Bipolar and nowhere to turn...H

MyOMy · 09-22-2002, 12:59 PM

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.

09-22-2002, 01:56 PM

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

pennyb · 09-25-2002, 03:39 PM

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?

MyOMy · 09-25-2002, 10:45 PM

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.

pennyb · 09-26-2002, 04:19 PM

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