Health insurance questions...

[RachelMarie]

Guys and gals...I need some advice.

My Mothers health is crap. She is on all kinds of different medicine. One in which, costs $300 monthly w/o insurance. (Along with 4 more prescriptions monthly).

She is a case manager at a homeless shelter in NE Indiana. Not only does this homeless shelter work with the homeless, they also take in addicts.

She was informed yesterday that they are cutting the insurance plans due to lack of funds. She makes next to nothing (and is single). They told her they would try to hold out for January, but can't be certain.

She has looked into H.I.P. (Healthy Indiana Plan) but you have to be w.o insurance for 6 months before you can be approved.

So what the heck does she do until then? Who do I call? She makes too much for Medicaid and doesn't want to go that route anyways.

I''m super irritated. The addicts she works with get medicaid...for being an ADDICT. No other reasons.

Now I have a mother, who has worked her whole life, paid her taxes and got into a car accident and it ruined her life. W/O this medicine she will be in unbearable amounts of pain (been there, done that, don't want to do it again). She is also on Medicine for her COPD, medicine she NEEDS.
She can't afford a health plan through an insurance company that isn't through work. I've seen what's out there and it is just too much (cost wise) for her right now!
What do I tell her? How can I help her?

Any advice would help greatly. Oh..and also prayers. LOTS of prayers.

 

[Bigum1969]

I'm sorry to hear about your mother's situation.

If they dropped the health plan, she might be eligible for COBRA... but that is usually really expensive.

Considering her injury, is there any chance of her qualifying for long term disability?

And, what is her age (if you don't mind me asking).

Depending on the drugs she needs, there are programs from most of the drug companies to apply for low- or no-cost prescriptions.

You have my prayers for sure.

 

[LPMan59]

i am assuming that the COPD meds are one or more of the following:

Advair, Spiriva or Combivent..contact the manufacturers...they often have assistance coupons/discounts for underinsured patients. i also have seen patients get some assistance from local churches, usually Catholic (we dirty Catholics are the #1 private charity in the US )

i would also hit the physicians up for samples or coupons, every dollar counts.

sorry i cant be of more help.

 

[Hoosier8]

Deleted

 

[truegrit]

there is also Your online Canadian pharmacy some of her meds might be cheaper from Canada. I know my epilepsy meds were.

 

[RachelMarie]

Bigum...

Long term disability is an option. But she doesn't WANT to. She wants to work, She wants to make it on her own. But I'll talk to her more about it. She tried a few years back when her world started falling a part and was denied, but everyone gets denied the first time (or so I've been told).

She is only 50.

LPMan..

She actually is Catholic and I never thought about going to a church for help. Thanks for the advice! She does plan to talking to her physician about samples.

truegrit...

That might work for some of her Meds. Thank you. But the Medicine to stop the PAIN is a narcotic and I'm sure it's not sold on line.

Thanks for the input fellas. I'm crossing my t's and dotting my i's trying to help her with this. It's going to be a struggle and a long road, but hopefully we can get her some help.
It's time like these I wish I had money to give away, because I would...in a heartbeat!

And thanks for the Prayers....More than anything, she needs prayers!

 

[jblomenberg16]

Not sure what sort of insurance you currently have, but you may be able to add your mother as a dependent (there are a lot of requirements to this).

This may add some cost to your plan, but it might be better than any alternatives.

 

[RachelMarie]

Not sure what sort of insurance you currently have, but you may be able to add your mother as a dependent (there are a lot of requirements to this).

This may add some cost to your plan, but it might be better than any alternatives.

This is something I hadn't thought about!

 

[hotfarmboy1]

Not sure what sort of insurance you currently have, but you may be able to add your mother as a dependent (there are a lot of requirements to this).

This may add some cost to your plan, but it might be better than any alternatives.

That's a good idea and likely a possibility.

Either way I hope you can figure something out that she/you can afford and get her taken care of. Prayers sent.

