[PurpleFlyingMonkeys]

Gaaaaah!!! I'm so frustrated!!!!

I'm going online for the umteenth time looking for affordable health insurance. Yeah right, like that exists!

So my work keeps giving me the run around for health insurance, I've been here two years and full time a year and a half out of the two years, but in May I cut down to part time because of medical and mental issues.

Every time I qualified for insurance they gave me the run around and now technically I don't qualify because I'm 4 hours a week shy of full time!!!! So I apply for medicaid. Go figure I make 50$ too much a month for medicaid! They keep getting me!

I make 8.15 an hour, and it takes all I have to keep working as it is, but I have a 4 year old daughter I have to keep going. I make barely 300 every two weeks, my light bill is nearly 400$ and my rent is $600 a month. Luckily I was granted $600 for child support, so I can barely make ends meet as it is. And most months I just can't and end up going into the negative in my account. Currently I'm at -$175 in my bank account so I could pay the lights which means my next pay check is barely over $100 for two weeks.

But I make too much for medicaid?!?!

I'm so frustrated. I started having medical health issues and I have to see a neurologist, around here they want to charge me $400 for the initial visit!!! There are only 4 neuros in town and all of them are outrageous on their prices, I went and saw one last year and since I'm an established patient I only have to pay $80 for the next visit but that wont even get tests done or anything that I need. I owe 13,000 in hospital bills from this year alone! I just don't know what to do!!!

I'm sorry for seeming like I'm having a pitty party but even $80 per visit is too much when my grocery budget is only $200 a month for two people! And private insurance wants 250$ for reasonable coverage! Per month!!! I can't believe that! It would cost me more to have insurance than to go without and just pay full price, unless I need the tests, which I do!

So the point of my post, does anyone have any ideas or any advice or anything? I just don't know what to do. I HAVE to get these tests apparently but I honestly can't afford it, and I can't get a different job because we are in a small town and don't have public transportation, so I have to rely on getting rides to work, and I can only work so many hours because the ride I get works too and it's the only way I can keep my daughter cared for and get to and from work.

I'm stuck and I don't know how to fix this! Any advice?!?!?!

[Cotton ball]

Wow!! You are in a tough spot!!! I don't know where you live but that doesn't make sence especially if you have a child.
You should be receiving food stamps and Medicaid at a minimum. I don't know your situation but something is off.
Kudos to you for working and trying so hard!!
My child is on Medicaid however there are so many places you can go.
This might not make sence but any er needs to take you..Ironically they charge thousands more but will do every test possible to rack up the cost! Stick to the basics.
Your health!!
I'm so sorry you are in this situation. Many people are. Kudos tp you for still working and not giving up!!

[PurpleFlyingMonkeys]

Well since I get the 600 for child support and 600 for my pay (before taxes) I make 1,200 per month. Their cut off is 1,150 for medicaid apparently from what she told me. They don't take into consideration any bills for medicaid.

Food stamps I've applied for time and time again. They keep refusing me because the child support isn't sent through the govenrnment agency, he just sends a personal check every month and they wont accept that and keep saying I need more as proof of the child support, even though I give them that with the court ordered child support they wont take it.

As far as hospitals go, they will take me, but I already owe our hospital $13,000 for the last 4 visits. Not to mention it took them 4 visits before they would even give me an MRI, even though they were visits due to seizures, and when they did give me the MRI it was 3 days after the seizure. And my fiance had to yell at them to get even that.

They kept saying since I didn't have insurance they wouldn't do it unless they HAD to, then when a woman got put in the room with me because she had a "headache" among other things they wheeled her up to the MRI immediately, which ticked my fiance off so he threw a fit and eventually they gave me the MRI, but that was my third visit to the ER before they would even do that.

And to top it off on that third visit a woman came into my room and demanded I pay some of my bill right there before they continued any treatment. I've filled out the papers to get a payment plan with them, and let them know the financial situation as they have a program that reduces the bill to an affordable bill for those who qualify but I never heard anything back, other than the constant hospital bills for hundreds and thousands of dollars.

It seems the only way to make it through this is to quit my job and then rely on the government to support me fully, but I wouldn't set that example for my daughter. I want to teach her to work hard no matter what, but it seems like everything is making that as difficult as possible.

I'm going to try for medicaid again tomorrow but I really doubt I will get it

[Cotton ball]

That makes no sence. Your state or your assets must be off. I don't understand. I've met people with 0 kids who rcv unemployment of 1200 who rcv food stamps of 200 plus. Hmm. We must live on different scopes. Well my city is always off.
Don't quit... Jobs are hard to come by. Hang on!!! The easy way isn't always the best way..
Take care of yourself..
Are there any big cities by you? Something to think about??? It's a pain but could be worth it. In my state hospital bills and dr bills.. Regardless of the amount you are only required to pay 5 per month without it affecting your credit. ( if you r concerned)

[shortandcute]

Originally Posted by Cotton ball

That makes no sence. Your state or your assets must be off. I don't understand. I've met people with 0 kids who rcv unemployment of 1200 who rcv food stamps of 200 plus. Hmm. We must live on different scopes. Well my city is always off.
Don't quit... Jobs are hard to come by. Hang on!!! The easy way isn't always the best way..
Take care of yourself..
Are there any big cities by you? Something to think about??? It's a pain but could be worth it. In my state hospital bills and dr bills.. Regardless of the amount you are only required to pay 5 per month without it affecting your credit. ( if you r concerned)

Sometimes these things vary from state to state; I get about 1800 a month and I get medicaid for me and my daughter and food stamps too.

