This may not be the right place for this but I need advice!!!

**smk0817** · 02-23-2008, 02:51 PM

My grandparents are in serious financial trouble. My grandfather has been in and out of the hospital for the past 5 months with knee surgery, pacemaker placement, kidney failure...you name it, basically it has happened. He has literally had more days in the hospital than out of it. He's 78 yrs old and was working FULL TIME prior to this. (He was a security guard at a hospital.) My grandmother has been unable to work for years due to having several heart attacks and surgeries thereafter.

Here's the deal:

Medical bills are mounting. They are only bringing in about $1800 a month with both of their Social Security checks and a little bit of retirement. They have a house payment of $430 a month, my grandmother's health insurance of $400, some credit card debt, and monthly bills like electricity, telephone, food, gas, etc. Oh, I forgot the biggie...their drug store bill is outrageous. It varies from month to month (depending on health) but is averaging around $500 a month.

I have no idea what to do. They are falling deeper and deeper in debt. My grandmother just let her health insurance coverage lapse because she can't afford it anymore.

I've told her they need to apply for medicaid but I'm afraid they will be over the income limit.

CAN ANYONE GIVE ME SOME OTHER IDEAS?!? I love my grandparents deeply and I feel like I have to do something to help them out. (I'm the only grandchild and my deadbeat father is nothing but trouble when he's around.) I've been sending them gift cards to use for groceries but I feel like there is more I should be doing. I don't want to send them cash because I feel like my grandmother is not very responsible with money. Just as I was discussing her lack of health insurance with her today she started telling me how she was looking at embroidery patterns at Wal Mart last week and how she bought (charged)a bridal shower gift for some lady's granddaughter that she's friends with.

Stephanie

**Missy** · 02-23-2008, 03:05 PM

google your states income requirements for medicare. I am sure that the 1800 qualifies. our local united way has a website, yours might too where they have all kinds of services for elderly ppl, and those needing a little help.

**suki** · 02-23-2008, 03:07 PM

Go with gramma and talk to the Social Workers at the hospital. They can be very helpful and will likely recommend the following. If not, do it anyway.

Apply for Medicaid. If denied, the hospital and some docs will be in a position to consider writing off some of the bills. Medicare should be covering most of your grandpa's bills. Doesn't gramma have Medicare? If not, check into this.

Make sure their not confusing statements as bills. You know how they'll send you a copy of the statement but say that insurance is being billed... Medicare is a little slow to pay and some elderly confuse these for actual bills for which they are responsible.

Ask every docs office for a cash discount if you are indeed paying all of these bills. Ask the hospital and docs offices if they have anything available for those unable to pay or to set up payment plans (can sometimes work a discount).

Does grandpa have Medicare D insurance? Check into this. Also, check into cheaper drugs at Wal-Mart (some for $4) and into assistance programs (just google drug assistance programs and you'll find several).

Does the area where they live have an Area Agency on Aging or something similar. If you cannot get help from any of the above or find it confusing/difficult, go to the Area Agency on Aging. They have social workers trained to help in these situations. If you cannot go with Gramma, make the app't and send her.

Hope that helps.

**Neeley** · 02-23-2008, 03:23 PM

I am not sure if this link will help or not. It's a part of the Medicare website where they guide you through about 6-8 questions about the situation to see if you(your grandparents) wold be eligible for Medicare. I answered the questions and it only took about two minutes and you do not have to give any personal info other than date of birth.

http://www.medicare.gov/MedicareElig...nguage=English

**JanieD** · 02-23-2008, 03:30 PM

Some really good advise concerning the medical bills/medicare. Don't forget to check with the electric, phone & gas companies. Often they can set up a payment plan or give information on groups that can provided assistance. Let them know what is going on to avoid late fees or services being disconnected. So sorry to hear about their financial trouble on top of all the medical issues. Hope everything works out very soon.

**leezza** · 02-23-2008, 03:35 PM

Sorry about this happening to your family.

*Check all their medications see if any are on the Walmart $4.00 list

*AAA, members get discounts at various pharmacy for ½ off price, (check website to get more information for your area.)

*like Suki said you can sometimes contact the manufacturer of medicines and they have special programs for low income people.

*Don’t they get Social Security medical benefits??

*Were either of them members of the US military??? If so they should qualify for veterans benefits.

*Check into reverse mortgage to see if it may help them.

**None of my business but it may be worth sitting down with them together and having a financial discussion with them, JMHO.

*You can go onto their states website and see what kind of help is available in their area, I did this for friends and you can come across a lot of different stuff, including help with fuel, telephone, ect…

This is all I can think of right now….

Good Luck,
leezza

**suki** · 02-23-2008, 03:41 PM

Leezza, FYI, there aren't social security medical benefits... that falls under Medicare or Medicaid.

**rachelj** · 02-23-2008, 03:51 PM

If they do qualify for medicaid - many times it will go back and pay for the last 3 months of medical bills.

**C@rol** · 02-23-2008, 04:06 PM

BenenfitsCheckup.com

http://www.benefitscheckup.com/

Check this site also to see if they qualify for
any assistance in their state.

**smk0817** · 02-23-2008, 04:21 PM

They have Medicare. The bills are AFTER what Medicare will pay.

**suki** · 02-23-2008, 04:33 PM

Are the docs and hospital not accepting medicare, (meaning they accept whatever medicare pays and there is nothing more)? Something is wrong with this picture. Also, then why is gramma buying insurance... is it for a supplemental?

**smk0817** · 02-23-2008, 04:49 PM

Yes, the health insurance was supplemental. Geez, she could have just taken that $400 every month and saved it for what Medicare wouldn't pay. I just had a LONG talk with them about their finances. I live 4 hours away from them so I haven't been involved in their day to day decisions. I feel they have made some bad choices along the way. They are stubborn and set in their ways and REALLY don't want to change some of their habits. I was blunt and told them they need to make some changes or otherwise I would not be able to help them out. Do you know how hard it is for a 33 yr old to tell that to her 74 yr old grandmother?

**suki** · 02-23-2008, 04:52 PM

Yeah... I know. Sorry you have to go through that.

$400 a month for a supplemental is ridiculous!

I do hope you were able to point them in the direction of getting some help. I really think they are paying more than they have to for their medical. Really, Area Agency on Aging may be the most helpful one-stop fix for them. They are so knowledgeable they will have contact info and answers.

**qtkitty** · 02-23-2008, 07:45 PM

Go to the DSS office in your town.. there they take care of welfare, foodstamps, and Medicaid... ask if you can talk to a representative... take in your parents medical bills, house payment, utilities and also a letter saying what they make in SSI from the Social Security office. See if they are elegabe for anything.

Here in NC if all the residents in a home have SSI either because of being over 65 or disabled then they automatically get foodstamps.

The medical expenses that they have can help them get these gov benifits.

Also ask them about Liheap... and any other local helping programs for electric or utilities.

**PrairieRose** · 02-23-2008, 10:31 PM

Actually $400/mo. for supplemental or medigap insurance if it were for 2 people is not all that out of line. My ddad pays $200/mo. for 1 person and it was almost double that for he and my mom. We have an insurance 'check up' about 1 time per year to see if we can do any better for them. It's just really expensive, here anyway and with their physical condition. (well now just my dad b/c my mom died a year ago)

If as one poster said, they were either one veterans they will qualify for free medical care at the nearest VA hospital as well as almost free meds there too. If they were be SURE to check into this option.