topic Re: Is there anywhere to turn when.... in Community Chat

Is there anywhere to turn when....

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 00:50:05 GMT

you have lousy insurance, cannot get medicaid and have cancer?

Asking for a friend of a friend. This person is in mid 50's has lousy medical insurance, and cannot get medicaid.

I did put her in touch with help with help with her meds but have no idea what to do about help with treatment.

No one will treat her and if she waits to long to get treatment, the cancer will have progressed and she is already in a lot of pain...thanks.

Re: Is there anywhere to turn when....

JaneMarple — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 00:54:40 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
you have lousy insurance, cannot get medicaid and have cancer?
Asking for a friend of a friend. This person is in mid 50's has lousy medical insurance, and cannot get medicaid.

I did put her in touch with help with help with her meds but have no idea what to do about help with treatment.

No one will treat her and if she waits to long to get treatment, the cancer will have progressed and she is already in a lot of pain...thanks.

I don't know much about it but would the ACA help her? They have extended their enrollment. I wish your friend the very best.

Re: Is there anywhere to turn when....

RedTop — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:02:09 GMT

In my area of WV, patients with no insurance or poor coverage seek medical help thru our county health center. The medical providers there are able to get the doors opened for other needed services.

Best wishes for your friend.

Re: Is there anywhere to turn when....

queendiva — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:02:15 GMT

She needs to contact her local or county social services office for help or a social worker at her local hospital? Prayers for this difficult situation.

Re: Is there anywhere to turn when....

SeaMaiden — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:03:50 GMT

@Mom2Dogs What is lousy insurance? I thought if you had insurance you would get help if you are sick. Is her deductible really high? Is that what you mean by "lousy"?

Re: Is there anywhere to turn when....

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:04:04 GMT

@JaneMarple She does have insurance, it's just bad....so far the assistance she has received was a lift chair, which she is now sleeping in as she can not get in and out of bed.

She did call the American Cancer Society, no help there.

Re: Is there anywhere to turn when....

Porcelain — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:57:52 GMT

Healthcare dot gov. It's very easy to apply and it's designed for people exactly like her. People who need good insurance and don't qualify for Medicaid or Medicare. There is a new period of open enrollment going on right now.

When you apply they let you know right away how much subsidy you qualify for. Her tax dollars went to pay for it so she might as well use it.

https://www.healthcare.gov/quick-guide/getting-marketplace-health-insurance/

Re: Is there anywhere to turn when....

chprsp — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:06:35 GMT

Check with any women's health centers to see if they know of any resources. Also the American Cancer Society. Medicaid varies state to state. Sometimes if a person is over income a copay is worked out. Does the Medicaid off ice have a disability advocate? If she cannot work she should file for Social Security Disability or possibly SSI. When filing she should include all medical problems not just the cancer.

Re: Is there anywhere to turn when....

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:06:53 GMT

@SeaMaiden Since I am friend of the friend - I am not sure about the insurance, except that it covers very little and has no drug coverage.

I did put her in touch with a few agencies about the drugs, which she was able to get help to get her scripts filled.

I have read something called the Hill Burton Act - they are not below poverty so not sure it will be of any value to them but will give them the information.

Re: Is there anywhere to turn when....

Mz iMac — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:09:46 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
She does have insurance, it's just bad....

@Mom2Dogs Exatly what do you mean by "bad?"

"No one will treat her"

Why not? Isn't that against the law for a medical provider to refuse treatment?

Advise her to contact the Social Service Dept.

Re: Is there anywhere to turn when....

SeaMaiden — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:10:36 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@SeaMaiden Since I am friend of the friend - I am not sure about the insurance, except that it covers very little and has no drug coverage.
I did put her in touch with a few agencies about the drugs, which she was able to get help to get her scripts filled.

I have read something called the Hill Burton Act - they are not below poverty so not sure it will be of any value to them but will give them the information.

@Mom2Dogs So sorry. I can not imagine how scared she must be and then having to worry about getting treatment.😢

Re: Is there anywhere to turn when....

Free2be — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:11:22 GMT

"No one will treat her"?? She must have a doctor that diagnosed her. Something is left out here. Maybe she needs a Go Fund Me to meet her deductible?

Re: Is there anywhere to turn when....

rosiered — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:16:59 GMT

Our county hospital treats indigent and those who are on medicaid or uninsured. They cannot turn away any patients. I would advise your friend to find a PCP if she doesn't have one and work through their network. She should also contact ain insurance broker who can help her find a better insurance policy; still seems odd that no one will treat her; who diagnosed her cancer? They should have referred her to oncologist and they would be overseeing treatment.

Re: Is there anywhere to turn when....

DottieBlue — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:17:23 GMT

Contact her County Social Services office. They should have a reference directory to help her find what she needs.

Re: Is there anywhere to turn when....

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:18:45 GMT

@rosiered ...I will ask why the doctor is not helping her out with the insurance issues.

Re: Is there anywhere to turn when....

ECBG — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:19:46 GMT

United Way????

Also, all offices have to do a certain amount of "pro bono" work.

Re: Is there anywhere to turn when....

50Mickey — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:26:49 GMT

@Mom2Dogs Her medical insurance will not pay or cancer treatment but gave her a lift chair? Like other posters recommended have her contact the county Health Department. Does she have a Doctor? Sometimes they can get patients in studies where the treatment is free to the patient. Does she qualify for senior citizens? If so contact the local senior citizens in her area. She really needs a social worker to advocate for her.

I retired from the Medicaid program in my state. The situation with your friend is a sad. If you don't qualify for Medicaid because of income or not being 65 or disabled and have no insurance or poor insurance it is tough. There are those who through no fault of their own find themselves in situations like this and it happens more often than many believe. I don't know much about the ACA but is there not a way for her to qualify for this? I sure wish knew something to sugggest to help your friend but sadly I don't. Thank you for trying to help her.

Re: Is there anywhere to turn when....

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:28:46 GMT

@50Mickey the lift chair did not come from her insurance, it was donated by some one (or company) ....sorry I am not privy to all the ins and outs except to know it's a big mess.

Re: Is there anywhere to turn when....

Group 5 minus 1 — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:52:12 GMT

There has got to be somewhere to turn for help. Especially in this country.

Maybe call United Way and explain the situation.

Re: Is there anywhere to turn when....

RedTop — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 02:11:07 GMT

A family member was a case worker in the local office of the DHHR, and her job was to help people get connected with the state resources they qualified for. She always went the extra mile to help people who thought there was no help.

All of the hospitals in my local area have a charity program. The hospital I retired from had full time employees working 40 hrs a week with full benefits who qualified for charity care on their medical bills from that facility.