 

[dice dealer]

Rachel
I went through this alot with my father ,
his social security was $1700 a month , his meds were $1400 ..
Alot of drug companies have programs to help .
places like hospice of indiana can help also contact them explain your moms situation ..

honestly her best thing to do is blow her money quit work and be as lazy as she can ...alot of times its the only way to get help ..
you gotta love the american government ...

my father worked from the time he was 8 years old till he got sick at 55 .
Was told he could not get help because he had to much money in the bank ...at the time he had $5000.

go figure huh ..

good luck sweety if i find any numbers going through dads pappers in the next few days i will PM you

 

[Indy317]

There is nothing she can do. This is what happens when we sell our souls to someone else to take care of us, but then have desires to live life as much as possible. In this country, many people have sold their lives to the government. With government, everyone living on their dime does so living pretty much the same lifestyle. Older people on medicaid get a pass, as they usually have a little bit nicer Section 8 type complexes to live at. Also, a lot of older people aren't the layabouts and bums like some younger Section 8 types, they have better moral values and such, which is why most of their nursing homes/apartments are nicer than your typical poor person Section 8 complex.

She has two choices: Not take her meds and likely die as a result _or_ go on the government dole.

I have a co-worker who has a lot of health problems. Our employer doesn't give any sort of insurance benefit. Him and his wife need $300-$400 in pills every month. He could retire and make OK money, but since he won't be eligible for Medicare until 65, he found out that his Cobra co-payments will be $1,100/month _plus_ $400/month in pills means $1,500/month just for medical care. I know he has some money, but he feels that he can't afford to do that at this time. I personally think he could, and if he ask me about it, I might sit down with him and go over his finances.

The problem in cases like this are that the older person wants to leave money/home to their kids. If you are in your 60s/70s and in so-so health now, you have best start passing on that money to your kids now. There is a medicaid look-back provision, but it is more specific than just a general look-back for all medicaid recipients. It may only apply to nursing home care. However, if your mother ends up broke because of this, then she might end up in an older person section 8 unit, and they could have their own look-back provisions.

She has no choice, unless she can find another job with benefits that will cover her. This is the way American's live. I hear in Japan, elderly/sick relatives are taken care of by their family. The concept of extended family living is pretty much dead in US, and with out of control prices for everything, the only answer is government welfare. This is the price we pay for the life we get to live in this country. While it sounds bad, in centuries past, your mom would likely be dead.

No one who paid boat loads of taxes over the years should ever feel bad about living on the government dime. They paid for that safety net and should get to use it. Now I am not for them being able to also drive around $50K cars, give $100K to their own kids, etc. when their costs are going to be very, very costly to taxpayers. However, for someone with minimal savings, who paid into the system for decades, they shouldn't feel bad about taking the money. If she doesn't want to live in a Section 8 complex, the only other option is family and/or a friend. She needs to find out what the income caps are and only work to make enough money under those caps.

 

[Indecision]

Not sure what sort of insurance you currently have, but you may be able to add your mother as a dependent (there are a lot of requirements to this).

This may add some cost to your plan, but it might be better than any alternatives.

This is what I was going to recommend. It's an uphill battle from what I have heard, but not impossible. I'm sure it varies company to company.

Good luck.

 

[stilllearning09]

Not sure what sort of insurance you currently have, but you may be able to add your mother as a dependent (there are a lot of requirements to this).

This may add some cost to your plan, but it might be better than any alternatives.

Rachel, my Mom was in the same predicament and my sister added her as a dependent on her insurance. It was a lot of paper work, but she is able to get her needs met.
Look into getting her meds from Canada. The savings are huge. You would be surprised what medicines are available through Canada.
Stay strong. You and your Mom are in my prayers.

 

[RachelMarie]

Just wanted to give an UPDATE.

A week ago they told my Mother that they decided to keep the insurance and up the premium. It was good news that she would continue getting her meds.

JUST received a call from her.....Tomorrow is her last day. Merry Christmas, right?

This "Woman's Shelter" has a total of 4 employees (+ drug court members). I'm not sure how many got laid off. My Mother was the only case manager they had and the ONLY Domestic Violence advocate in Noble County.

