7 of 31 part 2

Well what do you know, I survived ;o) Praise God the weather was nice because I had to stand in the line OUTSIDE before we could go through security for 35 minutes! Everyone has to go through the metal detector, which I understand is for our safety, but they don't have an x-ray machine for the belongings. All belongings have to be taken out of any purse/bag/diaper bag, put in a bin, (along with belts, keys cell phones and whatever is in your pockets) and gone through by the guard. Of course this take quite a bit of time!

At least a lady came around the line and asked if anyone had an appointment, I said I did and gave her my letter like so many others, then she started to walk away. I asked what she was doing with the letters and if we should follow her, she said no, that she would enter us into the system and DELAY our appointments for 40 minutes to make sure we had enough time to get through the line!! I'm sure they could come up with a different system, but at least I didn't miss my appointment.

The man I had didn't seem to understand that I DIDN'T want to apply for money (SSI), food stamps, or anything else, JUST medicaid. I explained that we were over the income level but had an income waiver and were getting medicaid because our son had Down Syndrome. That it wasn't to replace our insurance, but to supplement it. I had already filled out the information packet (book) with Jonathan's service provider, brought every document under the sun, yet the gentleman felt like he had to go through every page and RE-ASK me every question. He asked me if Jonathan was receiving any benefits, like SSI or SSD? (Wasn't I here to JUST get medicaid, and wasn't he the one who told me Jonathan wasn't "in the system"?). By this time I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone! He left me while he went and copied every document under the sun, came back, gave me my documents and ANOTHER new packet to fill out and send back in! We can only hope and pray after I do that and send in proof of when we received our income waiver, that Jonathan, after 11 months, will receive his medicaid!

After walking back to the parking lot, which is a block down and across the street, I was free! Really, I DO appreciate that I can get this benefit for my child, it is just very frustrating having it take so long and having to jump through hoops to get it. Ah well, just one of life's frustrations. I'm not even sure if every state allows children with DS to get medicaid if they are over the income limits, so believe me, I REALLY am thankful.

New trick: undressing. Jonathan figured out how to get his pants off today, dad and brother were the witnesses ;o) . Now I'm watching him get his arm out of his sleeve all by himself. I had hoped he would not be like my niece with DS, she loves to take her clothes off and we have had a challenge in teaching her to keep them on! I can continue to hope he's just learning new skills and it won't go any further.... ;o) I'll let you know!