MEDICAL BILLS

**bamaprincess** · 11-17-2005, 11:32 AM

Does anyone know of any organizations that help people with large medical bills? My mom and dad are on Social Security (my Dad gets disability). My mom has Medicare, but my dad is not old enough. Anyway, he had a heart attack and was in the hospital and they have gotten the first bill for $55,000 (for only 4 days in the hospital). He went home after four days and ended up going back the next day having another heart attack, they did 4 bypasses and implanted a defibrillator. He was in the hospital that time for 10 days. I really don’t even want to know how much that is going to be. That’s not even counting the bills from the surgeons and other doctors. So, I am wondering if anyone knows of any charities that can help them with this. I have looked on Firstgov.gov for ‘help’ but after answering a whole bunch of questions all it says it that they may be eligible for ‘food commodities’, which will be helpful, but won’t pay these huge bills. I guess I never thought about how much medical bills could cost, because I have always been lucky enough to be able to work somewhere where I have Blue Cross. Any suggestions as to where to start looking would be super helpful. Thank you so much.

**fernykins** · 11-17-2005, 12:05 PM

See if your state hass a plan to help people who have no in isurance, Check to hospital your dad was in
Fern

**babymav** · 11-17-2005, 12:39 PM

Each state has a free care plan for people that don't make enough. Call your local hospital and they will either give you a number to call or send you a form.

**Renee-2kids** · 11-17-2005, 04:07 PM

Try the department of Health and Human services or whatever it is called in your state (welfare offices.) Many states have some assistance through a medicaid program, but each stat runs their own program so they are all different. They might help.

**midwestgal** · 11-17-2005, 04:30 PM

Yes, please do have your parents discuss this with the hospital. Many of the bills that patients receive are designed for the well-insured. There is often a whole other set of numbers for the uninsured or underinsured. I found this out when I was seeing an oncologist several years ago. He found out that I did not have health insurance at the time and reduced my bill for office visits. I went for some blood work, had one little prick, and the bill was $1,200! I hit the roof and demanded that it be lowered. That was absurd! And they actually dropped that bill completely! But I don't want to get going on this too much because I think it is one of the most disgraceful things about life in the States today--the vast number of people who simply do not have access to adequate health insurance. So often it is people who are working hard but absolutely cannot afford those premiums. It is either shelter and food or health insurance. My mother often says, "You can't bleed a turnip," meaning one can only pay what one can pay. People like your dad are in a very vulnerable place today. I hope that it will work out, and they will not have those money worries as well as his health concerns. Let us know!