For those inquiring about my niece, Sarah, here is an update. She is out of the hospital and has learned that she has stage 3 colon cancer. You can google it and find out way more information than you ever wanted to know. My eldest sister had the job of telling me.
As you might remember, Sarah has no insurance. If you desire to help, you can make checks out to her (Sarah Rawson). You can send to me or to her parent's house. Please email me at patricknjacob@aol.com if you desire addresses. Also, I am sure Sarah would appreciate just a kind word of support and positive energy. Again, email me for the address.
This type of cancer is beatable. It is going to be a hard battle though. Please include Sarah in your prayers.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Life as a poor person
It seems that breaks are hard to come by these days. Fanciful thoughts led to a belief that things were finally getting easier for my family. However, it was just that -- fanciful thoughts.
Insurance is one big deal. The boys are on a state funded program, but the program is very restrictive. We went back to our old family practice that we haven't used in four years -- because that doctor accepts the plan. My son's psychologist accepts it, but his psychiatrist doesn't. Out of pocket for the psychiatrist is $135 per hour.
My husband lost his job after 10 years. His severance pay kicked us out of food stamps. The majority of that money was used to pay past due bills. It doesn't matter though, because on paper DFS has decided that it doesn't matter that we were behind on bills or whatever -- it is still too much.
There are programs in place that would allow me to get my meds at a greatly reduced cost -- except that I am a veteran. Veterans are supposed to use the VA for medical care, except that they use your previous year's income. That income doesn't appropriately represent our present situation. According to the VA, it doesn't matter. It is too much money, so benefits are not available. Long story short is that if a previous year's income is above the current guidelines, then VA benefits are not available -- and neither is assistance from the drug manufacturers.
Is it tense in the household? You bet. Do I know how to change anything? Not a clue.
Insurance is one big deal. The boys are on a state funded program, but the program is very restrictive. We went back to our old family practice that we haven't used in four years -- because that doctor accepts the plan. My son's psychologist accepts it, but his psychiatrist doesn't. Out of pocket for the psychiatrist is $135 per hour.
My husband lost his job after 10 years. His severance pay kicked us out of food stamps. The majority of that money was used to pay past due bills. It doesn't matter though, because on paper DFS has decided that it doesn't matter that we were behind on bills or whatever -- it is still too much.
There are programs in place that would allow me to get my meds at a greatly reduced cost -- except that I am a veteran. Veterans are supposed to use the VA for medical care, except that they use your previous year's income. That income doesn't appropriately represent our present situation. According to the VA, it doesn't matter. It is too much money, so benefits are not available. Long story short is that if a previous year's income is above the current guidelines, then VA benefits are not available -- and neither is assistance from the drug manufacturers.
Is it tense in the household? You bet. Do I know how to change anything? Not a clue.
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