ObamaCare and Social Security Disability

I note that there is a great deal of controversy at the moment about the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, or ObamaCare. Without a doubt, the roll out of this new law has been problematic. I suspect that the government will get the kinks worked out within a few months. One critical aspect of the new law is getting as many people as possible back onto Medicaid.  I am surprised how few of my clients know that they will be able to get health insurance starting in January. Most of them have never heard of this.  I know that hospitals and other community service agencies are doing what they can to get the word out.  That said, we need to do more. Far too many people who are unable to work are also unable to get any medical treatment. This puts these people in a bad spot for applying for disability.  Social Security regulations state that the agency must have some medical evidence of the problems the claimant alleges. Even if you walked into a hearing with a guide dog and a red-tipped cane, a judge is going to have to point to some medical record saying you are, in fact, blind.  The sooner people get back on Medicaid (or other health insurance), the sooner they will be able to document their disability claims.   If you know of anyone who has been ineligible for Medicaid, please have him or her contact the agency in his or her state that administers the program.