[(JD)]

My doctor has been asking for a wheelchair accessible van and motorized wheelchair for me since before 2003... and between the attorneys (mine and the carrier's) they bully her down...

I've come to the point of thinking seriously about selling my home and living in a very small rv...with my dog.

I could buy a van without doing that if I could get a go fund me group... but the requirements on that is more than I can do (for one, it wants you to raise funds from family and friends first.... well good luck with that (JD).)

I have no support system..and have been going it alone for over a year now... I'm tapped.... mentally emotionally physically and yeah 'bout spiritually (man I could go to heaven in an instant...please!)...

The governor continues his efforts to eradicate the entire worker comp system from Florida. Already there are NO psychologists in South Florida who take worker comp... and there are no dentists that take it... and I've been with both way too long ... as for the dds my veneers are being grinded by the tmj not being in place and so what teeth exist beneath them, the nerves that is, are becoming sensitive...

oh I digressed sorry.

Worker comp system is an insurance system. I paid my dues, I did nothing to cause my disabling injury and I get treated without any dignity.

I can pay for a van if I stop my personal health insurance. Should be fine, right? Just use the Government's SCOTUS care right? Wrong. I can't. It won't let me sign up because I'm on worker comp and cannot include that income (it's the only income I have) and then I don't make enough without it... think $0... so I have to have medicare...wellllll I'm not allowed medicare because I'm on worker comp... BUT worker comp only covers work injury items not general health issues... and you think you get care in a hospital without insurance? wrong....

I hate life... really I do. I paid my dues all 'way round... family friends work... and what do I have to show for it?

Can't even get support at a support site. Yeah, I'm bummed.

[(JD)]

aw come on... a LITTLE support???? maybe a hug or two?

[Angelique67]

I don't know what to say, but I can definitely give a hug ((((((((JD))))))))

[IowaFarmGal]

Why is your lawyer working against the doctor? Is there a nearby state that is not governed by assholes? Any voc rehab funding/training that would help? Sending hugs but I don't know what good that does...

I'm required to travel to a different county for dental care. Not sure what good the state dental plan is when nobody will take it. I'd rather have nothing. At least no one would be telling me where I have to go.

[(JD)]

sigh
My oral surgeon (one of the best in the world) will only recommend two DDS he trusts to work on my teeth...

but the lawyer says to go to a closer DDS... makes NO sense...NO ONE takes worker comp down here...and so if I go to a cheaper, local DDS, they will still have to b e paid regular insurance rates EXCEPT that they won't even see me because NO ONE accepts worker comp and won't get involved in any litigation...so why not just pay the DDS my oral surgeon wants me to see???

Well,now that DDS won't see me no matter what.

I could spit nails.

[cakeladie]

Hi JD nice to meet you sorry for your problems but CALM DOWN.

I had to fight to get my power wheelchair. I did finely get it but I am on SSDI and I had to fight my insurance and medicare.

I tried one of those places on TV that say that if they approve you and your insurance does not you still get it. It did not work. Anyway I got it but my problem was how do I take it somewhere.

So I looked on Craig's List and I found someone who wanted to sale their motorized ramp but I also had to take their powerchair. they sold it to me for $500. It worked great and I had a hitch on my truck for it.

I get insurances and workmen's comp are a pain in the butt. Just hang in there and think outside of the box.

Also my doctor was on board with me getting it and a local company came to my appointment with her and they talked about what I needed etc.

:hug

[Perna]

There isn't a church group that can help, stand in for your friends and relatives on a go fund me site?

[(JD)]

Thank you for your replies

My MD has recommended a power chair and wheelchair van since before 2002. I had to buy a new car in 2002 and was adamant with the salesman that I needed the $1000 mobility allowance to put a carrier on the back of the car (I was borrowing my mother's power chair at times.)
After I purchased the car and was waiting for the program form as I had bugged them about the whole time...they informed me the car didn't meet the standards for accommodations.
My MD then began writing scripts for the chair and van---in 2003. It is now 12 years and still nothing. I'm needing another vehicle, I cannot afford one, much more one that is handicap equipped. And I'm still using my mother's old power chair and she died 6 years ago!

