Re: Dire straights need surgery no health insurance

[Guest guest]

My knees are beyond walking need surgery, have chronically broken forearms from

osteo, cannot get insurance or if did so expensive I could not afford. Anyone

with suggestion how I can get a doctor to operate without insurance? Not to

mention paying hospital? Medicaid disability found out no doctors take it

anymore here in Florida so that is out. going crazy sitting vegetating like a

lump in a bubble. Help!! Ideas???

Chris

> Ellen wrote:

> I am having the county mini-van take me to town tomorrow to try to get

assistance at an agency. It's a two hour interview process and helps get any

assistance for which i am eligible. I found them on 211.org.

[Guest guest]

Do you know if the hospital or place you are going to has a financial aid

department?

Our hospitals here have sent financial aid papers to us to help pay on our

hospital bills when they are 11,000.00 for 3 days of an asthma attack.

Call the hospital and find out if they have that.

It is the only thing that I can think of right now.

G

> My knees are beyond walking need surgery, have chronically broken forearms

> from osteo, cannot get insurance or if did so expensive I could not

> afford. Anyone with suggestion how I can get a doctor to operate without

> insurance? Not to mention paying hospital? Medicaid disability found out

> no doctors take it anymore here in Florida so that is out. going crazy

> sitting vegetating like a lump in a bubble. Help!! Ideas???

> Chris

[Guest guest]

My daughter works as a medical/dental clinic office manager near Tampa. All the

" clinics " that were county run (where my daughter worked previously) closed due

to new funding/law. There are clinics taking medicaid in FL. Call the hospitals

for the nearest ones. The county health department clinic building was leased by

a group of doctors so patients who went there are still being seen there.

Jennette

> wrote:

> Anyone with suggestion how I can get a doctor to operate without insurance?

Not to mention paying hospital?

[Guest guest]

If you qualify for Medicaid and they don't have any doctors in network

where you live, they will negotiate with local doctors and/or

authorize out of network care.

You will have to get Prior Authorization for any non-emergency care,

but it is better than nothing. I have medical assistance and whenever

I need emergency care, I can go ANYWHERE. If I go somewhere that is

out of network, Medical Assistance will pay the FULL cash price. For

out of network non-emergency care, they negotiate a rate between cash

rate and the usual insurance reimbursement rates.

Medicaid also covers travel expenses related to medical care, as well

as prescription costs (also every pharmacy fills Medicaid

prescriptions).

Are you on Disability? Do you get Social Security Disability or SSI?

Steve M in PA

> wrote:

> Anyone with suggestion how I can get a doctor to operate without insurance?

Not to mention paying hospital?

[Guest guest]

Wow. That's a toughie. They will travel to third world countries but not in

their own backyard.

I would start by contacting the free clinics.

You may want to consider contacting the Lions Club. I know they fool with eyes

but may know of non profits for other medical conditions.

I will google around and see what pops up.

Ellen

> wrote:

> Anyone with suggestion how I can get a doctor to operate without insurance?

Not to mention paying hospital?

[Guest guest]

I agree to check with the area hospitals. Some may have programs for

individuals like you that can't get coverage. they have special grants. Worth

a try. It is so sad that anyone in this country can not get the help they need

due to the take or lack of insurance.

Hugs Tami

> wrote:

> Do you know if the hospital or place you are going to has a financial aid

department?

[Guest guest]

The hospital will have a social services department that can give you

guidance. They have regular office hours.

Ellen

> Jennette wrote:

> There are clinics taking medicaid in FL. Call the hospitals for the nearest

ones. The county health department clinic building was leased by a group of

doctors so patients who went there are still being seen there.

[Guest guest]

>> Jennette wrote:

>> There are clinics taking medicaid in FL. Call the hospitals for the nearest

ones. The county health department clinic building was leased by a group of

doctors so patients who went there are still being seen there.

All,

County hospitals cannot deny you care and your surgeon needs to assist you in

finding resources if your surgery is mandatory. If your surgery is elective, you

will have a harder time.

Make sure the hospitals you call are county hospitals or non profits as they are

more likely to take you.

You can also call the Florida Department of Health and Human Resources and each

state has one : Florida Health and Human Resource Department.

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/ lists the health resources in each county. This

site http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/programs/access/ is a site that shows programs

to assist you. This site http://www.hhs.gov/ is the U.S. Health and Family

Services.http://www.fl-counties.com/Pages/Advocacy/Health_and_Human_Services/Hea\

lth_Care.aspx lists the programs availible for health care and contacts with

phone numbers . (the home section on this website discusses other issues

available).

These resources should be able to help you with your decisions and Good Luck. I

was able to get a lady I was medical representative medical assistance through

the medical necessity program and I notice Florida has a section on this also.

Bennie

[Guest guest]

> Steve M in PA wrote:

> If you qualify for Medicaid and they don't have any doctors in network where

you live, they will negotiate with local doctors and/or

authorize out of network care.

Steve is right and they sometimes they call this out of network care " point of

service " care. There was not a doctor available within thirty miles of me and I

was authorized out of network doctor.

All should look at their insurance plans and if any of you are traveling a long

area, some insurances pay for your travel and Doctor so check it out.

It just takes getting a justification. Also, when you need surgery and have no

insurance, look for the medical necessity programs and I listed some websites

for you. The Department of Health and Human Services in each state list the

public assistance programs and clinics, contacts, and criteria so that is a

resource to keep in mind and the national Call 211 which you just call 211 and

they can tell you local agencies to assist you.

There are emergency Medicaid programs that will cover you until your regular

Medicaid kicks in as my niece had this option but you must meet the criteria and

can call to see if you meet the criteria. If not, ask about their medical

necessity programs. Justification is important so be sure to have everything

included in your request. Bennie

[Guest guest]

> Ellen wrote:

> I will google around and see what pops up.

>> wrote:

>> Anyone with suggestion how I can get a doctor to operate without insurance?

Not to mention paying hospital?

Ellen,

Remember 211, <laugh out loud>. I know I say that a lot but calling this number

has gotten assistance for my family and friends, right Ellen. Your friend Bennie

[Guest guest]

Laugh out loud. Helpers. BENNIE knows her stuff! If she says so it...I do it!

It's that drill sergeant in her.

Ellen in TN

> Bennie wrote:

> Remember 211, <laugh out loud>. I know I say that a lot but calling this

number has gotten assistance for my family and friends