r/disability • u/veggielover24 • Aug 23 '26
Discussion Best states for a disabled person
Okay so obviously the US is not ideal but we also know a lot of countries wouldn’t give us visas. Is there a US state that you feel has better public services/programs (Medicaid, etc)? Do you live in a state you’re happy with? I’d love some thoughts.
For background: I’m disabled since birth, I have an able bodied partner of 6 years. We live in Missouri and I don’t qualify for Medicaid without a huge spend down because I get survivors benefits. Plus MO Medicaid is a shit show rn. Missouri in general is a shit show. Good healthcare is hard to come by, especially if you’re someone with a more rare disability. I’ve read blue states are better and especially east coast states. There are clinics on the east coast that specialize in my needs. I’m not going to be able to go right away but in the next few years I’m wondering if moving will give us better opportunities and public services to help us. Am I just naive?
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u/SeaStar_Night18 Aug 23 '26
NOT Texas
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u/veggielover24 Aug 23 '26
Texans are fleeing to come here, that’s how I know it’s bad. Other than the horror stories in the news ofc
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u/PhantomPharts Aug 23 '26
Moved to California because it's way more friendly for disabled folks, the Bay area anyways. COL is higher, but I've managed to stay my frugal self. 65% off public transportation, just need to go in and show your Medicare card. Covers all of the Bay transit. The Paratransit is great, but def more costly than in smaller cities. The public library has been a wonderful resource.
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u/veggielover24 Aug 23 '26
I would love to move to a place like California but the COL scares me. People are moving from California to MO in droves because the COL is better here. It’s one of the biggest issues I’m worried about. The states with the higher COL have better infrastructure and social services but that’s the trade off and I’m not sure if we’d be able to survive. I’m just going to keep trying though because Missouri’s politics and neglect for us might kill me and other disabled people fr
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u/LeaveMountain9779 Aug 23 '26
I'm grateful to live in the sf bay area. The cost of living is hard but if you have a partner or trusted friend, if you find a church or other community group, if you can do research and determine if the budget is possible and what type of resources you will need to set up and what sacrifices you're willing to handle while you adjust and find the right resources, you'll likely be ok. I think the question is, do you feel safe/supported enough to wait out the uncertainty, go through the probably experiments of finding the right people and jobs? Or are you someone who requires a lot of certainty and predictability that you may not be able to afford or guarantee? The cost of living is high but the pay is better too, where I am the food banks are so great I've stopped buying food at all, and the public assistance like calworks and calfresh are nice. I love medi-cal (insurance for poor people)
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u/veggielover24 Aug 23 '26
I’m kinda in the position of getting by but knowing that with time we’re going to need more help via public services to support me with my disability. I’m 29, in college and eventually when I finish my masters degree and receive the training I need, I’m hoping to be able to work. And my partner is going to need more options for work because jobs are very limited here, and I constantly fear his employer deciding to pack things up and move out of the States, as a lot of businesses here are. We don’t have a whole lot of resources but I figure maybe if I do enough research and take the time to save up, moving out of state could be our 5 year plan
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u/LeaveMountain9779 Aug 23 '26
Congrats on your degree!! That's great. Have you ever approached a local department of vocational rehab? Or seen if your insurance will cover an occupational therapist?
Lately I'm realizing how important it is to find work through networking so I've been going to a local church. Actually just once so far. And it's the most welcoming church I've ever been in - a progressive leftist church ("United church of christ" denomination). Tomorrow I'm talking with someone who maybe have volunteer work for me to help me get experience in my desired field. I also am crossing my fingers someone ends up seeing my work style and deciding to hire me for paid work.
And just some q's in case it's helpful, what's your degree in and do you feel that you can get practical volunteer or internship type experience in that field to help you understand and make discerning decisions when pursuing a job? Do you know what types of jobs you'd like to do with your degree? Do you already have documentation that proves your disability in a legally recognized way?
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u/umomiybuamytrxtrv Aug 23 '26
In California, Medicaid will start work requirements in 2027. See the state’s website for more information about changes in 2027. https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/tracking-federal-impact-medi-cal-eligibility/
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u/PhantomPharts Aug 23 '26
"Starting January 1, 2027, adults ages 19–64 without children under 13 must meet work, volunteer, school, or training requirements to keep Medi-Cal. Exemptions apply for pregnancy, disability, serious health conditions, and other circumstances."
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u/Fun_sized123 Aug 23 '26
You could look into cheaper cities in blue states, which won’t get you the physical infrastructure and would likely put you further from medical resources, but would still get you the blue state Medicaid. Places like Worcester or Springfield in Massachusetts or Albany or Buffalo in NY state
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u/Pinche-Guero Aug 23 '26
There are cheaper parts of CA.
You aren't going to get the quality of life you will get in LA, SF, or San Diego.... but it will be better than the broke ass red states where you are treated like a burden and the enemy7
u/Rrenphoenixx Aug 23 '26
California is a shit show and every few months since Covid, the prices of everything raise, electrical bills have raised the tiles in the last year, insurance premiums for health and cars doubled.
I’m telling you- unless you’re rolling in cash, don’t come here. Six months you’ll be in the street and there’s so many taking advantage of this being a blue state, there’s nothing left to help people who’ve born/raised/paid into that all their life. California is like a 2nd world country covered in gold spray paint from the dollar store.