It took me several years to find someone to put a hitch carrier onto the car (illegal? because it's a front wheel drive)... and I did use that carrier for a short time, but it became too much. I would have to arrange the carrier to be put on on a day my PCA was here... but that didn't help me with loading the chair, strapping it in, bundling it up against road dirt and rain...and reversing it when I got to where I was going, and then again to return home and then once home! (Car won't fit into the garage with the chair and carrier).

I've cut back on my pain medication for 2 reasons, one, I'm not doing anything in life and two, if I manage my pain "well" then I want to go do things...and I can't so then I become depressed... it's almost better to suffer more pain and not want to do anything.

There is no family, friends, neighbors, nor church... those who might want to help are too poor themselves.

It wouldn't be so bad if worker comp wasn't supposed to provide this stuff.... you know?

I've even done planning (took me over a year) to figure out how to find a van I could live in...and outfit it. The Transit Cargo van is the least expensive and if I sell the house, the equity will pay for it, and if I sell the house I won't need the PCA anyway...b ad idea but... rock and a hard place... one of the final steps I had on my list was to check with the mobility upfitters to be sure they could make the van accommodate my needs. (I have to buy a van as a regular van and then pay out of pocket for upfitting---the finance companies won't finance a handicap van...they will only finance the usual van part and you pay cash for the rest of the van changes.) I only wanted a lift driver's chair as I had found a 3 screw weight lift ramp that wouldnt' void the warranty... for the chair. Well? The Ford company puts one of the batteries UNDER the driver's seat and even getting FORD to approve the upfitter, it will void the entire vehicle warranty. So after all that effort and almost excitement... nothing.

I need to miss another med time... wanting to do something again, for shame.

[Perna]

Have you tried calling/working with MobilityWorks? Financing | MobilityWorks

[(JD)]

ah yes...thanks for continuing to think on this

The problem with going with the actual upfitters like Mobility is that their financing is very high. I can get 2% car financing through AAA...even on an RV! The rate with the mobility vehicle sellers is they are wanting like 6-8% and I just cannot afford that...and won't pay it even if I did sell the house... I don't even pay that rate on my home. lol

I'm not sure I can afford a regular van with NO interest... no, I would either have to sell the house OR give up my private health insurance... and since I cannot get ACA... I wouldn't have health insurance.

[Perna]

There are some cheap used ones for sale? Handicap Vans For Sale From $9500 | 1.800.308.2503

Do you have any credit cards? My credit card bank gave me good financing on my car and happens to be related to insurance, etc. You don't belong to a membership group like AARP that has related stuff in that way? My AAA screen shows insurance/auto?

[(JD)]

Yes Perna... that is why I was going with the lesser cost of the ford transit cargo van... AAA will give me 2% interest on full loan IF I buy it without any changes.... and I can barely afford that.

I don't do well with used vehicles. IDK what it is... maybe my aura gets into old parts and breaks them ... and the vehicle I have is so old I spend all of my reimbursement monies on keeping it going (nicely I might add, thank God).
I haven't needed my personal health insurance in a number of years... if I had saved all that monthly money I could afford even a tragedy now... sigh. I mean, the premiums are so high I could stash thousands... if I didn't spend it on a vehicle for a while that is... I must wait for this Congress' allowances... I should know by November what the hospitalization premiums will go up to for next year... that will surely help me determine if I should take a chance and cut it out. Hey, I can always rely upon working taxpayers to pay my medical bills couldn't I??? can't get blood out of turnip.

I do have excellent credit.... and plenty of unused credit (all of it actually) because I HATE BILLs and BALANCES... only on my mortgage right now and that bothers me.

[jaynedough]

Hugs, I have plenty, as for answers, I can only offer weird.

Here's the weird: Have you tried contacting a local television station or paper with your story? I know that when I lived near DC (years and years ago), the local ABC station had 7 on Your Side. They helped cut thru the bs.

I hope you find some help. It's unconscionable that you've had to deal with this for so long.

[(JD)]

Thanks. I doubt they will touch it since it's worker comp... large net you know?

