Everyday Issues

Most people with epilepsy can support themselves and their families. However, if you have an unusually severe seizure problem that continues despite treatment and makes it impossible for you to work, you may qualify for one of two federal programs that provide income.

One is called Supplemental Security Income. It is for people who have very limited savings, income or possessions.

The second program is called Social Security Disability Insurance. It comes under the Social Security system. It is for people who have worked a certain length of time and contributed to Social Security through payroll deductions, or whose parents have contributed.

In both cases, you have to show you cannot work because of the effects of your seizures. Information on these programs is available at your local Social Security office and from the Epilepsy Foundation. Your local Epilepsy Foundation may also have information on low cost medications, discounts on public transportation and lower cost living arrangements in your area.

Transportation

Can you drive an automobile if you have epilepsy? Yes, so long as you don't have a seizure while driving. Legislators in each state have struggled with how long a person should be free of seizures before he or she is granted driving privileges.

That period of time varies depending on the state, but it's most likely to be between three months and a year. Some states don't count seizures that only take place during sleep, don't impair consciousness (commonly called auras) or are preceded by a very long warning.

When you apply for a license, some states may require that your doctor send a letter to the Department of Motor Vehicles stating that you are free of seizures and, in his or her opinion, can therefore drive safely if you meet your state's other driving requirements.

A few states require doctors to report people who have lapses of consciousness to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The Epilepsy Foundation opposes this regulation because it is not effective and interferes with the doctor-patient relationship. If your state has such a requirement, you may wish to ask your legislator to get it removed.

Find out exactly what the rules are about epilepsy and driving in your state, even if your seizures are not yet sufficiently controlled for you to qualify for a license. We have provided a state by state listing of this information.

Driving is a privilege that carries serious responsibility with it. You can help protect yourself and others as follows:

• If your doctor changes your medicine, don't drive until you know how the change is going to affect you.
• If you have a seizure, don't drive yourself to the doctor's office afterwards. If you need medical attention, call a friend or take other transportation.
• Don't drive if your seizure control isn't good enough to get a license, or if you start having seizures again after getting a license. Insurance may not cover you in an accident if you are driving illegally when it happens.

Alternatives to driving oneself include: public transportation, car pools, taxis and special programs offering transportation to people whose disabilities make it impossible to drive.

There will also be times when you simply have to ask someone for a ride. If you are frequently dependent on certain people to provide transportation, see if there is some service you can perform in return so you will feel more comfortable about accepting their help.

Insurance

Getting life, health or automobile insurance tends to be more difficult for people who have epilepsy than for the average person.

Life insurance coverage often involves higher premiums or may not be available at all, depending on individual circumstances. However, you may find you can join a group or organization of some kind which offers its members life insurance at group rates.

Another way of getting some coverage for your family is to take out a policy covering accidental death or injury. These are often offered without requiring any examination or medical history. Read the policy carefully to be sure that there are no exclusions for accidents resulting from a medical condition.

People with epilepsy often face difficulty finding affordable health insurance in the private sector because they have a "pre-existing" condition. Again, group policies offer greater protection because there are limitations on pre-existing condition clauses.

Sometimes a policy will exclude epilepsy-related expenses, but cover everything else. Sometimes there is a waiting period of limited coverage after which full coverage is applied.

If your husband or wife works for an employer who offers group coverage for family members, you may find this an excellent source of health insurance. Although some company group policies provide only limited coverage, they have to provide the same coverage to all employees.

If you are covered under a group health plan at work and you leave that job, you should be able to continue coverage for a certain period of time. Your company's human resources department will be able to tell you how this is done and what the deadlines are. You should also be able to take your coverage with you to another job, so long as you stay within the same state.

In most states there are "high risk pool" plans that guarantee everyone automobile coverage through a pool program underwritten by groups of companies and, sometimes, by the state. In some states, similar coverage is available for health expenses as well. Again, the annual cost of such plans is fairly high, but they do provide coverage that would otherwise be unavailable.

People with epilepsy who receive Supplemental Security Income benefits may qualify for Medicaid health care (depending on state regulations), while those who are on Social Security Disability Income receive health care coverage through the Medicare program.

In general, it pays to shop around for all insurance coverage, with special emphasis on what may be available through group and other special membership plans.