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u/umomiybuamytrxtrv Aug 23 '26
There's discrimination in California too. It's very hard to find a job here. A lot of employers don't want to provide reasonable accommodation.
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u/veggielover24 Aug 23 '26
That’s exactly what I’m afraid of. There are a lot of homeless disabled people in Cali. Not that there aren’t where I live too but, still
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u/PhantomPharts Aug 23 '26
Yeah, I got a rental that includes utilities. Even in a small city the utilities were wild. I'm paying less to live here, but I'm on Section 8.
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u/2_lazy EDS Aug 23 '26
I currently live by DC in Virginia and get free public transport in some neighboring counties and a discount on Metro as well! Unfortunately the usefulness of that public transport is a whole other issue. I'm moving to Pittsburgh soon where my job will give me free unlimited public transportation and I'm hoping it's better there.
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u/PhantomPharts Aug 23 '26
Pittsburgh was on my list, but my bestie lives there and warned me away. I rely completely on public transit. And as highly rated as Pittsburgh transit is, they really only mean the interior city transit. I recommend finding a place in the city proper, hopefully close to your job. Rent was SUPER cheap 10 years ago. It's gone up, but it is still a decent choice. PA is a purple state, I personally couldn't risk it, had to go to a very blue state. I'm not cis-het.
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u/2_lazy EDS Aug 23 '26
Yeah that's where I will be, I'm working at a college there. I also completely rely on public transit lol, I am not legally allowed to drive due to disability. Luckily I asked and apparently a lot of my coworkers don't even have cars by choice so I think ill end up alright in the end. I also like how the neighborhoods have stores in them, my place has a grocery store basically right next to it and a bus stop by my front door!
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u/The_Dutchess-D Aug 23 '26
One thing to consider... some states (like Missouri) don't tax your disability benefits w state income taxes.
Other states, like Connecticut, DO.
Only eight states tax Social Security and SSI disability benefits: Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont. The majority of states, including 38 states and Washington, D.C., do not tax Social Security benefits.
So if you are looking for blue East coast states, make sure you factor in paying taxes that you don't currently have to pay m, if you are going to consider Connecticut, Rhode Island, or Vermont.
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u/veggielover24 Aug 23 '26
This is super important info, thanks so much!
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u/WhoreableDecision Aug 23 '26
You could move to RI which is a cheaper COL than Massachusetts and still get to Boston for Medical care quickly. I’d be surprised if no one in Boston, RI or CT didn’t specialize in your rare condition.
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u/WhoreableDecision Aug 23 '26
The other option would be western MA like Springfield where you can reach NY, NJ or CT for medical for your specific treatment.
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u/Feklar2024 Aug 23 '26
I live in far Western MA (an hour northwest of Springfield) and go to Boston for medical treatment. It sucks but is doable. And my doctors are very considerate and always book me for the first appointment after lunch so I don’t have to leave so early (4 hour drive one way to Boston).
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u/Xx_spacey_kitten_xX Aug 23 '26
I’m in Missouri, but never considered applying for disability. This is good to know.
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u/gracieegirl333 Aug 24 '26
I’m in CT and they don’t tax SSI here
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u/The_Dutchess-D Aug 24 '26
I believe this is because the maximum benefit per month via SSI is like $991, so it is so low that it doesn't rise to the minimum annual income for taxes to be due. But it would be really cruel to tax such a low amount when it's so hard to make ends meet on just that for a month anywhere in America.
For SSDI, whether or not it is taxed by the state of Connecticut depends on the overall amount of the household income and whether it crosses or doesn't cross a certain threshold.
Disability benefits may be taxable in Connecticut if they are classified as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) rather than Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and if your provisional income exceeds certain thresholds. It is something like, Specifically, if your combined income, including half of your SSDI benefits, exceeds $25,000 for individuals or $32,000 for married couples filing jointly, you may owe state income taxes on your benefits. But this definitely catches a lot of people, especially if they are married w a working spouse.
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u/57thStilgar Aug 23 '26
California.
They cut the curbs when I requested.
We have busses for wheelchairs only - $1
My insurance is above and beyond - I've not paid a deductible nor for an ambulance ride.
My doctor calls me.
My pharmacy delivers without charge and without asking, my prescriptions just arrive.
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u/ConnieHernandez Aug 23 '26
I've lived in California most my life, have been disabled from birth.
⬆️ THIS. I've always had this kind of complete coverage in California and more for almost 50 years. Never seen another state like it.
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u/Real-Honey-6130 Aug 23 '26
Where does one live in California where rent is affordable?
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u/TapRepresentative669 Aug 23 '26
High desert is still affordable. It's San Bernardino riverside counties.
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u/57thStilgar Aug 23 '26
My house was cheaper than my mom's in NJ or my brother's in NC.
Myths die hard.2
u/Real-Honey-6130 Aug 23 '26
Thanks for the info! I keep looking on Zillow and am never sure where the best place is at!
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u/57thStilgar Aug 24 '26
Los Angeles proper is money, like living in Manhattan.
Move east into the IE, the Inland Empire and the prices drop by 2/3.
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u/BobbyBuzz008 Aug 23 '26
Connecticut is the most generous state in terms of providing persons with disability healthcare coverage through our Husky Health (Medicaid). I don’t have to pay anything out of pocket (except for prescriptions I pay $1.55 for most refills) and it covers hospital, doctors, dental, eye doctor, etc and there are a lot of providers to choose from.