I had contacted the local news guys about the fence guy that stole $1500 from me, that I had helped the city, county, and state recover their licensing fees and additional fees of permits for the homeowners he had used, plus the fines and fees from the subcontractors he had illegally used all his years... yet he did no work for me, but took $1500 and the city, county and state told me they couldn't help me recover my money! I paid Fl Troopers twice to serve papers on the guy for my civil court case and he never was served because the Trooper said "he didn't want to be served". The judge threw the case out because I had appeared twice with the thief!

I also tried to get their help in fixing the sidewalks around here... the HOA says it's the homeowners responsibility not theirs and the city ignores me... yet the bad sidewalks make it impossible to walk on and the roadway is a double curve of about 100' making it very dangerous to be in the road.... nary a peep of help.

[dancinglady]

After reading this can you move to a different state that has dental schools and teaching hospitals. I got almost all of me dental work done by students. I truthfully think it is better. You get young trying to get an "A" from a dental professor who with years of experience steps in most of the time. I got a 35 year experienced dentist for the price of a dental student. My bridges are still in my mouth years pass the 10 year survival rate private dentists gave me.

[dancinglady]

Again sounds like you need to move.

[(JD)]

I wouldn't dare use someone who isn't fully trained in TMD... and tbh I don't know if the dental schools take any insurance, nor if they open themselves up to litigation clients.

[Perna]

I would check out the dental schools in your area. It's not just the "new" young dentists there but those in advanced training who are fully-trained dentists learning cutting edge therapy: NSU College of Dental Medicine Postdoctoral Programs

[(JD)]

yeah...nah they can't help:

• orthodontics (braces)
• pediatric dentistry (children's dentistry)
• endodontics (root canal therapy)
• periodontics (gum disease, implants)
• oral surgery (extractions)
• prosthetics (complete and removable partial dentures, crowns, bridges)

[(JD)]

I checked out other states last week...and I can't find one that doesn't have a work comp issue

My pain MD told me today he HAD to go against all the MD medical manager was requesting because the insurance company was threatening to remove all my benefits (court ordered over 28 years)... like that makes any sense...guess they threatened him?

[WePow]

((((JD)))) wow! That is some seriously messed up stuff!!!!! My heart goes out to you! Sending you tons of hugs!!!!!!!

[(JD)]

The plot thickens.

Because I have no DDS now to keep my TMJs healthy, I need to return to the oral surgeon who did the surgeries and has been the driving force to make sure I have the dental treatments to keep them so.... I had jaw surgeries in 1988? I 've been seeing the same world class oral surgeon (when 5 of the worker comp surgeons refused) since then...
... NOW to see him I have to have an authorization from worker comp. He has never been "deauthorized"... AND because they are treating me as a new patient, I have to wait until after Christmas for an appointment.
Pray for me... oh Lord You have to fix this one for me too.

[Perna]

Oh, JD, I'm so sorry. I have been having my issues with health care changes; I go on Medicare in October but I had to go off my State insurance in December and start my Obamacare insurance in January (until October). Changing insurance 3 times in one year has not been fun. The meds portion is appearing a trip too; it's harder to get the name brand meds paid for and I got around that but now they are no longer give meds 3 months at a time, only month-to-month (a pain for my asthma medicines).

I hope some things sort themselves out for you and you get the care you want and need! I'm going to be moving this year and that will mess things up even more, I'm sure.

[(JD)]

Yes well I have to have brand names as I'm allergic to the fillers in the cheap meds... but the doctor has to write "medically necessary" on the form for the pharmacist to push it.

I've many times thought about "bailing" on life as it is... but I know better...and have at least a bit of hope that God will smile kindly upon me and fix this stuff!

Yes the meds went month to month a few years back, in FL. I can push for an extra month if there's a hurricane coming though.

If my MD thinks I lost weight before... wait until she sees me if they don't fix my "jaw" soon... because this time I know not to go to soups and ice cream for a soft diet.

Then.... I keep pushing things to wait until November anyway... as there could be prophecy fulfilled come Sept-Oct and I won't care come November ...

haven't heard from my T for 6 months now... considering dropping a dime on him, though it's never therapy any more...

[(JD)]

The opposing side's attorney has still not resulted in anything ... no authorization for a new DDS and not even re-authorization of the oral surgeon I've had for 29 years!

And my attorney has done nothing, as well.

Good thing I have God helping me.