Re: Need Input

[Guest guest]

Reba,

Does your county have a county hospital or a health department

that provides free or low cost medical care? I know in Texas, each

county is required to have one or the other. In Dallas county there is

actually a county hospital where you can go. Your fee is base upon what

you can pay. In Denton county, where I live now, they have a health

department (clinic) where you can go and care is on a sliding scale.

Neither of these will be offered through the department of human services

(the food stamp, medicare office). The other thing is that in Denton

county, if you are provided care from a hospital and can not pay, all the

hospital requires is a denial from medicaid. A letter stating your son

in not eligible for the program is all he needs. I don't know if this is

for emergency cases or not but it may be worth checking out.

I am currently on social security disability and am not eligible

for medicare until September. I had to hoop and hollar to be able to get

any benefits at all. I finally found an Indian clinic (I am part

Cherokee) and was able to get benefits. Hope some of this helps.

Lori Owen - Denton, Texas

SRVG 7/16/01

Dr. Ritter/Dr. Bryce

On Sat, 17 May 2003 12:54:49 -0000 " shrinkin2000 "

writes:

> Hey, Folks!

>

> I need some info from those of you who have been there, done that!

>

> My oldest son (28 yr old) is very overweight. Somewhere in the 350+

>

> (or more) range. About 2 months ago he hurt his back. He has no

> insurance and has been unable to work at a job that has medical

> insurance. He's just been doing odd jobs to get spending money. He

>

> is 6'3 " and has ADHD.

>

> We (dh & I) have been supporting him and paying for medical care out

>

> of pocket. It's been tough. We have contacted our local Dept of HR

>

> and they tell us that he is " to young " and/or " to old " for their

> assistance. We have talked to other places that are there for

> assistance with no result. I have never had to take hat in hand and

>

> ask for any kind of assistance before. I don't have any idea where

>

> to go to get him help. I need some guidance on how to get him

> help.

>

> His back is first priority at this time, but he is now talking about

>

> getting WLS cause he knows that the wt is a major part of the

> problem. His back is so bad that he cannot walk without a cane or

> crutches. He has numbness in the hips, legs and groin area. I am

> afraid of what may be permanent damage.

>

> Please...if you have ideas of where we can get some kind of help for

>

> him, let me know. The docs are talking surgery and I would have to

>

> get a 2nd mortgage on my home to pay for it. My youngest son has

> had WLS and is diabetic. He uses the insulin pump. He is on our

> insuarance so it's not to bad, but we still have to pay for supplies

>

> and our portion of the pump. It's no wonder that I have gained 8

> lbs! The stress is getting to me.

>

> I hate to bring my sob story to you guys, but just don't know where

>

> else to go. All prayers are appreciated!

>

> Love,

> Reba in Auburn, AL

>

>

> Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG

>

> Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Reba:

Sorry about all your troubles. Have you looked into getting Medicaid for

your son? If he is over the age of 21 and not eligible to be on your

insurance and is unemployed, he should be eligible for Medicaid. Have

you looked into SSI disability insurance? Not sure on all the ins and

outs of that. Has been quite some time since I did any of this kind of

work. Try a social worker at a local guidance center, they should be

able to point you in the right direction. When I worked at the hospital

and we had people come in with no insurance, the social worker would

visit them, get the info from them and then start the process of

applying for Medicaid for them.

Good luck to you. Seems like you have your hands full. Hope you find

something out soon.

Regina