Insurance mess - Where is mom to go ? - Cancer: Lung Message Board

mattsmom105 · 11-22-2006, 04:31 PM

Hi...I had previously posted last weeks thread "MOMS SCLC".... After back and forth with the physical rehab telling us not to worry about the insurance, the doc said 2 weeks ago she had about 2 weeks to live, so she gave up her apt. which she cant get up into now anyway,(many stairs and is a tiny studio) so we chose to leave her at the facility... Shes been on hospice for 1 week now.. Hospice says her insurance hospice benefit is almost maxed out because they are paying for inpatient stay. The hospice nurse finally evaluated her yesterday and said she probably has 1-2 months to live.. In the mean time, shes been on COBRA 17 months, and next month its the 18 month max, the rehab cannot keep her for she doesnt qualify for rehab treatment, so they called me this afternoon to say she is being released Friday to my care.. which is great but I am scared, I am a single mother, only child, I have a 1 BR apt, a bipolar child, on welfare and medicaid myself... They call me the day before Thanksgiving with no time to prepare or even make phone calls to get info before she comes, I would think they will bring a hospital bed, wheelchair, bathroom supplies, etc here.. I will need to apply for Medicaid for her because they will only give a pass from facility to facility and we are several counties away..Which take several weeks and then find a new facility that accepts Medicaid that also has no waiting list for Medicaid beds.. OH brother. This truly is a shame for people with no money are tossed aside. God Bless my mother..This is a nightmare. Any suggestions?

bt8425 · 11-22-2006, 04:52 PM

Sorry you are going through so much with your Mom's illness and the financial delemma. I have not read your past posts so I don't know your Mom's age etc., whether she qualifies for Medicare or SSA DIsability. Seems to me though they have quick programs for having one qualifyied for Medicaid, thought the Hospital would have started that for her some time back. The best action I can think of at this time is for you to contact your caseworker and explain your problem. They are sending Mom home to you, therefore you become her caretaker and supporter, would think she'd be covered under you for Medicaid if not her own. Act fast I'm confident she can get Medicaid quite quickly. She needs that hospice right now, and who knows but GOD, once she's cleared for Medicaid, doors will open for her to be reviewed and possibly treated by others. In addition I would contact local politicians and the church for assistance. Keep your faith, somebody in the system let you down, don't accept it. Praying for you in South Jersey. Keep in touch with us

mattsmom105 · 11-30-2006, 06:01 AM

Well, ambulance brought mom to my home Friday evening, she declined quickly Sat and Sunday. We were told Hospice doesnt work on weekends. My 2 aunts (her sisters) came down to spend the night Sunday. I called the hospice nurses 3 times that night for her pain was getting worse. THey told me to give her more morphine each time I called (every 2 hours). By 4am we told Mom to let the pain go, and she was gone. Ofcourse we are all glad she did not have to suffer any more, but we all miss her sooo much. She was such a trooper., such a strong woman. God Bless My Mother. Until we meet again in heaven.

Janmarie2 · 11-30-2006, 10:21 AM

My sympathies to you and your family.Having just lost my mom this past Saturday I know how you must be feeling.I pray that God comforts you so you may find peace with her passing.

I have to say I do think something is really wrong with our health care system. I think if you have had insurance for years then get a terminal illness that they should have to cover you until death as you have paid for it all that time and when you need it the most it is too often Bye Bye. I also get angry at insurance companies as working a hospital that does not turn people away for lack of pay( which is how hospitals all should be) we get alot of homeless people who often get better treatment then those with insurance and often have longer stays as there is no insurance company breathing down the doctor's back saying get this patient out of here. Doesn't seem right what happened with your mom's insurance.

As for Hospice not working weekends? Never heard of that as hospice care is usually and needs to be 24/7. I find what you to have encountered to be rather very worrisome as they need to be there no matter what day or time of day it is. My mom died this past Saturday and the Hospice nurse came when my sister called as well as the equipment guys to deliver oxygen and the social worker after her death at 9:55 PM and that is how it should be.

I am sorry that you have had such bad experiences.Hang in there and find some comfort in knowing that your mom is at peace will not have to deal with any illness ever again. Take care, JanMarie

ellengrace · 12-01-2006, 04:17 PM

Dear Michelle

I offer my prayers and deepest sympathy for you and your family, at this time of loss. God bless your dear mother, her suffering is over and she is at rest.

Since reading your initial post in this thread, you have been in my thoughts many times: it shocked me to think of your mom having insurance, rehab facility and hospice care swept away....in the UK we take so much for granted. I certainly did, until I learned of your dilemma and took time to reflect on how much there was for me to be grateful. I kept that thought, and with that thought was always a prayer for you and your mother.

Your Mom being brought home to you at the weekend, with little notice to allow you time to prepare, with no support offered for her care....it's outrageous. It's hard to imagine how you must have been feeling, the full responsibility of caring for Matt and your mother on your own. I'm glad your aunts were with you at the end, and I hope they managed to give you some emotional support and comfort.

I've looked at some of your other posts, and know you are a strong woman and a wonderful mother to Matt. You are also a caring and sensitive respondent to others on these Healthboards. Your mom herself must have done a fine job raising you to be the person you are.

I hope Matt has coped well this past week, and that you take good care of yourself. You are both in my prayers.