to give up working. Financially, they are worse off by working and that is ridiculous! Being penalised for wanting to work and support yourself is insane.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-55679099014798734462010-06-15T15:15:55.940+10:002010-06-15T15:15:55.940+10:00A health care card at the very least would make a ...A health care card at the very least would make a huge impact on a lot of people who live on prescription medication. Our income puts us over the HCC threshold this year (a good thing, in theory), but the difference of $200 over the threshold vs. an increase of $720 in medications isn't really going forward, is it? And, like you, that's the bare minimum to get through the month.<br /><br />Then again, you can only spread the butter over the bread so far. If more PBS concessions are granted, who misses out? Are they less 'deserving' than us, who need medications every day for the rest of our lives? It's a hard call.Lizznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-69712614212634975362010-06-04T22:36:32.988+10:002010-06-04T22:36:32.988+10:00I agree with Rellacafa, it seems very unfair that ...I agree with Rellacafa, it seems very unfair that you are unable to get health insurance because of your illness. And I do think you should be entitled to a health care card, and there should be some kind of small payment twice a year or so for ppl with ongoing health costs.<br /><br />Unfortunately though there is not enough funding in many areas of welfare related things, and many people are far worse off than you are. I have been struggling as a full time student and can earn very little before i start losing big chunks of my austudy payments. It's the same deal with single parents. They will often not work because they lose their payments. They do need to look at making work more appealing to people for sure. - LucyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-65689698007856600902010-06-04T19:15:15.423+10:002010-06-04T19:15:15.423+10:00I am in this situation too - sounds like many peop...I am in this situation too - sounds like many people are. I earn a good wage and work hard because I enjoy it and I have a certain lifestyle and now a mortgage that I have to maintain. I don't get all of the medications or treatments that I know I need because I can't afford it. My cash flow is low despite the fact that I earn well. I am possibly eligible for the mobility thing so I will have to look into that. I am also currently looking into the multi purpose taxi program which gives half price taxi fares but they ask for a lot of documentation including salary information. I am confused by this because it doesn't mention that it is means tested so I am not sure why they require this information. <br /><br />We should get a petition going....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-30713280791471331652010-06-04T14:57:29.168+10:002010-06-04T14:57:29.168+10:00Very thought provoking article. I must say, I'...Very thought provoking article. I must say, I'm pretty outraged that you can't get health insurance!! That's bullcrap, just because you have a chronic illness, doesn't mean that you aren't still able to get other illnesses or have accidents (God forbid) that you'd need medical care for. You should be able to have protection like anybody else. Sorry, I'm ranting a little, but that really got my goat up! What a stupid rule...does that extend to ambulance cover? I have health insurance for my chronic pain condition, the only catch was having to wait a year for treatment...during which the condition worsened. There has been a lot of evidence to show that early treatment of CRPS pain can stop it spreading and getting worse, I do wish that there was some way that the bills for treatment could be settled over a period of time so that people could afford help during the critical time in which it could really help...but my views on that are probably an entire post on their own, lol! I wish I could believe there would be a time when the government would actually provide enough for sick people to get help (as if $6.00 a fortnight is enough for medication, one of my meds alone costs $75 a fortnight!) but the truth is that they'd pay us more to have children. Our government would rather pay for new people than to heal the ones that are already here and that makes my face do this :(<br /><br />xxHayley Cafarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03366835595019514161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-64486326945642334872010-06-03T19:02:04.774+10:002010-06-03T19:02:04.774+10:00That's a huge problem in the US, too. You can ...That's a huge problem in the US, too. You can only get disability benefits if you are entirely unable to work at any job. It's a very, very extreme standard. And then even when you get approved for those benefits you have to wait 2 years to start getting medical benefits unless you are poor. As though sick people can buy insurance in this country with the current restrictions companies place on us. Hopefully the new legislation will help with that problem.Diana Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07003936391451383062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-19450226725424279192010-06-03T06:19:53.784+10:002010-06-03T06:19:53.784+10:00Great response Jen. Your situation sounds very dif...Great response Jen. Your situation sounds very difficult. Lets hope the NDIS can help you.<br /><br />Anonymous - mobility allowance is for people who cannot access public transport. That doesn't apply to me. Thanks for your suggestion though.Carly Findlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01368145710452826385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-73334380314526748652010-06-03T06:11:30.821+10:002010-06-03T06:11:30.821+10:00have you looked at the mobility allowance offered ...have you looked at the mobility allowance offered by centrelink - it gives you a health care card and an allowance of $80 a fortnight to cover the costs associated with a illness/disability but is for those people who work fulltime.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-21985563221800826882010-06-03T02:17:39.558+10:002010-06-03T02:17:39.558+10:00Hi Carly,
I dont think you are asking to much at a...Hi Carly,<br />I dont think you are asking to much at all. I sometimes feel like i'm not entitled to certain things such a use of a disabled sticker, when im having an 'OK day", and i look "normal" however i know at anymoment things can turn bad, due my chronic illness/disability being completly unpredicable.<br />I am currently living off of a centerlink benefit, and after rent, bills, health insurance and other living costs, I DONT have the money for my medication which gets me through each day. Many of my medications are PBS, however one of the important ones at a cost of $102 every 17 days is not. I think that you need to purchase just over a 100 scripts on PBS before the medication becomes free for the rest of the calander year. Normally people would not reach this limit, however i went to the pharmacist today and came back with 6 PBS medications, that will last me one through to 3 weeks. I have reached this "limit" each year for the past 3 years and consitantly start recieving PBS medication free around august/september. If I did not have my mother's support and funding, i would not be able to get the treatment i need. I can not even afford the costs of my specialist appointments due to the little amount of money i recieve each fortnight. This was just the same when i was a student too. I think your question is valid, but others that are living on a benefit are suffering too. I dont even have spare $ to spend on myself in regards to clothes or going out etc that is just as much important for your mental health, because before the fortnight ends, i have run out of money.<br />I understand your point, and i wish there was more people in situations who dont necessaraly need full time care, or a carer, modifications needed ect that could recieve some more help in various forms. It might already be available, but there isnt any funding to make people aware of what we can be entilted too. People like you and I.Jen Cumminshttp://jencummins16.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com