Skip to content

Author: Spencer Rand

Do I have to worry about my healthcare because the House passed a Trumpcare bill?

Published May 5, 2017

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed a law seeking to end part of Affordable Care Act health insurance, often called Obamacare, and replace it with the Affordable Health Care Act, often called Trumpcare.  How does this affect you?

For the present, it does not affect your health insurance but it may affect it substantially.  For the law passed by the House to become a United States law, the Senate must pass the law, too, and the President must sign it.  It is not clear that the Senate will pass the law and it has not done so yet.  For now, the Affordable Care Act is in place and the law is the way it has been.  If you count on Obamacare for your health insurance, the House passing this law has not changed anything.

Should you be worried?  Many should. 

Continue ReadingDo I have to worry about my healthcare because the House passed a Trumpcare bill?
Comments closed

What happens to my children if I die or become very sick?

Published May 4, 2017

If you have young children, you may worry about what will happen to them if you become too sick to take care of them, or if you die. There are steps you can take to make sure your children are taken care of by someone you know and trust. However, you must fill out some important legal forms to make sure people know which person you want to care for your children.

 

This post will explain to you the steps you must take.

Continue ReadingWhat happens to my children if I die or become very sick?
Comments closed

Getting SSI or Social Security faster with stage 4 cancer or other very serious illnesses: asking for a Compassionate Allowance

Published May 4, 2017

You can get Social Security to decide your SSI or Social Security application more quickly if you convince Social Security to process your case as a “Compassionate Allowance” case.  If Social Security considers your case a Compassionate Allowance case, you do not win automatically—you still must prove that you have the condition and it impairs you enough to qualify. You also do not get higher benefits.  However, it can really help with the speed of the case and make the process much easier for you.

Continue ReadingGetting SSI or Social Security faster with stage 4 cancer or other very serious illnesses: asking for a Compassionate Allowance
Comments closed

Watching Low-income Pennsylvanians and Medicaid Expansion

Published February 10, 2015

News today that Pennsylvania is withdrawing its Healthy PA Medical Assistance (Medicaid) plan for what should be a much more comprehensive and simpler Medicaid Expansion should be welcome news for the poor in Pennsylvania.  Since Healthy PA was implemented, our Legal Aid office has been receiving calls about it from clients describing ways it was cutting their health care coverage.  For example, one client diagnosed with lymphoma last fall found himself categorized by the state as not needing full coverage and was put into a new private insurance plan in the midst of his treatment.  Potentially, that lesser plan would not have covered his treatment and the physical and mental health problems he developed due to his diagnosis.  Under the “traditional” Medicaid Expansion the state is planning to choose, he should now be covered, as will many more of our clients suffering with HIV, cancer and disabilities who will more likely be able to live independently in the community.

As a teacher in the Temple Legal Aid Office, I have the chance with my students to watch the way the poor face life and how government decisions on how to help those seeking help really matter.  Although Medicaid Expansion is a start

Continue ReadingWatching Low-income Pennsylvanians and Medicaid Expansion
Comments closed