Some of us are in the same situation-my husband is a building contractor, when the economy went down and took a lot of developers with it -(who just happened to owe us approx $200,000.), we could no longer pay for our health ins.-the cost of which was approx. $20,000. a year. With that being said my doctors and specialists have to be paid out of pocket, it's costing us a fortune. I have been spending around $1000.00 per month on doctors-the specialists don't have self-pay rates like some of the labs and my family doctor. For the first time in my life I actually went to the state to apply for medical help. This was the most humiliating experience of my life, but I think god wanted me to know what it felt like. It's hard to go from having everything to having nothing. Hang in there honey you are not alone. Love and support-Kathy

HAVE YOU TRIED TO GO ON disability , I AM ON IT , THEN YOU GET INSURANCE WITH IT ,I HAVE MEDICARE,, SORRY YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THAT. IF YOU PAYED IN TO SOCIAL SECURITY YOUR ENTITLE TO IT, I HAVE MD PLUS FIBROMYALGIA ,AND MIGRAINES AND ANXIETY, LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY HELP , HANG IN THERE, YOUR FRIEND SHIRLEY

Sometimes people are suprised to find out that there is help. My first stop would be the public health department. I would go there and explain my situation and the need for specialized care. Many states have some forms of limited insurance for low income folks. I do not know what your state has but find out! Shirley is right on the money as far a long term solution which would be Medicare. The problem with this is that you need to have your LTD approved first. Two years after your official disability date they will automaticly put you on Medicare. Make some calls to the Health department of drop by and see them. Be persistant in trying to get help, make them work for you! There are also sometimes Christian agencies who help out with medical care, ask around. Keep in mind the word NO are the first two letters in the word NOW. Sometimes you are only one no away from a NOW!!!!

God bless and open door for your daughter Catalinav in Jesus name!
Amen

Rich

The best thing you can do for yourself now is to apply for SSDI. It takes a while (took me 2yrs) but if you have a doctor who will write a letter stating that you can no longer work, you'll get it. I had to jump through hoops: which means I did everything recommended by my hearing and balance doctor, including surgery and vestibular therapy. Once you are on disability, you can apply for medicare. Until then, if at all possible, you can hook up with your county healthcare department for both healthcare and dental care. It is based on your income. There are certain state requirements you must meet to get a hospital or doctor's office to consider you as being indigent. You can find this information from a hospital's business office. Having been in the medical field, I know that this can be done. One of our hospitals here is specifically is owned by the city. These places use a sliding scale based on your income. I hope that this helps. Most pharmacies offer $5.00 scripts for a 1 month supply. Always tell your docs that you want generic medications. Am keeping you in my prayers. Hugs~June

I hope I don't offend anyone because alot of people are against it, but what about Obamacare? I keep hearing about it and "insurance for everyone" but I haven't heard of anyone actually on it? Would it be worth checking into that?

jwlee35

From what I understand Obamacare isnt supose to kick in till 2014, I also do not know if this covers unemployed people, I think it is targeted at workers who do not currently cary insurance, eather because they choose not to or because their employer dose not carry it. Great question, I think we are all in the dark about what Obamacare will do. I do know the rules for it have not been written yet, that is concerning.

June, thanks for your input, I had hoped we had someone on this site who had some working knowlege of the subject catalinav mentions, it is really scarry to be in the middle on what to do about money. I was fortunate, really blessed to get stuff to go right through but still had to go through a real rough time getting income, getting bill paid, cutting back everything and even going to court on several occasions.

God be with you catalinav, this is really a hard time to go through, i got a big hug and hang in there girl!

Rich

Thank you all for you replies. I am currently waiting to see a judge for my disablity. As for the state, well these are the clinics I am going through, I also just recently got approved for the indigent program through the hospital. Unfortunatly, the hospital only allows me help through the ER, which will just put a band aid on things and send me home, the clinics are doctors going through their first year so really don't know much about Menieres. Kathy your so right, this all is very humbling. I went from making 65,000 a year to my partial retirement. I have had to learn to live a whole new way, but I am ever so grateful that I have a roof over my head, food to eat. I never thought about going to the health department for help. I will defenitly go in tomorrow and see what they can offer. Again thank you all for your responses.

This might be a silly response however we used to live in the DC area and there they have research trials going on for Menieres disease. If you live in an area that has a research hospital and/ or university you might be able to be part of a research study that usually provides meds and doctor's services. Again this could be quite silly but you never know?