Looks like it'll be a Merry Christmas! Ugh.

I'm thrilled we decided to buy her house a month ago. But it's going to be a rough Holiday for her.

Prayers still needed. Thanks!

 

[mrjarrell]

Well, if necessary check with her drugs manufacturers. Many have programs for free or reduced cost meds for people in trouble. It's possible she can get her needs met that way.

 

[RachelMarie]

I'm sure we'll figure something out to get her what she needs. But the longer I sit here and think about this, the pissy(er) I get.
The whole way this is all un-folding is crap. I'm irritated with this stupid "shelter" for taking in an ungodly amount of Drug addicts who don't pay money to stay there and never giving them th boot. The company may wonder why they are having money issues but to any regular "joe" on the street looking at the situation, it's easy to know "why". They have to turn down people with real problems (Lost their job, nasty divorce, no place to go) because *Drug Court* sends all the scummy Meth heads to the shelter. These Ladies are supposed to be trying to GET OUT of the place, but instead are sitting there and making themselves at home...doing nothing more than a few AA classes daily. And now...for doing just that...They also get my mothers Paycheck!

GO THEM!

And to think that the couldn't hold off until after the Holidays is just CRAP.


Sorry for the rant. Just freaking out a little bit.

 

[jwglock]

I'm sure we'll figure something out to get her what she needs. But the longer I sit here and think about this, the pissy(er) I get.
The whole way this is all un-folding is crap. I'm irritated with this stupid "shelter" for taking in an ungodly amount of Drug addicts who don't pay money to stay there and never giving them th boot. The company may wonder why they are having money issues but to any regular "joe" on the street looking at the situation, it's easy to know "why". They have to turn down people with real problems (Lost their job, nasty divorce, no place to go) because *Drug Court* sends all the scummy Meth heads to the shelter. These Ladies are supposed to be trying to GET OUT of the place, but instead are sitting there and making themselves at home...doing nothing more than a few AA classes daily. And now...for doing just that...They also get my mothers Paycheck!

GO THEM!

And to think that the couldn't hold off until after the Holidays is just CRAP.


Sorry for the rant. Just freaking out a little bit.

No need to apologize!

IMO your mother needs to apply for SS disability! It costs you nothing, can be done online and besides she has paid into it her entire working life! It's her money. If she gets denied, appeal. After the second denial, go to a lawyer (they are limited on how much they can make on this). You just might be surprised! It's us hard working folks that are suprised not the 'gov't owes me' type. Once her claim is approved there are provisions under which she can work and they will help in finding suitable employment.

Good luck, I wish you both the best.

 

[in_betts]

No need to apologize!

+1
Were you able to look in to the dependent idea? I know my brother is looking in to it for my Mom, as he has been paying for her residence and the deduction she loses doesn't cost her having only SS as her income.

 

[Phil502]

Well, if necessary check with her drugs manufacturers. Many have programs for free or reduced cost meds for people in trouble. It's possible she can get her needs met that way.

I would try that. A lot of hospitals recieve meds that they give out as samples so there is stuff available, it would be worth a try.

 

[Indy317]

Sucks for your mom. I don't know if you went into her health details or not, but your story is a good reason why folks need to do their best to stay in shape. My older relatives mostly died off due to smoking related illnesses. Others managed to get by till old age. Now the baby boomer ones are having health related issues that is mostly like due to weight issues. Sugar and over-consumption of food will replace tobacco as the #1 reason why people are sick and unhealthy.

Even if we don't end up with full blown government insurance, we will likely see a much expanded medicare/caid programs. Not only that, watch for any asset forfeiture laws to be expanded as much as possible. In a case like yours, it wouldn't surprise me if they went as far as to try and take your house, depending on how much your mom walked away with vs. her debts at the time. I don't think "I took the money and blew it at a casino!" will fly in the future. Even if you have it in a safe box and use the money over decades, the government is going to want something to cover their costs. It is the way government works.