Approved for a scooter !

[shalamis]

We were told and read online that without the "diagnosis" of ALS, early medicare coverage would not be granted. I just know that the diagnosis from my husband's neuro indicated PLS. What kind of wording is necessary to achieve this? Is an ALS clinic something local connected with a specific hospital or neuro practice?

[Zaphoon]

Sheri,

I don't know what the doctors told your husband when they diagnosed him with PLS but usually, with PLS you are watched over a 5 year period to see if you develop any lower motor neuron symptoms. PLS involves only the upper motor neurons in the brain whereas ALS involves those as well as the lower motor neurons in the spine and brain stem.

In some cases, people like your husband present with only upper motor neuron trouble and eventually develop lower motor neuron trouble. When this happens, the diagnosis is changed from PLS to ALS.

Since your husband was diagnosed in 2007, he should have had at least one follow-up to check on progression / new symptoms.

Hope this has helped.

Zaphoon

[joelc]

Welcome - The ALS Association

On the left hand side put in your zip code and it will take you to your local ALS Association and they can advise you.

[Judith]

Sheri,
I was dx with PLS in Dec. of '06. Once I got the dx, I went to Social Security online and applied for SSDI. I had all my dr. visits documented from '04 to the present, along with their phone numbers. It is very time consuming to fill out the app., but you need to be as thorough as possible. I was approved within a couple of months and started receiving my disability. With a dx of PLS, you have to wait 2 years before you can get Medicare. People dx with ALS will get Medicare immediately, so if your husband's dx changes within the 2 year span after you are approved, your husband will have to re-apply, and once approved with a dx of ALS, he will immediately receive Medicare.
I had bulbar onset for 4 years. Then my left leg and arm started to be affected. I can no longer walk. I have a Pride Quantum 600 that my insurance took care of. You need to let your insurance know that your husband needs a chair that will meet his future needs, because this is a progessive disease.
I can no longer speak, so my insurance paid for a speech generating device.

Judith