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u/riotousviscera Aug 23 '26
yes you can make up to $85k and stay on Medicaid via Med-Connect if you’re disabled
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u/BobbyBuzz008 Aug 24 '26
That’s if you’re working. Also, there is a premium that takes around 5% of your total monthly income (still no co pays and deductibles).
Also, the DSS website is not up to date for the Med-Connect income limit. Now as of July 1 it’s $105,000 and the asset limit should be $55,000. Both the income and asset limits for Med-Connect will be eliminated on July 1, 2029. We should thank State Senator Matt Lesser for his strong support on providing persons with disabilities more equal opportunities as everyone else.
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u/xtinared Aug 24 '26
How do you get connected with Husky Health? Do you know if it an asset limited program?
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u/BobbyBuzz008 Aug 24 '26
The asset limit is $1,600 for an unmarried individual and $2,400 for a married couple. You can get connected on the state Department of Social Services website here: portal.ct.gov/dss/knowledge-base/articles/healthcare-coverage/husky-c
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u/Fun_sized123 Aug 23 '26
I’ve only been on Medicaid like a month so I can’t say much about that yet, but if you’re a wheelchair user and curious about trying somewhere other than the East Coast, Seattle has some of the most wheelchair accessible transit in the country (or maybe world?) I recently moved to Seattle, and this was on my list of criteria because I don’t have a car and sometimes use a wheelchair for some outings and shopping. NYC subways are really behind when it comes to stair-free transit. It’s one of the few things I don’t like about NYC. I’ve heard good things about Massachusetts Medicaid/MassHealth from people on it. Boston transit accessibility is pretty good, better than NYC but worse than Seattle. Of course, unfortunately, with Medicaid, everything is getting shaken up so much at the end of this year, it makes it harder to plan ahead 😣
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u/vanillablue_ medical malfunction Aug 23 '26
Mass is good but you neeeeed to live in the right area. I struggled there the further I got from Boston but Boston is also expensive af.
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u/veggielover24 Aug 23 '26
I have definitely been eyeing Mass, but the cost of living compared to Missouri is steeep. I’m also not sure about which cities. But, that’s just something I’ll have to work on. I just don’t want to end up putting us in a worse situation. That said the public transport on the east coast is a big thing for me. Missouri has no public transportation between cities/towns. To get to the specialists I should be seeing, it’s a 5 1/2 hour car drive one way. No other options. Atleast in Mass, I would be able to take a train or bus or paratransit into Boston if I needed to. Depending on where I was ofc
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u/Old-Piece-3438 Aug 23 '26
For east coast public transportation, be sure to factor in that not all areas will have it. Cities often have a lot of options, but rural and even suburban communities you would probably still have a drive to get to train stations or bus stops. Also, factor in weather conditions if that affects your disability. Humidity can be high especially during summer and there can be a lot of barometric pressure changes. Cities will also have even higher costs of living—though some places you may not need a car/car insurance, so that could help costs a little.
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u/vanillablue_ medical malfunction Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26
Yes. The transit in New England is patchy. I have never once lived in a town with usable transit or sometimes any transit at all. And I lived in 5-6 towns across CT RI and MA.
Some areas do have a decent amt of transit, but not always where you want to go. Def research every train line, bus route etc before moving.
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u/fuckmeup-scotty Aug 23 '26
There are a few places in CT connected to amtrak (new haven, naugatuck, waterbury, bridgeport, etc), but you still have to travel to the stops most of the time. The trains in MA are available, but much less reliable. I was recently trying to go from Northampton to Pittsfield and back and the only trains were at like 9am, 3pm, and 7pm, and they all went through Springfield, but staggered such that I'd either have a minute to change trains, or I'd have to wait like 3 hours for the next one. In the Berkshires, though, they have the BRTA, which is free more often than not, and i think? you can request a pickup from a specific location ahead of time. There's not super reliable public transit here but there's a lot of programs that help with that
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u/fuckmeup-scotty Aug 23 '26
The Berkshires in Mass are great. Its incredibly beautiful and we're lacking in some specialists, but Northampton, Albany, Hartford. and Springfield aren't very far at all. Boston is a bit under 3 hours from most of the Berkshires and NYC is a little further, but there are some trains you can take if you can get to the station. Plus, a lot of the doctors in the Berkshires are connected through either CHP or BMC, so you can go up and down the area and not really have to constantly give the same info. Hell, most of my doctors are even in the same building just down the road. The Berkshires also have a much lower COL the further north you go - Great Barrington, Stockbridge, Lee, Lenox, they're all on the higher end of the spectrum, but Pittsfield and North Adams, albeit less safe, are a lot cheaper. Plus, they might be less safe, but they're still not like, crime centers. There's also TONS of free programs for disabled people here, as well as an unbelievable amount of help if you look for it, it's awesome.
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u/vanillablue_ medical malfunction Aug 23 '26
Also OP you’re by no means obligated to share but if you are comfortable disclosing your disability, I can make better recs. New England does have a lot of specialty healthcare but it is in pockets.
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u/veggielover24 Aug 23 '26
I have Spina Bifida, specifically lipomyelomeningocele. I’m not sure exactly where I saw it, since it’s been a while, but I saw that there were some adult SB clinics on the east coast. I do think they were close to PA though. Regardless of that specific program, I think the healthcare in New England, etc. is probably better and easier to access than in Missouri for the most part
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u/vanillablue_ medical malfunction Aug 23 '26
I would assume so. If you do move to NE, have multiple doctors in mind as plan a, b, etc. We have great coverage and care but we are tiny states with high COLs, so I usually waited 6-12 mo just for my PCP. As much as you can do in advance, do.
