Working and Disabiltiy Related Costs
Friday, September 19, 2008
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I got my first full-time job in December 2007 and, for the first time in my life, I was able to kiss the Ontario Disability Support program (ODSP) and the social programs goodbye. Fantastic. No more feeling like I am a financial burden to society. No more having to justify my disability related expenses or having to be grounded while I wait for ODSP to approve the cost of repairing my legs (wheelchair).
There have been a few challenges that have been difficult to overcome though. One is having to pay for the exorbitant costs of fixing my wheelchair now that ODSP is no longer footing the bill. The other is learning that most services are closed in the evening and can only be used for an emergency repair if you are able to pay the premium price.
The other day I got a flat tire after hours and, because I remembered being told when I was on ODSP that, because I did not have power seating on my wheelchair, I did not qualify for an emergency repair, I didn't try to get the wheel fixed. Instead, I just wheeled to the bus stop on the flat and came home.
The next day I went to work and arranged for the medical supplier to fix it when I was there. When I saw the bill for the repair was $65 for one hour's work, I asked about the after-hours service. That's when I learned that the cost for the repair would have been a mere $100 plus the cost to repair.
I was shocked. Thankfully I saved myself this added expense because I didn't realize the "not qualifying part" was a policy of ODSP and not the medical supplier. But I can pretty well guarantee it will never be done either. There is no way I can afford that much to replace a flat tire.
I wonder how the able-bodied would feel if they temporarily lost the use of their legs and were told they had to fork out this much money before they could leave the emergency room? The analogy I am thinking of is a person breaking both legs and OHIP refusing to pay for them to become mobile again. I highly doubt the majority of the able-bodied public would stand for it. (No pun intended).
Anyway, the goal of this blog is not to complain, but to raise awareness that there is often more than meets the eye when you look at a person who has a disAbility.
Please read my other blogs:
Transit: http://wheelchairdemon-transit.blogspot.com
Health Care: http://wheelchairdemon-health.blogspot.com
There have been a few challenges that have been difficult to overcome though. One is having to pay for the exorbitant costs of fixing my wheelchair now that ODSP is no longer footing the bill. The other is learning that most services are closed in the evening and can only be used for an emergency repair if you are able to pay the premium price.
The other day I got a flat tire after hours and, because I remembered being told when I was on ODSP that, because I did not have power seating on my wheelchair, I did not qualify for an emergency repair, I didn't try to get the wheel fixed. Instead, I just wheeled to the bus stop on the flat and came home.
The next day I went to work and arranged for the medical supplier to fix it when I was there. When I saw the bill for the repair was $65 for one hour's work, I asked about the after-hours service. That's when I learned that the cost for the repair would have been a mere $100 plus the cost to repair.
I was shocked. Thankfully I saved myself this added expense because I didn't realize the "not qualifying part" was a policy of ODSP and not the medical supplier. But I can pretty well guarantee it will never be done either. There is no way I can afford that much to replace a flat tire.
I wonder how the able-bodied would feel if they temporarily lost the use of their legs and were told they had to fork out this much money before they could leave the emergency room? The analogy I am thinking of is a person breaking both legs and OHIP refusing to pay for them to become mobile again. I highly doubt the majority of the able-bodied public would stand for it. (No pun intended).
Anyway, the goal of this blog is not to complain, but to raise awareness that there is often more than meets the eye when you look at a person who has a disAbility.
Please read my other blogs:
Transit: http://wheelchairdemon-transit.blogspot.com
Health Care: http://wheelchairdemon-health.blogspot.com
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