Re: How to pay bills?

[Guest guest]

,

Have you applied for SSI for your kids. This is social security

disability for children. If they qualify, they automatically get

Medicaid, and you get a check every month to help pay the extras (gas

to get to doctors, hotels if you have to stay over, etc.) We were

denied the first time (we've been told everyone is) we are on our

second try. It is worth it if you can qualify! Hope this helps.

Carmen, mom to Storm, age 10, 50 inches, 61 pounds

[Guest guest]

I wish there were...both Patricio and I work. His whole family is

in Chile and he helps his parents plus we pay child support for his

16 year old son in Chile (as he should! so no complaints) MA is a

very hard state to live in and afford. Milk went up last year to

over $4 a gallon and with the gas and other bills that keep going up

it is really scary. I am already semi panicked because we owe $400

in copay for 3 ER visits plus $250 for Emerence's admission.

Billing now sends people to try and collect your copay while you are

in teh ER!

Thankfully we qualified for a daycare subsidy for until now

(when he starts kindergarten) and we ony were paying $15 /day!

Emerence's bill is another story! However, that is gone and he

still goes to daycare abot 4 hrs a day.

I would call your local state reps office. They should be able to

help you find programs taht can help. Have you asked at the drs

office too? When my husband was out of work due to surgery and I

was on maternity leave with 1/2 pay my doctor got the formula rep to

give us a whole case for free!

ASk your dr for help and try your local reps office! And email me

about the neb machine..

, mom to and Emerence

> Hi all, I was wondering is there any trick to paying all these

> medical bills and stuff? We are flat broke minus some and yet

have

> to keep seeing more and more docs and visits and meds etc for my

kids

> and after getting all of those, I can't pay electric or water or

> anything! WE have applied for assistance through the hosptials

and

> have some, but all these copays add up to a small fortune each

> time...like today $12 gas $15 copay $30 meds and now we have to

pay

> for a home nebulizer becasue Autumn is still wheezing and needs

it.

> Then another appt friday, then 4 next week and no matter how I try

to

> schedule them together I jsut can't make it all work. My son Skye

is

> supposed to be getting help for his probs (Aspergers, anxiety,

OCD)

> but I can't pay for it, just the basic appts...we have good

> insurance but the copays add up....is there something out there

that

> I could apply for? I am desperate, I swear I've applied for

> everything so far. Then we found out one of autumns ear tubes

came

> out and she just got them in may...ahhh, how do you all do it? I

> stay home with the kids and my husband has 2 jobs and always works

to

> try to make ends meet but they never do. Any suggestions?

>

> mOm to Autumn 19.5 mos RSS athsma, Summer 8.5 weeks 7

3/4

> lbs, Ocean 3, Skye 7

[Guest guest]

Also, have you tried WIC?

> > Hi all, I was wondering is there any trick to paying all these

> > medical bills and stuff? We are flat broke minus some and yet

> have

> > to keep seeing more and more docs and visits and meds etc for my

> kids

> > and after getting all of those, I can't pay electric or water or

> > anything! WE have applied for assistance through the hosptials

> and

> > have some, but all these copays add up to a small fortune each

> > time...like today $12 gas $15 copay $30 meds and now we have to

> pay

> > for a home nebulizer becasue Autumn is still wheezing and needs

> it.

> > Then another appt friday, then 4 next week and no matter how I

try

> to

> > schedule them together I jsut can't make it all work. My son

Skye

> is

> > supposed to be getting help for his probs (Aspergers, anxiety,

> OCD)

> > but I can't pay for it, just the basic appts...we have good

> > insurance but the copays add up....is there something out there

> that

> > I could apply for? I am desperate, I swear I've applied for

> > everything so far. Then we found out one of autumns ear tubes

> came

> > out and she just got them in may...ahhh, how do you all do it?

I

> > stay home with the kids and my husband has 2 jobs and always

works

> to

> > try to make ends meet but they never do. Any suggestions?

> >

> > mOm to Autumn 19.5 mos RSS athsma, Summer 8.5 weeks 7

> 3/4

> > lbs, Ocean 3, Skye 7

[Guest guest]

. Sorry to hear of your troubles. I'm wondering if you

can work something out with your pediatrician where he would " wave "

some of your appointments with him. Believe it or not, with two

children - sometimes my Ped will see the child that is " most sick "

and then just " take a look " at the other so that I don't have to pay

for them both. And of course, the old payment plans. Years ago I

had to set-up plans for my own healthcare issues with hospitals.