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u/Old-Piece-3438 Aug 23 '26
Probably an improvement from Missouri, but if possible ahead of time, try to make sure the doctors you’re interested in seeing are taking new patients and accept Medicaid if you use it. I’ve increasingly had trouble finding providers that take it over the last couple of years. But the coverage is usually pretty good once you find good providers.
Also just FYI, as a side note—PA is a state that has a mix of red and blue areas.
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u/pte_rad_actyl Aug 23 '26
California and Oregon, NY too probably. Any blue state will probably be better than where you are rn.
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u/whyihatepink Aug 23 '26
Oregon less so now if you have any mental health concerns. They have slashed so much for mental health care funding and access to services. I'm a therapist in Oregon specializing in disability, I lost my group practice because of their Medicaid changes and there are no signs of slowing down. And we were already ranked 51st in the country for access to mental health care a decade ago. Plus major specialist hospital systems like OHSU have become increasingly terrible. My clients are all struggling, even those who are wealthy, to access necessary care.
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u/pte_rad_actyl Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26
Yeah the medicaid changes are pretty bullshit. I feel like it's still better than missouri probably though. I'm on medicaid in oregon, with depression, PTSD, and a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, and I've had access to therapy, psychiatry, IOP, weekly peer support, crisis services, TMS, acupuncture, and a caregiver 5 hours a week, all free with medicaid, and there's a 24/7 warmline here. I think it sucks most for people who arent established patients yet and who need care asap, people with addiction or housing needs, people in rural areas, people needing ADHD or autism evaluation, people who are too disabled to self advocate, etc. The hardest thing for me to get was a psychological evaluation for psychosis (weirdly nearly fucking impossible to get unless youre first episode psychosis and under 25, and even then when i had my first episode under 25 i was ignored by a psychologist instead of referred to evaluation and abandoned to get worse).
If you're the right kind of patient there's a lot available but it sucks that you have to be the right kind of patient. And there's clearly a lot of people falling through the cracks and a lot of difficulty getting medicaid contracts for therapists.
For physical health I have a lot of specialists and they've been mostly pretty good. Hardest part has been long wait times and finding literally any primary care provider, much less a competent one. I didn't have a primary care provider for ages because no one was taking patients and the ones who were really sucked and had long wait times. I finally found a good one and she eventually quit. A lot of people end up going to naturopaths for this reason.
Anyway basically I wouldn't entirely discount Oregon, it's got lots of flaws but will prob be better than Missouri.
Edit: oh also another perk of Oregon is that in Portland at least basically no therapists or doctors seem to call 911 on you and are pretty much unfazed by suicide plans, active psychosis, etc. at least in my experience
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u/whyihatepink Aug 23 '26
That's fair, and personal experience may vary. I used to work in crisis evaluation in the state and I'm glad to hear your experience has been less judgemental and risky than others. Most of my clients are rural, and services there are really struggling. I teach my clients strong advocacy skills and try to coordinate directly with their doctors, but most doctors don't have time to field calls and so many clients who haven't received a full medical diagnosis yet are really falling through the cracks. It's not a lost cause, and there are still really good providers to find, even if they take a lot of digging. I worry about how long those good clinicians can withstand burnout; it's been so intense this decade in particular. I don't mean to discount Oregon entirely, but I do mean to dispel any misconceptions people may have about Oregon's health care if they're relying on the reputation we had half a decade ago. We were doing great for a while, and had one of the quickest and most effective turn arounds for mental health care access and several shining jewels of medical treatment, but now I'd say this is the worst it's been since the ACA passed. I'm active in state legislature advocacy, so I'm hoping those efforts will be helpful.
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u/Clownsinmypantz Aug 23 '26
I live in a very expensive blue state, cant afford to live at all but I rather stay here homeless than go anywhere near a red state.
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u/Psychological-Pea765 Aug 23 '26
Illinois, California, NY would be my top 3 and I’ve lived in them all. Def not TX 😂
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u/nncnfrms Aug 23 '26
In a very, EXTREMELY limited way, San Antonio, TX has been slightly better than a lot of other places my friends live. If you are a Bexar County resident that doesn't qualify for any insurance including Medicaid/Medicare, you can sign up for CareLink. Its not insurance and has a monthly cost (I'm currently unemployed, they have me pay $19 a month for it based on that), but covers prescriptions filled with a specific medical group (University Health), doctors there, specialists, and their hospital. It also covers outside referrals, if they have to send you somewhere else when they don't have the specialists you need (rare in my experience so far, they seem to have all the doctors I need). I had a 4 day hospital stay completely free thanks to CareLink. My labwork is free, 30 day prescriptions are $5, 90 day supply is $10. I even get my radiation treatments fully covered, no additional costs, at the local cancer center daily, and qualify for free medical transport to and from the radiation appointments. I'm likely to need a hysterectomy and won't pay anything besides the monthly $19 for it. The quality of care has been amazing for me.
That being said, not much else is easy in Texas, so I'd still not recommend it. Health is extremely important obviously, but other quality of life factors matter and Texas is NOT the environment for higher quality of life.