[ElisaB]

Originally Posted by PurpleFlyingMonkeys

Gaaaaah!!! I'm so frustrated!!!!

I'm going online for the umteenth time looking for affordable health insurance. Yeah right, like that exists!

So my work keeps giving me the run around for health insurance, I've been here two years and full time a year and a half out of the two years, but in May I cut down to part time because of medical and mental issues.

Every time I qualified for insurance they gave me the run around and now technically I don't qualify because I'm 4 hours a week shy of full time!!!! So I apply for medicaid. Go figure I make 50$ too much a month for medicaid! They keep getting me!

I make 8.15 an hour, and it takes all I have to keep working as it is, but I have a 4 year old daughter I have to keep going. I make barely 300 every two weeks, my light bill is nearly 400$ and my rent is $600 a month. Luckily I was granted $600 for child support, so I can barely make ends meet as it is. And most months I just can't and end up going into the negative in my account. Currently I'm at -$175 in my bank account so I could pay the lights which means my next pay check is barely over $100 for two weeks.

But I make too much for medicaid?!?!

I'm so frustrated. I started having medical health issues and I have to see a neurologist, around here they want to charge me $400 for the initial visit!!! There are only 4 neuros in town and all of them are outrageous on their prices, I went and saw one last year and since I'm an established patient I only have to pay $80 for the next visit but that wont even get tests done or anything that I need. I owe 13,000 in hospital bills from this year alone! I just don't know what to do!!!

I'm sorry for seeming like I'm having a pitty party but even $80 per visit is too much when my grocery budget is only $200 a month for two people! And private insurance wants 250$ for reasonable coverage! Per month!!! I can't believe that! It would cost me more to have insurance than to go without and just pay full price, unless I need the tests, which I do!

So the point of my post, does anyone have any ideas or any advice or anything? I just don't know what to do. I HAVE to get these tests apparently but I honestly can't afford it, and I can't get a different job because we are in a small town and don't have public transportation, so I have to rely on getting rides to work, and I can only work so many hours because the ride I get works too and it's the only way I can keep my daughter cared for and get to and from work.

I'm stuck and I don't know how to fix this! Any advice?!?!?!

Just out of curiosity... when you applied for medicaid, did you also apply for food stamps and cash assistance? It sounds like you'd qualify considering your income, but, I guess, the child support messes that up. I would keep trying!! We currently have medicaid for medically needy. It's not much, but it'll pay for your bills as long as they are $XX/month or more. If it's less then it's all on you. But something's better than nothing. Problem is the immediate out-of-pocket. They reimburse you. As for affordable insurance? Yeah, right is right!! It's shameful really!! Good luck though!

[thickntired]

PFM,

I'm sorry you're dealing with this mess. I was refused health insurance by all big companies, considered high risk and could only get a state health plan that was very expensive and covered about 20% of meds and office visits. It was only for catastrophic. I don't mean to be a pessimest, but that was my experience being on psych meds.

I was just wondering if you could talk to your landlord about lowering the rent? Also, I know it differs but in my state they offer low income insurance for kids.

Peace & Hugs,

TnT

[Perna]

I think even if you could get your company health insurance, there is still the portion you'd have to pay each month which would come out of your pay, etc. and not be much better than the South Carolina Health Insurance Pool (SCHIP: http://doi.sc.gov/consumer/Pages/SCHIP.aspx) or Inclusive Health, for North Carolina (http://nchirp.org/) I don't work and am too young for Medicare and have conditions so private insurance won't cover me so have to use the Maryland State plan.

[eskielover]

For med coverage, you could get patient assistance.....I know even though my income is too high to qualify, I have to appeal it every year....but the one med I am on is 2500/mo....way over what I get......so I go through that process every year. I have hospital bills that went to collection & just sat there....they couldn't make me pay with no money to pay.....they go away after 15 years....know it's a long time, but even the collection people go away after awhile when they know they aren't going to get anything & you tag their phone calls so you know who not to answer.

It's definitely a pain....& I understand your frustration......but even with medicare, I had huge hospital bills that I wasn't able to pay....so it really doesn't help that much...it just gurarntees that they get something.

[krissy702001]

The Medicaid programs and qualifications for each vary from state to state. One cannot compare people receiving benefits in different states, as they are totally different.

Hope you can find a community resource that can assist you.

Krissy

[BrokenNBeautiful]

I have gov insurance Medicaid and Medicare and can't even get someone who takes it where I live.

sorry you are going thru this.

If you get medicaid, I hope you can find someone who takes it, too.

Carol