Anybody who has read my writings for any length of time has probably gathered by now that both my wife and I suffer from debilitating illnesses that prevent us from working. Our only income comes in the form of a check that we receive at the end of each month through a program known as The Ontario Disability Support Program (O.D.S.P.)
This check provides us with minimal amounts for shelter and living costs. We are also eligible to receive certain medications for the nominal charge of $2.00 a prescription, one eye check up every two years, minimal dental care, and zero premium health insurance.
At first glance this doesn't appear too bad, and in fact we are probably slightly better off than most working poor due to the benefits. Obviously a thing like our deduction free drug plan saves us a fortune; between the two of us we use about $1,000 worth of medication in a month.
After having spent five months in the limbo of being on welfare while I waited for them to decide if I was sick enough to be entitled to disability benefits, I was intensely grateful when they were finally approved. I still am grateful for the assistance provided, I'd hate to think what our situation would be like if this program didn't exist.
However, (you saw the but coming long ago didn't you), I have recently had reason to experience some of the serious deficiencies within the program. A couple of weeks ago my wife came into the bedroom after I had gone to bed and woke me up. She had had a tooth snap off at the gum line.
While it was a nasty experience she thankfully wasn't in any pain, which was a good thing as this was Friday night and we wouldn't be able to see our dentist until Monday. The other piece of good news was that the tooth that had broken was right next to her one false tooth, so it would only require a repair to her partial denture to put a new false tooth in alongside the existing one.
Article comments
1 - Sister Ray
I am sorry that you and your wife are having these troubles. It must be very stressful.
People who donate money to church programs do so because they want to help others. They are reaching out a hand.
2 - Aaman
I'm very sorry to hear of your difficulties, g-man. I hope things turn a corner soon and you get a book published or something wonderful like that - the force is strong in you:)
3 - Richard Russell
My wife and I are sick too. She has had Lyme Disease (now being called Master's Disease because it's a little different from Lyme) for three years and I have an unidentified skin/muscle/bone disease that prevent us from working.
So far we've managed to find a doctor in Missouri who is treating my wife (we have no insurance, plans start at around $500 a month and our income is $869 a month from my Social Security) and we pay a great deal for her medications.
Last year I managed to save enough for dentures (I have no teeth), but the top one does not fit and my dentist won't do anything about it (except tell me to put two dabs of adhesive at the front, which does not work) and it is absolutely miserable, it feels warped.
I'm trying to save money for a new top denture and to travel to get them, but every time I save a little it has to go for necessities that come up.
I really need a new top denture or to have this one fixed somewhere. There's a dentist in St. Louis, MO that specializes in dentures (I don't trust Affordable Dentures to make a fitting denture). I live in Mississippi and I don't have reliable transportation so I would need to rent a car or take a train to St. Louis.
Thanks for your kind attention.