Last post Fri, Mar 07 2008 6:01 PM by JeannieL09. 14 replies.
Hi , my 45 year old sister suffered a massive stroke in Jan. 2006. She was employed for many years in the Pennsylvania public school system and had Blue cross/Blue shield coverage. Her insurance stopped 6 months after the stroke. She and her family (they were under her insurance) do not have any coverage. She desparately needs therapy. I have been traveling to her home twice a week ( I live in New Jersey) for the last year and a half to help with her family and try makeshift therapies using kitchen gadgets etc. I have come a long way with her and feel if she was being treated by therapists she could definately recover. She just started receiving social security disability but her family still has to pay a lot for her medication and cannot afford doctors or therapy. Is there someway I can help her receive care? She has a family that needs her. She was a hard worker and good citizen. How can she not receive medical care that she needs to recover and get back to being a mom to her children? Can anyone advise me as to what to do to get her help? Thank you.....Jeannie
Jeannie, I wish I had some good advice for you, but I don't have anything. It's ridiculous that our health insurance is tied to our work in this country. The only thing I can suggest is, if possible, have her husband try to get a job at Starbucks. They have amazing insurance and employee benefits. Good luck with your sister. It's a tough, tough road.
You have every reaosn to be irate! I would be in the same situation if it weren't for my husband's job. Get this: I have a friend who just went through a stem cell transplant that was initially approved by her insurance company. When they got the $1,000,000 bill they revoked their approval. Huh? God, I hate the way we have our insurance structured in this country. Does your sister have Medicaid?
Liesl, My brother-in-law was told that she might be able to get medicaid in a couple of months because they have to wait 2 years from the last therapy session she received. Meanwhile in all the literature I've read about strokes, they state that therapy is so crucial in the months following the stroke. If this is so , why are they making her wait 2 years....again it doesn't make sense. Would you ( or anyone ) know if she does get medicaid, would she be able to get therapy, doctors , braces etc. The poor thing has gained weight (from immobility) and the initial brace they fitted her for has become too small and her special sneaker is also very worn. I have ordered various braces ( also very expensive) for her and tried many different sneakers but, alas, they do not do the job. She needs an orthopedic doctor to fit her footwear and brace. I just wish i could help her.....Jeannie
WHAT?! That's ridiculous! I don't know anything about medicare, unfortunately. The good news is, they now know your brain continues to have plasticity even years after strokes. Cold comfort, I know. Also, check out ebay. I got my wheelchair on ebay and it was MUCH cheaper. Even with shipping.
I can totally relate to your sister ,except rhat I had my stroke at the age of 34 in JULY 2005. i also have 3 kids and have not recovered.My girls were 11,12,and 7 at the time. while i am glad to still be here with my family, i have been very frustrated with being able to get health care and rehab since i also lost my blue sheild health insurance through my job with the state of california. i i finally became eligable for medicare in january 2008 so i guess i finally got lucky.good luck to you and your sister. keep your head up.
Melainesol, Thanks for your concern and I'm glad you are getting some help. How were you affected by your stroke and how far have you come if you don't mind me asking? What exactly can you receive from medicare? I'm so glad you are able to type on the computer....I hope to get my sister to do that.....Right now I'm working on her speech. She had no speech at all and now she has a good vocabulary but it is hard for her to put words together. I'm still working on it though.....Thanks, Jeannie
Hi Jeannie.
I live in PA and once a year I have a scan done on my left artery for
any blockage, my right artery is completly
blocked, this caused my stroke. I lost my insurance six month's
after my Husband died " he was the one who had it"
This cost me over $400 a test. I was told that i could claim
hardship and they would pay all or part of the expence.
I don't know what part of PA your sister lives, i'm in Dover Township
and York Hospital offers this.You menchioned your sister is on medication
which means she sees a Doctor for her prescripitions? If so he might be able
to suggest therapy and from there she might be eligible.
I hope this therapy is not considered an option but rather a must.
My Stroke was not as severe as your Sisters. I hope she recovers
and she is in my prayers. Thank God she has such a loving sister
as you are.
Celeste, Thanks for your concern. My sister lives in Fairless Hills (Bucks County I think). My sister only sees a docor about once a year because they have to pay for the visit and the medications . One time I went to the drug store to pick up her meds and my brother-in-law handed me $600. I thought he was kidding but the meds were about $560.00. I just could not believe this. I'm so sorry you lost your husband. i hope you have someone else there for you. My prayers are with you....Jeannie
IT IS HARD FOR SOME ONE TO GO THROUGH WHAT YOU ARE ALL GOING THROUGH. MY HUSBAND WAS THAT WAY WHEN HIS SEIZURE DISORDER STARTED GETTING WORSE. HE APPLIED FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND HAD TO WAIT A VERY LONG TIME TO GET APPROVED, BUT THEY ALSO TOLD HIM TO APPLY FOR MEDICARE. AFTER DOCTORS NOTES AND REPORTS AND MY LETTER STATING WHY HE COULD NOT TAKE CARE OF HIM SELF AND ALL THE MEICINES HE TAKES THEY APPROVED HIM FOR MEDICARE. I AM THANKFULL THAT HE IS ON THAT BECASUE HIS HAS GOTTEN WORSE. HE IS HAVING STROKES AND SEIZURES LEFT AND RIGHT. HE TAKES 17 PILLS AT NIGHT JUST TO HELP HIM SLEEP AND SURING THE DAY HE TAKES ABOUT 20 PILLS FOR ACID REFLUX, CHRONIC BACK PAIN, BREATHING PROBLEMS, PARK. DISEASE AND MORE. SO EACH MONTH I GET AT LEAST 15 BOTTLES REFILLED. TRY CALLING MEDICARE AND START ASKING SOCIAL SECURITY WHAT THEY MIGHT RECCOMMEND . IT IS HARD IN THE BEGINNING AND SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET EXTRA HELP. HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING WILL WORK OUT OK. MICHELE
Steelers32, You sound like you know the deal with meds. I wonder if my sister can get re-imbursed for all the meds she spent money on these last two years when and if Medicaid kicks in? I feel for you with your situation. I hope things get better and will keep you in my thoughts, Jeannie
$560.00 for meds, it's awful when people have to dig into their pockets for meds or
go without them. I'm kinda new to PA and this State is big, i don't know how far
from me Fairless Hills is ,there are so many Countys here i just stay close to
the area i know. My Home State is CT, being in PA is very different for me.
Thank you for your kind words, and yes i'm living with my Son and Daughter-in-law
we went 50-50 and bought a house .. 50-50 this way they can't kick me out lol.
I wish you the best and God speed in the healing of your Sister. I hope
you find some assistance soon. .. Celeste.
My husband had his stroke at the age of 50, we had a nine year old son at the time. His Blue Cross/ Blue shield would not pay for any Rehab. The policy had in the small print that they did not cover rehab for stokes. So this left him with no rehab and because he could not talk he lost his job and his health insurance and his hope. This also happened to my best friend, she was only 52. My husband and my best friend had to wait two years after they stated receiving SS disability for them to get Medicare. Then we could not find any doctors to write for them to get Rehab, their reason was it was to late. If you have a stroke under the age of 65 or older than 18 there is no help. This has been our experience. We were told about a place that gets there funding from United Way that could not refuse to help us with rehab. We live in Fl so I could not tell you where to go in your state. If I was you I would try and do some research on United Way in your state. You might call some law firms and ask if they know of a placed that gets funding from organizations that could help your sister. I say this because that is now I found the place we went to.
