Hi, I have a 23 year old nephew that was diagnosed as bilpolar 2 years ago. At this point he is in a hospital with what was an almost total breakdown. He has no insurance because he cannot hold down a job due to being bipolar. My brother and sister in law have tried everything they can think of to try to get him insurance, including contacting state representatives. They are currently trying-with a lawyers help- to get him SSI. Does anybody know where else they maybe able to get him any insurance? He cannot get the help he needs because of lack of insurance. We live in PA. Thanks for any replies.

Does PA have a Mental Health Hospital/Clinic. We have them in TX and they are free for indigent or people with no insurance.

Have you tried to check into different types of disability plans. If you read the ssa handbook you would see how bipolar/depression is accepted. then from there he can get any type of assistance really quick.
hope this helps some
let me ask you a question is he on paxil by any chance?

Penny, I have no idea what all medications he is on, or has been on in the past. My brother does not say too much about his conditon. I think that my brother has just come to grips with "this is not something he is going to get over". I understand that this is a disease just like any other. I think that it took my brother awhile to fully understand the disease. I hsave a good friend that also is bipolar-she has been thru shock therapy-and she told me that sometimes she would rather have cancer-at least they know how to treat that-its not hit or miss like it is for a diagnosis of bi polar. You know what I mean? This medicine may work, or it may not work-we will just have to keep trying..... If my nephew could just get some help with the insurance, it would be a load off of my brothers mind.

Hi myomy:
Ya know it's really hard to say if he would overcome his condition in the slightest but i can tell you that if he is on antidepressants especially paxil it's only going to cause more harm then good. The worst part about it is that doctors don't seem to want to come to grips when it comes to bi-polar vs medications.
Did your brother contact SSI to see if he could get the assistant needed. With a doctors not on your nephews condition they are sure to accept him and give him assistance. They kinda have no choice since he is so bad off.
Best of luck to you

it took some time for me to get on disability but I also am a social worker so i know about programs and entitlements in my state. I have to go on welfare, called medicaid becuase i had no income and have medical fees. SOme one in the hospital should have helped him out with getting on some entitlements a swell as social security , what a.......!

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[This message has been edited by chrysanthemum (edited 01-09-2003).]

My nephew had an appointment with Medicaid last week. The lawyer-which my brother and sister in law are paying $100 per hour for help- told them that there is no way that welfare could turn my nephew down, that they had to help him. Well, as it turn out, he was turned down. He was told to sue his soon to be ex wife for alimony, this makes alot of sense as my nephew is behind on child support payments as he cannot work because of being bipolar. This is why his marriage broke up in the first place. Medicaid even looked at my brother and sister in laws income in determining his eligibility, this also makes no sense as he is a 23 year old adult, and his parents income should have no bearing on his chances of getting help. He would be homeless if it were not for his mom and dad. Now he is facing possible jail time for non payment of child support. Is'nt it nice to know that illegal immigrants can get all kind of help and that as an American born citizen, their is little help we can get from our own government? If my nephew could just get the insurance he needs to get the treatment he needs, then he could hold down a job again and be a productive member of society. Now my fear is that he may try to commit suicide before he gets any of the help that he needs.

I know this sounds odd but can he go to a hospital ward? Stay there under some sort of breakdown order? I don't understand why he's not getting the help he needs? What about a mental institution evalution, not that he's mentally insane or anything, but if he needs some time away from everything to recouperate why not try that? Aren't the records (if you self-commit youself) to an institution sealed? I'd check on your state laws and get a second opinion from another attorney, preferably one that you can trust maybe a friend within the legal system if possible. Don't know if any of this can help but it's worth a try. Hope everything turns out ok.

It will be hard to get SSI, but it can be done. They may need to look around for another attorney that specializes in disability cases, that's what I did. It will be harder for him because of his age. I was turned down I believe 3 times before getting a hearing date before a judge, but once that happened everything was alright. I was turned down due to my age 25 at the time, and because I was an electronic techician.

Here we have a counseling Clinic you pay what and if you can. If he is suicidal you can take him to the emergency room and they have to keep him on a 72 hour hold with or without insurance, at least you can here.

Good Luck and God Bless

Tell your Brother and Him to hang in there, it's just not a fast solution unfortunately.