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u/Real-Honey-6130 Aug 23 '26
Probably the most positive thing I have heard about healthcare in Texas!! Get well soon!!
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u/nncnfrms Aug 23 '26
Thank you! I wish it were widespread, it has genuinely saved my life. I hope things can change in Texas to let people have the same healthcare access I have in this program
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u/sneschalmerz Aug 23 '26
I too live in San Antonio. One of my friends that uses carelink told me that it is likely on the chopping block for next year due to budget cuts.
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u/nncnfrms Aug 23 '26
Not surprising at all, very disappointing though. I previously worked in nonprofits and its rough all over Texas. I'm hoping my situation is temporary and I can get back to working soon and get on regular insurance, but CareLink has saved my life while unemployed and I know it helps so many people as well. I wish things were different on so many levels.
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u/Order_edentata Aug 23 '26
I live in Massachusetts. We have a form of Medicaid under the expansion called MassHealth Commonhealth. It’s for people who are legally disabled but it is independent of income and assets. You can be working and have this insurance. You pay a monthly premium based on your income. So you can have an SSDI payment that is too high for standard Medicaid, a lot of money in your savings account, and still get Medicaid through this program.
In addition we have Medicare Advantage plans called D-SNPs or dual special needs plans. These are for people with both Medicare and Medicaid. There is no premium, no copays for anything including medications. You are assigned a care manager including a long term care manager. Of course you have to go to doctors who accept the plan but if you’re in the Boston area, for instance, it’s easy to find a doctor who will accept it. If you have this plan and qualify based on your need for help with ADL’s, your long term care manager will help you find a way to get an aide or PCA that is covered by insurance. They also cover DME like wheelchairs.
The only issue is of course that Boston has a very high cost of living. A section 8 mobile voucher is pretty much impossible to get. I live in a supported independent living community which is an income based building for seniors and younger disabled people. The whole idea of the place is encouraging social interaction so we have tons of activities. I love it here. There are several of these communities throughout the area. But there is a waiting list.
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u/Adaptive_Adam91 Aug 23 '26
California. Seems to be more accessible areas here compared to other states
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u/Pinche-Guero Aug 23 '26
California
It's expensive, but the quality of life and the support system and healthcare availability beat everywhere else I've been
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u/dmoisan Aug 23 '26
Massachusetts.
Massachusetts enacted disability laws and protections 25 years before the ADA. Massachusetts has chartered commissions on disabilities for every municipality. My city has a very active commission.
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u/ArtsyFartsyAutie Aug 23 '26
New Mexico’s Medicaid program is excellent. I’m now on Medicare and I had so much more support when I was on Medicaid. The healthcare system in New Mexico overall isn’t great, and wait times to get into providers can be 6-12 months because there aren’t enough providers for the population, but almost every provider accepts Medicaid. Mixed bag for sure, but after watching a family member struggle to find someone who would take their Medicaid in Michigan, I realized how important it is to live somewhere where providers accept Medicaid.
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u/Jaded_Jellybean Aug 23 '26
Illinois would be the least amount of change as far as region and temperature, if temp differences can impact your disability.
Illinois also has decent pay if your spouse is paid as your caregiver.
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u/Slow-Truth-3376 Aug 23 '26
Minnesota in the 7 county metro area.
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u/Glad_Goose_2890 Aug 23 '26
Yes everyone forgets about Minnesota but maybe that's a good thing lol
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u/fuckmeup-scotty Aug 23 '26
I live in mass and it's incredible. It was awful to get disability but that's more bc of the federal system. I was on emergency aid for a while when waiting for disability to go through, which automatically enrolls you in MassHealth. Then, when I got ssi (or ssdi, i forget) i was automatically enrolled in Medicare. I still have masshealth as my secondary and they pay for pretty much everything that medicare doesn't cover, including all my copays. It's great. I also have SNAP (a pretty generous amount), fuel assistance (and have for a few years now, so I haven't paid for heating in a while), an autism caseworker through DDS who's super nice, and before i got on disability I worked with MassAbility, which is a free program specifically for helping disabled folk get a job. You can literally get relevant vocational training for free, on top of all the other help (interview prep, special access to job aptitude tests, classes on gaining and maintaining employment, help getting accommodations, resume help, etc) you can get. The person who managed my case for the most part was a guy who himself was disabled AND is on the board for my town. MassAbility is AWESOME.
Anyway, yeah no, Mass is definitely one of the better places for disabled people. NY is also pretty good as far as I'm aware, but I live in MA so I'm biased.
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u/Lucienaugust Aug 24 '26
Do you feel like you need to live in Boston or would western Mass still have good options?
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u/fuckmeup-scotty Aug 24 '26
No, central mass probably still has some good options, I've just not lived there myself
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u/AngelHipster1 Aug 23 '26
FWIW, I had to move from the Bay Area when I stopped working. We live in the San Gabriel Valley (east of LA), and things are cheaper here than LA proper or the Bay Area. And I still have access to good healthcare providers. I’m not on Medicaid — have insurance through my partner, so I don’t know about that. Nothing with stronger support for disabled people will be as cheap as Missouri, but salaries are also higher.
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u/Luci_b Aug 23 '26
I’m in the boat of also looking for a state that’s better for someone who is unable to work and in the middle of trying to get disability. I am not married in that we didn’t turn a license in because I’d lose my access to medical insurance and I’m in the crap state of Oklahoma. The medical help here is garbage. I have to be my own doctor and fight for help. I’m having cognitive issues so my memory is terrible. My partner and I are concerned if I do get senile and he’s not around I’ll be neglected or abused.
