I can't believe that people think this is a hoax. I'm 42 years old and was mangled by a doctor in a "routine" surgery 7 years ago. (Med. malpractice reform kept me from getting anything from the doctor.) I've been fighting the gov't for 5 years to get access to SSDI only so I can get Medicare. I've been to specialists all over the country who all say that my condition was created by doctor error and is irreversible and disabling. COBRA ran out long ago and my prescriptions alone are over $1500 a month. (thank god for my private disability insurance who decided I was permanently disabled long ago b/c every bit of my health-care is out of pocket). BTW I was finally awarded SSDI benefits this fall but with a arbitrary onset date of this last summer. The wait after acceptance by SSDI for Medicare is 24 months so no end in sight to my mess for another 2 years. In the meantime I get sicker since I can't afford anything but the most basic care. It's not a hoax or a joke for thousands of us.