All disabled and senior citizens face common problems with Medicaid and Medicare: the insurance does not cover what they need. This is a real problem for a growing number of Americans.

As a person with disabilities and diabetes, I am covered under both Medicare and Medicaid. Because of my chronic health conditions (diabetes), I need routine care and consistency of treatment. Without this, I cannot maintain my health, let alone hope for any improvement.

I have seen times when a single medicine is changed month after month after month because my pharmacist has to give me whatever my insurance has approved that month. There’s no such thing as “my doctor says this is what I need, so I get this” when it comes to these insurance companies. You either get what they have on their pre-approved list, or your doctor has to go through a lengthy pre-authorization quest. Meanwhile, what are you supposed to do? The blunt truth is that not all generics work as well as brand name medicines for every person.

Sometimes you really do need something specific. And even if you are able to use a generic, shouldn’t you at least be able to count on getting the same generic on a consistent basis? That doesn’t even begin to address the issue of co-payments that keep going up and up and up.

This is not just my take on things. I have talked to a number of senior and disabled persons to find out that they are having the same problems and frustrations. Sometimes we just get so disgusted fighting with our insurance that we want to give up and say, “Enough is enough.”

I think because the government runs both Medicare and Medicaid, that we would all be better off if they merged into a single organization. I think that would help them provide better coverage and would end in fewer conflicts. Because seniors and disabled persons have limited income, they should also provide 100% coverage for the medications and expenses that are needed.