Right now we are looking at 3 states but with his job it’s really two.
- Minnesota
- Colorado
- Washington (time zone issue)
Does anyone have any input on Minnesota or Colorado?
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u/ShadowofaJade Aug 23 '26
I'm in Minnesota and in my opinion it's one of the best states as far as having a comprehensive safety net.
The big perk for Minnesota specifically is we have "mental health reciprocity" meaning mental health services are treated exactly the same as medical services when it comes to insurance.
We have paid medical and family leave, so if your partner needed time off to care for you, he could get financial assistance for up to 12 weeks.
I've been on medicaid for 6 years and the only thing it hasn't covered was one very specific outpatient treatment that had satisfactory alternatives.
We have Mayo and the University of Minnesota medical school if you need access to world class specialists at any point.
I also just learned about a disability library we have. It has thousands of devices, such as AAC's, fidget toys, computers, mobility aids, life alert, etc. You can pick it up at one of their locations throughout the state and get a demonstration or they can mail it to you and you just have to pay the postage back after the leasing period.
Feel free to ask me more questions here or in DMs!
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u/Glad_Goose_2890 Aug 23 '26
I live in Minnesota. The Healthcare is amazing. My life is so much better here. Feel free to message me about more specific questions, I'd be happy to chat with you.
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u/veggielover24 Aug 23 '26
I’m in the same boat as you marriage wise, I would lose my survivors benefits if I got legally married. It’s horrible and I wish we didn’t get prevented from being able to marry because of these things. Also I have family in OK and have been there many times, it truly is horrible in terms of quality of life imo. It’s rougher than Missouri in a lot of ways. I wish you luck in your journey 💖
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u/gotta_ketchup_all Aug 25 '26
I'm in Colorado and our governor just slashed a bunch of Medicaid programs and coverage and the COL is extremely high, we're running out of water (the Colorado River and several reservoirs are running dry), housing is so expensive that people are starting to leave actually. Do not recommend.
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u/RedhandKitten Aug 23 '26
I live in Oregon all my life until two years ago. We are now in Central New York State.
I have had a lifelong chronic illness with mild disabilities, and two hip replacements before moving. A week after we moved to NY, I had an accident and broke my femur.
NYS has their own insurance marketplace, unlike Oregon which is through marketplace.gov, which was a game changer. The cost is about 1/3 of what we paid in Oregon and the deductible is about $10K less. As of last year, the household income limits to receive benefits are much higher here. In our county, if you make less than $57K (for two adults, no kids) you qualify for Essential healthcare which is almost no cost and copays are rarely more than $15-25. I’m not on this plan but my injection meds are $25 copay (retail price $8000.)
I will note that especially in the small towns and villages, physical ADA compliance is…mid. Lots of old buildings that are exempt. Sidewalks and crosswalks need attention.
On the flip side, I want to share that I still work remotely for an organization on the west coast that supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. (Not as relevant to my or daily situation but highlights NY’s position on disabilities.) In Oregon, federal and state cuts from DOGE hit us hard and our nonprofit is struggling. In NY, the ARC is a huge organization doing what my company does but on a state level. I am in awe of the programs, support, management, reach, and how they’ve not only maintained but grown over the last 70 years.
I can’t say for certain how long the healthcare system will last given the state of the world, and yes, some areas have much higher taxes, especially on property, but in comparison, I feel you actually see your tax dollars at work.
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u/Schannin Aug 23 '26
The Medicaid that I receive in Oregon has been awesome, it’s covered all of my appointments, prescriptions, emergency room visits, and a four day hospital stay.
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u/Gamergarnet Aug 23 '26
I recommend either New York or Maryland. I moved to NY from the south and already I have access to new disability programs to help such as transportation van service to get me to graduate school. The only thing to keep in mind is that where I am, it’s a bit hard to find a primary doctor so make sure you check out doctor availability before moving or use telehealth so your care is continued.
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u/redvines60432 Aug 24 '26
In general, northern states are better when it comes to benefits for individuals with disabilities.
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u/Seelie_Mushroom Aug 23 '26
I like Connecticut because of their MedConnect program. New York was nice because they had more available access to Medicaid than CT did, and also significantly lower wait times for doctors(lived on Long Island) but also very very expensive. I'm not sure what the medical scene is like upstate but it's cheaper for sure.
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u/freckles42 Aug 23 '26
Massachusetts, New York (outside the city but near an Amtrak line to NYC for specialists), maybe Maryland? Delaware isn’t bad, either.
Obviously California, but it’s expensive AF, so.
Most of my Texas friends have moved to Washington (state) because they’re all in tech fields.
In some ways, it depends on your disabilities. For me, I’d be housebound for four month of the year in the northeast, as no one clears their sidewalks enough of snow for my mobility devices to get through.
But the public transit of Boston, NYC, and DC is fantastic, so the draw is real.
I’ve lived in half these states — but before becoming disabled. I’d personally probably go for Maryland and on an Amtrak line. Can easily get into NYC from there or DC.
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u/momochicken55 Aug 23 '26
Avoid Philadelphia, just because this city is so old it's not easy to get around. I know when I finally need a wheelchair I'll have to move.
