“A DIME IS MORE THAN A CENT”  

By: Richard 

As a child, Richard was diagnosed with Poliomyelitis (Polio). Polio is a highly infectious disease that destroys nerves in the spinal cord.  It was once the most feared disease in the United States, but by 1994, Polio had been mostly eradicated in North America. 

Richards’s condition improved enough for him to work most of his life as a mechanic. In 1987, he was diagnosed with Post Polio Syndrome a condition that develops in people fifteen to forty years after being diagnosed with Polio. At the time he was working as a mechanic and started having frequent falls.  His doctor called his employer and informed the employer of his diagnosis of Post Polio Syndrome.  He decided to quit the job.  Richard did not work for more than two years after this. 

He found other jobs, but they did not pay as well as the prior job.  He finally decided to call it quits in 2002 and started receiving disability.  In 2005, he fell in broke his right hip.  In 2010 he fell and broke his right hip again and his shoulder.  Richard knew that at this time Post Polio Syndrome was beginning to take its effect on of his body.  He was continuing to drive, but drove cross-legged.  After breaking his hip for the second time, he had surgery to repair his hip and shoulder.  By this time, complete paralysis had set in and he was no longer able to drive or walk.  He required the continuous use of a wheelchair. 

Problems for Richard seem to increase.  He was able to receive a Motorized wheel chair through Medicare, but the wheel chair is not working properly.  The chair he had earlier is worn out.  The second chair is defective.  He has tried to no avail to have the chair repaired by the company where he received it. The chair was sent back to the company and they kept it for six months. The chair was returned to him and he still is not able to use it.  Richard has contacted numerous agencies to assist in getting help for having the chair repaired properly. 

He is now using his old chair that is worn out.  The old chair really does not fit him.  He says that he cannot stay in the bed all day, so he just uses the old chair as a backup and to prevent him from having to lie in bed all day.   

Unfortunately, he has only had this chair for two years and Medicare only allows him to purchase a chair every two years.  Richard says that he is ”up the creek without a paddle”.  One can only imagine how frustrating and difficult this is for someone who is now paralyzed from waist down and who is increasingly losing the use of his upper body as well. 

He is a Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) recipient.  He had United Health Care Medicare Advantage until three months ago.  Doctors and hospitals in his area stopped accepting United Health Care.  He changed his plan to WellCare.  So far, he has no problems with this plan. 

Richard states that he is grateful for two things, Medicaid and March of Dimes.  March of Dimes paid for his braces as a child.  Without March of Dimes, he never would have been able to walk as a child and a young adult.   March of Dimes services are much more than its name. Medicaid allows him the opportunity to have his medical co-pays paid and other medical bills. He is also thankful for those years that he was able to walk and work in a job that provided him with substantial gainful employment.  His only wish now is for a proper working motorized wheelchair so that he does not have to spend his entire day confined to bed. 

Image Credit: https://www.amazon.ca/Post-Polio-Syndrome-Guide-Survivors-Families/dp/0300088086