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Just lost my insurance - what do i do now???
Tue, 03/28/2006 - 21:58Hi, everyone, I am new to the forum. I got on here searching for help.
I just received a letter tonight saying that at the end of this week my son and I both will be dumped from our medical insurance. I am trying hard not to panic. I am 34 and have been diagnosed with epilepsy since I was 14. I have taken Tegretol to control my seizures for most of those years. I also take Celexa to help with the anxiety that I'm sure some of you know can go along with epilepsy.
So what happened to my insurance? We were on Medicaid, and I was in a bad car wreck 2 years ago. I have permanent damage to my left arm, so I got a settlement from it this year. Well, they said that because of that, I no longer qualify. I am trying to finish college so that I won't NEED things like Medicaid anymore. I have one year left. But now, if I don't receive proper care, there's no way I can go to school and work if my seizures aren't under control. I need my settlement money to finish school with, and if they think I can just pay for everything with my settlement money, then they really don't understand how expensive neurologists visits and medicine really are!!!
So here is my question: Does anyone have any ideas as what I can do now? Are there programs out there to help epileptics without insurance, with meds, dr visits, testing, etc? Any info anyone can give me will be GREATLY appreciated.
Comments
Re: Re: Just lost my insurance - what do i do now???
Submitted by saljen on Thu, 2006-03-30 - 13:58
Well, unfortunately, since Medicaid paid some of my bills from the surgery, hospital stay, & recovery visits, they already knew about it. As soon as the settlement came thru, they took their fair share out. I couldn't tell them it all went to bills because they already knew how much did because they were involved in all the proceedings. So its kind of too late for all of that. Plus, I've never been real big on the idea of hiding anything from them anyways, since they let you know that if you do, its a felony.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm REALLY thankful that Medicaid was there to help with all of those bills, considering they were more than $50,000 worth. I just wish that, in the middle of all of this "reform," they could put just a little bit of a human face on it all.
In the end, it looks like I'm going to have to end up spending most of my settlement on paying for my prescriptions and buying insurance for my son and I. A little ironic, me thinks...
Re: Re: Re: Just lost my insurance - what do i do now???
Submitted by spiz on Thu, 2006-03-30 - 14:39
salijen,
Since settlements are a matter of public record unless filed and sealed, the settlement will keep you from getting assistance until it is gone. Then, with receipts in hand, showing the medical and necessities it was spent on in hand...you'll need to refile.
It is ironic and sad considering that medical is not the only necessities in life that are needed, nor the only bills.
Here are some links that may help when the time comes:
http://corp.destinationrx.com/
http://www.freemedicinefoundation.com/
http://www.neddymeds.com/
https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php
http://www.togetherrxaccess.com/
Hope this helps!
-Spiz
Re: Just lost my insurance - what do i do now???
Submitted by Jana33 on Wed, 2006-03-29 - 12:36
WELL YOU HAVE TO TELL THEM THAT YOUR SETTLEMENT IS GONE YOU SPENT IT ON BILLS. I ALSO HAVE MEDICAID AND YOU CAN'T LET THEM KNOW YOU HAVE ANY TYPE OF SETTLEMENT.