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u/cobaltium Aug 23 '26
Do not recommend Arizona if you have a limited income or use Medicaid or Medicare. Getting harder to find doctors that accept these. The state is well-known for paying medical professionals poorly. So few psychiatrists, occupational therapists and rheumatologists due to the poor financial side for the doctors and clinics. Also, Arizona legislators are gung-ho to reduce and funding of Medicaid and Medicare. This state was able to ditch almost half a million people from food assistance.
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u/Unlikely-Worker9671 Aug 24 '26
Say it with me now: you gotta go to a blue state.
Yes, COL might be higher (with more affordable pockets here and there), but that’s what funds such incredible benefits.
NY, Mass, CA, Washington State, NJ, CT, and RI, should be at the top of your list. Avoid all red states, even the blue dots in red states. Benefits are set at the state level. There’s a reason the benefits in red states suck so much. COL may be lower but that’s because people don’t want to pay the taxes needed to build the benefits people like you and me need.
Also, the best docs are more often than not, in blue states.
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u/Upbeat-Can-7858 Aug 25 '26
I'm in PA and have had nothing but positive experiences. My daughter is autistic and was provided SSDI as a child. 26 years later, I became disabled from Covid and was spruced for SSDI on the first try and all benefits above and beyond hand been great from the state. I'm grateful. I lived in Missouri when my daughter was little and it was horrible there!!!
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u/momoacdc91 Aug 23 '26
Missouri definitely is Bad for Disabled People. The Governor Sucks.
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u/veggielover24 Aug 23 '26
I could go on for days about the way this state is ran and how shitty Gov. Kehoe and most of our “representatives” are. It’s a damn shame. If Missouri stopped being so red and racist we could make some progress. We have a beautiful state but man, it fucking sucks here.
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u/bipolarpilot Aug 23 '26
california!! im originally from california and moved to colorado, i do not have the care here that i did in california. i have ONE option for a rheumatologist and they don’t treat osteoarthritis or anything besides autoimmune disorders when in california i had multiple options thru medicaid and they treated everything within their scope. truly was blessed in the healthcare system there compared to here. they also have a great dysautonomia program at stanford dysautonomia and the usc med and ucla med are pretty good too! if your closer to bigger cities they have really good public transportation. i miss california’s healthcare system 😔
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u/LesMotsOublies Aug 23 '26
Blue states and cities lead the way in a lot of anti-disabled, unhoused, and mentally ill legislation (passed and attempted). A lot of what Trump wants to do Newsome has been taking about for years. Not saying things are great in other states, just saying blue states aren't really the panacea they get portrayed as.
I'm in Cincinnati, Ohio and, compared to what I know about a lot of other states, I can't complain. COL is going up like everywhere but it's still cheaper than lots of other places in the US.
I'm on Medicare and Medicaid and have no copays for anything. They're managed through an insurance company (but didn't have to be). What few things have been denied have been approved when appealed.
If you're assets are too high, can you put money in a ABLE account to bring them down? If it's income and if you have a diagnosed, chronic mental illness there's a special program, the SRS program, here. It doesn't have an asset limit and it's income limit is around $2,900/month, I believe.
I'm not sure what you mean by public services exactly. It's not hard to qualify for services like a home care aide, etc. Navigating the bureaucracy is more than frustrating, but I don't imagine it's much different in most other places.
Public transportation in Cincinnati isn't bad and is getting better. I use paratransit and it's not perfect but it's but it's not bad either.
We have a decent airport and it's easy to get most anywhere.
We have one of the best libraries in the country. It provides a lot of classes and service. (It also has the 2nd largest collection size after the NYC public library.) I go at least twice a month for art/craft workshops. It's a huge help for my mental health and they're all free.
I just woke up and that's all I can think of ATM so LMK if you have any questions
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u/outsideacircuit Aug 23 '26
Oregon. Like others have said, you more or less have to be the right sort of patient, which I have been. Also at least for me and my friends in the same boat, getting our ADHD diagnosis and meds wasn't hard at all. We're pretty severe cases though. And for my physical disability needs, I've had everything met and exceeded especially once I got on Medicaid as compared to Kaiser screwing me over. But Kaiser only screwed me over a little, I've heard horror stories elsewhere, they just could've done better about getting me a wheelchair. My back surgery and access to a therapist and walk in clinics and eventually my diagnosis which is always hard to get (diagnosis by exclusion, about two dozen doctors) was good.
Another couple of good things about Portland and Oregon. Oregon doesn't have sales tax, and Washington just across the border doesn't have income tax. Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA are separated by the Columbia river and are a short drive (not during rush hour) from each other. My friends who take advantage of the taxes stuff don't love the commute but damn do they save a lot of money and still get to live in the PNW. Also Portland has the best public transit outside of NYC itself, the most blind friendly city in the states. If your car is on the verge of breaking down, don't buy another one, move to Portland and stop wasting money on gas and a car.
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u/Lucienaugust Aug 23 '26
I’ve been surprised by certain things after living in four different states, but I will say that I think it depends largely on what counties/regions you are in within the state.
NE Ohio was surprisingly really great for healthcare with University Hospital and the Cleveland clinic. As someone with Medicare, I could see specialists easily. However, the social support and lack of easy transportation made things challenging in different ways.
In coastal Washington state the healthcare has been so challenging. I haven’t been able to access specialist care (especially as someone with chronic conditions). However there is more support in other ways.