I'm sure you do this - but, I am incredibly strict with myself about

checking insurance payments with the actual bills coming from

doctors offices and hospitals. I currently have a bill due from a

hospital from OVER a year ago that I have not paid - because the

hospital did not charge the amount stated to me the same to the

insurance company - causing me to make a higher payment. I just so

happened to call their collection agency (yes, collection) today

reminding them that I told the hospital I would not pay the balance

due until they submitted the proper amount to insurance. In fact, I

only paid the amount insurance stated on the EOB (explanation of

benefits) sheet. I look at insurance EOB's and bills with a fine

tooth comb because of these discrepancies - and, I've found that it

has saved me hundreds of dollars every year because of the mistakes

made at the doctor's and hospitals end.

Just food for thought.

My best to you and your family.

- H

> Hi all, I was wondering is there any trick to paying all these

> medical bills and stuff? We are flat broke minus some and yet

have

> to keep seeing more and more docs and visits and meds etc for my

kids

> and after getting all of those, I can't pay electric or water or

> anything! WE have applied for assistance through the hosptials

and

> have some, but all these copays add up to a small fortune each

> time...like today $12 gas $15 copay $30 meds and now we have to

pay

> for a home nebulizer becasue Autumn is still wheezing and needs

it.

> Then another appt friday, then 4 next week and no matter how I try

to

> schedule them together I jsut can't make it all work. My son Skye

is

> supposed to be getting help for his probs (Aspergers, anxiety,

OCD)

> but I can't pay for it, just the basic appts...we have good

> insurance but the copays add up....is there something out there

that

> I could apply for? I am desperate, I swear I've applied for

> everything so far. Then we found out one of autumns ear tubes

came

> out and she just got them in may...ahhh, how do you all do it? I

> stay home with the kids and my husband has 2 jobs and always works

to

> try to make ends meet but they never do. Any suggestions?

>

> mOm to Autumn 19.5 mos RSS athsma, Summer 8.5 weeks 7

3/4

> lbs, Ocean 3, Skye 7

[Guest guest]

I am getting WIC for my 3 youngest and it helps a lot, I havn't asked

around for much help because I've just been kind of out of it not

able to put it all together with everything. Her ped asked how in

the world do I pay all these copays with the kids always going to

docs and specialists and I said I just don't know...she said they

would love to waive them, they used to be able to but can't anymore

because of insurance companys fearing more visits would happen and

they'd be charged more. Thanks for the info, I'll give the local

reps a try...I sent you an e-mail about the nebulizer

mom to Autumn, Summer, Skye and Ocean

> > > Hi all, I was wondering is there any trick to paying all these

> > > medical bills and stuff? We are flat broke minus some and yet

> > have

> > > to keep seeing more and more docs and visits and meds etc for

my

> > kids

> > > and after getting all of those, I can't pay electric or water

or

> > > anything! WE have applied for assistance through the

hosptials

> > and

> > > have some, but all these copays add up to a small fortune each

> > > time...like today $12 gas $15 copay $30 meds and now we have to

> > pay

> > > for a home nebulizer becasue Autumn is still wheezing and needs

> > it.

> > > Then another appt friday, then 4 next week and no matter how I

> try

> > to

> > > schedule them together I jsut can't make it all work. My son

> Skye

> > is

> > > supposed to be getting help for his probs (Aspergers, anxiety,

> > OCD)

> > > but I can't pay for it, just the basic appts...we have good

> > > insurance but the copays add up....is there something out there

> > that

> > > I could apply for? I am desperate, I swear I've applied for

> > > everything so far. Then we found out one of autumns ear tubes

> > came

> > > out and she just got them in may...ahhh, how do you all do it?

> I

> > > stay home with the kids and my husband has 2 jobs and always

> works

> > to

> > > try to make ends meet but they never do. Any suggestions?

