Another vent, only this one doesn't have much positive in it. Sorry! This may read like a rant, because it is one! I tried to give the main points, without all the teary eyed detail, so if you find it hard to follow, you may have to read it again to find the timeline. Again, sorry!

This one has to do with government bureaucracy at several levels. And these organizations/people want to run (ruin) the health care system in this country??!

Today's rant has to do with school districts, state legislatures and the federal government. I wish I could say that it all started this week, but in reality, this started approximately 16 years ago. (for us) It has to do with Ian.

For the 10 or so years we did not know what we were fighting with Ian, we struggled through many diagnoses and treatments, some of which insurance covered, others which it did not. Now, don't get me wrong, I was quite pleased with the insurance coverage we had in Utah. I did not have to pay for the policy, and the plan was decent.

After moving to Arkansas, and having the meltdowns and problems that led to a diagnosis of Asperger's, we have seen constant improvement in Ian's (and our) ability to handle the stresses, and detour the meltdowns. This has not been without financial struggles. Ian's medicines have typically run about $500-600/month, and would have bankrupted us years ago, if not for good insurance at the time, and Ian qualifying for SSI payments and medicaid insurance.

Between Justin and diabetes, Ian and Asperger's, and Ben and ulcerative colitis, we typically spend a small bundle on medical supplies and meds, until insurance maximums are met. Ian's SSI payment has been a lifesaver in this area.

Until this last year. Last year, (and don't ask me why not the 2 years before that), the Social Security Administration informed us that they had been over paying us, and reduced the monthly check to nearly nothing. The reason? I get paid 3 checks in June, which means that we exceed the income limits for SSI. Therefore, when they had found this, they needed to reduce our future payments, until the "oversight" had been corrected.

Why do I get 3 checks in June, You may ask? It's because the district has to clear the books, that is, meet all financial obligations by the end of June. ( that's supposedly state law) And since they "can not, and will not pay a teacher in July, for work that isn't being done"(quote from district payroll manager), I get 3 checks in June, and nothing till Sep. 20th, the first payment of the new contract year.

Back to SSI and government inconsistency! SSI will kick back in, once the "excessive income" is gone, and we resubmit new financial records. Their problem is they base all their limits on monthly income, and it doesn't matter if it's one check or 31 checks meant to be cashed over months and months, it's all considered June's income. That part actually makes sense. The district sees this plan as "12 equal payments". :{

Now, follow me here....... it's MAY. LAST month, we finally got all the financial records straightened out, and SSI discovered that we did indeed fall well below the income level for a family our size, and they had seriously UNDERPAID Ian's SSI since last June, so they were in the process of increasing checks to make up for the oversight. Anyone getting dizzy yet?

Michelle, in an effort to avoid that rollercoaster ride again, called them a few days ago to remind them that June's pay situation was bizarre, and hoping to avoid the same paperwork mess, and payment reductions. No good deed goes unpunished! Yesterday, we got a letter stating that Ian was being dropped from SSI and Medicaid, because my June income was projected too high to qualify!

Get how well this government wants people to manage their money. When Michelle called (in a near panic), to try and figure out what the heck happened, they explained that for them it is all about the monthly income, and as long as that money was available, we had too much to qualify. But, and I quote, "if you use that money up before the end of June, we could re-submit financials, and have him re-enrolled by August". So, if we "blew" our 3 months salary (living expenses) on a $9000 VACATION, we would still only lose out on Ian's SSI and medicaid for 2 months.

Let's see now, no matter what we do, we lose Ian's payments, and his insurance (read prescription co-pays), bringing a net loss bumping $2000. That's if we blow 2-3 months pay in a matter of 5-7 days. If we manage our money wisely, making sure that we still have money in September, while we wait for the 20th to roll around, we lose at least 4 months of Ian's coverage. ($4000) Can't win for losin'.

Now the kicker..... when Michelle called DHS today, to see about enrolling Ian in the Arkids insurance program, they informed us that he should have no problem enrolling, because our income is, according to them, well below the income limit for a family of our size. AND, they figure their income limits based on an average 12 month income. So my 3 check June would not be an issue. Aren't these the same people who want to run our health care system?