Topic awaiting preservation: Anyone know how to get Medical Assisstence without getting screwed??

This may sound like a wierd topic but I think you might be able to give me some options or at least listen to me venting.

my father was diagnosed with brain cancer 1-1/2 years ago. He has fought the hard battle for that long and we're now out of options. If things have gone well he has 6-12 months left. If not... 1-6 months. regardless my mother can't take care of him anymore and insurance won't pay for him to go into assissted living of a nursing home. if my Mom gets medical assisstence they will pay for him to be cared for but with compensation. They take a percentage of her money but can't take her house or car. That hardly makes any difference because they take so much money she can't afford to keep the house or car. They take my father's retirement plan... his life insurance and just about everything that my family has. My Mother will have nothing left to take care of herself and my little brother. I wanted to know if anyone has heard of ways to get the medical aid and not get reamed by these pricks. I'm talking to social workers and attorneys but I'm not getting much help for lack of money.

one of the things that pisses me off about this whole situation is that while they can't take your house away they count it as an asset and take a percentage of it out in cash... Well if they can't take your house away how can they take part of the money away. it's not like you have that money... you'd have to sell you're house in order to get that money. It's just ridiculous. I thought that this was in place to help people. All it does is make life harder for the people who are going to survive. Not that it isn't going to be hard enough. There has got to be a better/good way to get help.

BTW this is in Minnesota (USA just in case you don't know, some of us are dumb over here) and hopefully someone has some ideas. If I remember correctly this is a mostly swedish board and sweden has free health care(I know, I know. Taxes.) Hopefully you have some ideas anyway.

GrythusDraconis
"Understand how stupid the average person is, and realize that half of them... are stupider than that!!" George Carlin

[This message has been edited by GrythusDraconis (edited 08-23-2002).]

Did he ever serve in the Armed Forces? Is he a Vet? Does he have a DD-214? If so, chances are, that he may have access to free medical care at a Vets Hospital. I would seriously check this option out.

If not, hmmm....outa advice, really. Anybody else?

had that "assissted living" problem before. only short term though.

The insurance wouldn't pay for the like $20/hr assisstant, but it would pay for the $200/hr rehabilitation trainer, whatever its called.
So just hired him, and had him do all the assisstant stuff.... pretty lame.
Insurance companies are stupid.

Gotta milk em for what you can though. That's all they try to do to you.

The rules may have changed since my family went through this with my grandparents, but at the time, MediCare (from Social Security) wouldn't cover some things that MedicAid (from Social Services [read: Welfare]) would. Still, you have to be indigent to get it, although in NY state, you're allowed to have a car worth up to $5,000 and up to $2,500 in a savings account.

I know it's not the same since I'm not dying here, at least not any faster than anyone else, but I'm in a similar situation with medical bills.

I think I'm ready to go back to work, I'd like to try anyway, but I can't because because employer-paid health insurance won't cover existing problems for 6-18 months depending. Unless I'm a CEO, I can't afford my medical bills for that long. So I remain on welfare, $396/mo for living expenses and $135/mo in food stamps, but unlimited medical coverage with no co-pay or deductible.

Here's the payoff: Under the new "Welfare to Work" laws, I'm mandated to "volunteer" at a non-profit organization in order to gain "work experience". (I worked continuously for 25 years before this.) So I'm redeveloping the intranet site for the medical library of a local hospital.

But wait! There's more!

They're making a job offer. I may not be able to take it (working in a f***ing hospital) because *their* health insurance has the usual exclusions for existing conditions, and even so, they won't pay for anything done through a competing health-care company. All my docs, including a clinic where I've *finally* (after two years on the waiting list) been accepted for a consultation (not treatment yet), are all with competing hospital firms.

Only in America!

"the most incredible feats are often accomplished by
those who have had the most incredible challenges"

I know in the U.S. there is a FREE in home nursing program just for cancer patients. It's called Hospice. They will come in and take care of all his needs each day. It's not a 24 hour thing but it helps a lot. Also, call the Health Dept. and if your dad is on Medicare or Disability...contact them. There ARE several free programs set up to help with your dad.
I'm really surprised his cancer doctors haven't given you a list of help numbers. I think you might find some help by contacting the local Cancer Support Group. The workers there have heard all the stories and might have some way to help.

I will keep you and your family in my prayers ~Angel~

Thanx guys... He's been on SoSec Disability payments. And we're starting to get everything hammered out now. It sounds like my parent's don't have enough for them to take away... My brother being under 21 is the saving grace of it all. They can't take much away because it's required for his and my Mother's well-being. In that order. Wierd, eh?

WS - Yes... Navy. He's gotten/getting his VA benefits and unfortunately he's at the bottom of the long, long list of people needing help. As far as free programs... I haven't heard anything from my mother. I have the unfortunate privelege of getting third and forth hand information filtered through strife. The grains of salt just keep getting bigger each day.

The help from their community has been just incredible but I have a hard time dealing with my parents just scraping by. Things like this Medical Assisstance crap just piss me off at this point. I know I should be more objective but it's infuriating to know there is help out there and hear people say time after time you make too much money when you can barely pay your bills.

My feelings exactly brucew... only in America... Good Luck to you and Blessed Be.

Shiiizzzam - Hospice care is an option but the only way they'll accept him is for him to stop all treatments. Hospice has been labelled the 'waiting to die house'. They exist to make life more comfortable for my father and my family while we wait. There are a few places in the cities that are indeed free, but in the northlands where my parents live they can't exist without a fee. Cool Pic BTW. Is that you?

Anyway... I think things are going to work out. Thanx for your prayers and help. Whilst we wait the long wait for the deep sleep... My family will figure out a way to get through.


GrythusDraconis
"Be careful not to anger the Great Dragon for you are crunchy and taste good with Ketchup" T-Shirt Somewhere

[This message has been edited by GrythusDraconis (edited 08-26-2002).]