> > >

> > > mOm to Autumn 19.5 mos RSS athsma, Summer 8.5 weeks 7

> > 3/4

> > > lbs, Ocean 3, Skye 7

[Guest guest]

Hi, thanks for the advice. The docs office can't waive the fees she

said because of a low and the insurance companies, and that they used

to and she wishes she could. I will ask her about looking at the

second kid when two are sick, that's a good idea. I do the same

thing with the insurnace companies adn hospital bills, I am actually

having a problem with that now for one of my daughters Summer's

visit, there are 4 different statments for the same visit and 3 have

one price and one has something a few hundred higher! One says I

have to pay some penalty, then a couple of weeks later that amount

ended up being payed by them according to the new statement then a

new bill came in and said I owe that penalty again but it's on a

different amount, it's crazy.

thanks for the ideas

mom to Autumn, Summer Ocean and Skye

> > Hi all, I was wondering is there any trick to paying all these

> > medical bills and stuff? We are flat broke minus some and yet

> have

> > to keep seeing more and more docs and visits and meds etc for my

> kids

> > and after getting all of those, I can't pay electric or water or

> > anything! WE have applied for assistance through the hosptials

> and

> > have some, but all these copays add up to a small fortune each

> > time...like today $12 gas $15 copay $30 meds and now we have to

> pay

> > for a home nebulizer becasue Autumn is still wheezing and needs

> it.

> > Then another appt friday, then 4 next week and no matter how I

try

> to

> > schedule them together I jsut can't make it all work. My son

Skye

> is

> > supposed to be getting help for his probs (Aspergers, anxiety,

> OCD)

> > but I can't pay for it, just the basic appts...we have good

> > insurance but the copays add up....is there something out there

> that

> > I could apply for? I am desperate, I swear I've applied for

> > everything so far. Then we found out one of autumns ear tubes

> came

> > out and she just got them in may...ahhh, how do you all do it? I

> > stay home with the kids and my husband has 2 jobs and always

works

> to

> > try to make ends meet but they never do. Any suggestions?

> >

> > mOm to Autumn 19.5 mos RSS athsma, Summer 8.5 weeks 7

> 3/4

> > lbs, Ocean 3, Skye 7

[Guest guest]

,

There are a few areas where you can go for help. I think some have

been mentioned already:

1. ALL children under the age of three are eligible to receive

therapy services (ie. physical, occupational, nutritional) through

Early Intervention/Part C for free. Sometimes once enrolled there are

additional funds available. In my county you can apply for upto

$1,000 in disability related costs.

2. SSI is a check you would receive for help if your child is

considered disabled. However, parental income is a factor here.

3. Medicaid Waivers. Every state has them and each run them

differently. Some call it Becket or Home Based Services Waiver.

In my state (Virginia) a child who meets the medical criteria the

state has set up for being disabled or at risk for nursing home

placement is given help. Parental income does NOT count against you.

The indiviual is considered an independent entity. By getting a

waiver the child also receives medicaid as well as additional

services (ie. respite care or nursing care). If you already have

health insurance they pick up where your primary insurance leaves off

(ie. co-pays). On top of that they will pay your portion of the

healthcare premium for your child. Again, this is how it is handled

in my state.

Please, please feel free to contact me for assistance. I worked very

hard to get this waiver for my son, and it was worth every minute of

the three year battle. (It shouldn't take you this long.....I had a

lot to learn on how to navigate the system). We will save on average

$7,000 year from this waiver and we already have great private health

insurance. I can not tell you the burden this takes off our lives.

My private email is alisonhoward @ att.net (no spaces). I am happy to

help.

Alison

> Hi all, I was wondering is there any trick to paying all these

> medical bills and stuff? We are flat broke minus some and yet have

> to keep seeing more and more docs and visits and meds etc for my kids

> and after getting all of those, I can't pay electric or water or

> anything! WE have applied for assistance through the hosptials and

> have some, but all these copays add up to a small fortune each

> time...like today $12 gas $15 copay $30 meds and now we have to pay

> for a home nebulizer becasue Autumn is still wheezing and needs it.

> Then another appt friday, then 4 next week and no matter how I try to

> schedule them together I jsut can't make it all work. My son Skye is

> supposed to be getting help for his probs (Aspergers, anxiety, OCD)

> but I can't pay for it, just the basic appts...we have good

> insurance but the copays add up....is there something out there that

> I could apply for? I am desperate, I swear I've applied for

> everything so far. Then we found out one of autumns ear tubes came

> out and she just got them in may...ahhh, how do you all do it? I

> stay home with the kids and my husband has 2 jobs and always works to

> try to make ends meet but they never do. Any suggestions?

>

> mOm to Autumn 19.5 mos RSS athsma, Summer 8.5 weeks 7 3/4

> lbs, Ocean 3, Skye 7