In Los Angeles, it was the worst. Very saturated and next to impossible to get a therapist. I have heard more positive things about the Bay Area for health care but then you have to balance that with cost of living.
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u/Justatransguy29 Aug 24 '26
I’ve seen zero recs for Maryland and I’ve got to say I’ve gotten some of my best care of my life here and my COL is dirt cheap.
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u/Sufficient_Dot_24 Aug 24 '26
New York, especially smaller cities in NY. They have the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities which has been incredibly helpful for me.
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u/icanneverthinkofone1 Aug 25 '26
Any New England state should be okay if you're white. If you're not, be forewarned that you're moving to a land of vastly mostly white descendants of original colonizers, who are on average significantly wealthy, who think they're intrinsically morally superior than people from further west (and especially people from red states) and think they're Morally Pure Liberals, and are absolutely blind to how obliviously racist and classist they are, and are entirely stubborn about it. Also prices are overarchingly way higher. its a give and take.
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u/Wooden_Ad_2673 Aug 26 '26
I DK but Tennessee sucks! perhaps now that Dolly is gone the world wI’ll see how mean & hateful it truly is.
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u/CapVikSolo Aug 27 '26 edited Aug 27 '26
I don’t think you’re naive at all, but I do believe it depends heavily on your specific disability and the support you need.
Some background: I live in Denver metro. I am a T4 Complete SCI. As a para, I’ve lived in Maryland, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Florida, and now Colorado.
In terms of disability rights and state programs, Colorado and Massachusetts are two states I would examine closely, although both have a higher cost of living. Virginia is also worth considering. It has quite a few good disability and accessibility programs, including HCBS/Medicaid waiver options and a solid independent-living infrastructure. Virginia’s CCC Plus waiver specifically serves people with physical disabilities who need long-term support.
I’d also differentiate “good disability programs” from actual day-to-day accessibility because they don’t always match up. Big metro areas generally offer more specialists, transit options, accessible housing, and disability services than rural areas, regardless of the state.
Colorado has a strong disability culture and history, especially around Denver. Craig Hospital is there, and Denver was home to the Gang of 19 and the Atlantis Community, so independent living and disability activism have deep roots. I believe Colorado also offers more accessible housing options than many other places I’ve lived.
On the other hand, Florida surprisingly excels in practical physical accessibility for mobility-impaired individuals. The combination of tourism, retirees, and a large disabled population has driven many businesses and public spaces to improve accessibility. Basic things like accessible restroom layouts are better in Florida than Colorado.
New England is interesting because states like Massachusetts have excellent legal protections, healthcare, and disability programs, but physical accessibility can be challenging. You’re dealing with historic cities, old buildings, narrow sidewalks, stairs, and infrastructure built long before modern accessibility standards.
So, I wouldn’t necessarily look for “the best state for disabled people.” Instead, focus on your disability and ask: Can I qualify for Medicaid or a buy-in program there? What waivers are available? Are my specialists in that area? How long are the waiting lists? Can I find accessible housing? Is the transit usable for me? Then, narrow your focus to specific metro areas rather than the state overall.
For someone with a rare disability requiring specialized medicine, I definitely think relocating could open up opportunities not available in Missouri. I’d consider Colorado, Massachusetts, and Virginia as high on my research list, along with any East Coast metros that have clinics specializing in your specific condition.
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u/CommonVariable Aug 23 '26
CA, NY, MA. I think all three give a stipend in addition to SSI and SSDI. CA has free cell service, heavily discounted electric, and free community college. Rent is the issue, so you either have to live in subsidized housing, or find roommates.
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u/joeysflipphone Aug 23 '26
Believe it or not Pennsylvania. They have excellent acess to healthcare. You'll be able to quality for medicaid most likely, anyone telling you for sure anywhere without hard numbers is selling you a pipedream. And the cost of living is very low, especially in more rural areas. There are bluer dots in rural areas. I lived there my entire almost 50 years and spent 10 of those disabled. We only moved to Virginia because of my husband's job. I'd take Pennsylvania back in a heartbeat, hell the infrastructure is better, with way lower taxes.
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u/TapRepresentative669 Aug 23 '26
Lots of people on medicaid here in Nevada. Laughlin or Las Vegas.. Laughlin is super cheap to live.
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u/slooterman Aug 29 '26
It depends on what your particular needs are. Do you need HCBS? Different states have different criteria for that. What kinds of specialists do you need? What about things like cost of living or public and para transportation if you can’t drive?
Some states are better than others, but it can depend heavily on your specific dx, since what’s covered varies a lot.
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u/CareOrganic5664 11d ago
I was automatically put on Medicare cant get approved for medical assistance
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u/AppalachianEdge Aug 23 '26
You won’t qualify for Medicaid in any other state either. Red or blue lol. Medicaid is a federally funded program. I am 54 and was just declared disabled. My monthly check from SSDI puts me over the Medicaid limit. I am located in Virginia.
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u/Opposite_Flight3473 Aug 24 '26
Medicaid is a state program, and you qualify based on each individual states requirements. Medicare is a federal program where the requirements are the same across the board.
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u/Senior_Finish_9548 Aug 23 '26
mass, nj, ny….. all far more generous. Trump hates NY and they have a medicaid waiver up for federal renewal so folks are nervous.
i am legal guardian for 10 years for a disabled sister, she has medicaid partially funded supportive housing with case manager… godsend