Sis in law in induced coma, update and questions

[ezbtr]

She was taken off drugs, can hear (we think) open eyes just a bit, had brain surgery ,now she got moved to a Kaiser hospital,( San Francisco area) she just turned 50, had some high blood pressure, headaches for years, not overweight/no bad habits.
Now they talking long care facility, who the hell can afford this??? Her 3 kids (17-30) visit every day, the one lives in Hong Kong and has been there a month. Her husband is an asshat.
Her hospital bills gotta be at $900,000 at least, she does have good benefits (works for UCSF), but good grief, how to folks handle this financially???
Would welcome any comments, Thanks guys

 

[alldodge]

This is always hard to try a figure out what to do. You say she has good health insurance so guess the first thing to know, what is and is not covered, and is there a catastrophic limit. What is needed to make sure coverage continues

 

[ezbtr]

Oops, meant to include that she had a stroke - day of my daughters wedding/July 13

 

[ezbtr]

This is always hard to try a figure out what to do. You say she has good health insurance so guess the first thing to know, what is and is not covered, and is there a catastrophic limit. What is needed to make sure coverage continues

Yeah, we're on it, my gf has much better luck talking to her sisters daughter(32) , I'm asking all of what you mentioned

 

[alldodge]

My mother in laws husband had a stroke several years ago and they both had saved for retirement. After about a year and nothing was getting better they decided together to get divorced to help save the house and funds. There is a 5 year window that needs to be passed before Medicare cannot touch the funds.

I hear of folks all the time loosing everything with an illness. Wish I have something that could help. You and her family are in my thoughts and prayers

 

[ezbtr]

Thx guys, we keep looking for more info - on that note, in TX there is a law, that no medical expenses can take your house - not sure if I said that right, but I started a FREE homestead act on my house, took me maybe 15 mins online.

 

[ezbtr]

Well gf flew back to CA again, as of this a.m. her sis has eyes wide open, getting PT, moved to a Kaiser hospital, feeding tube still in stomach, but she moving hands now too!!

 

[wahlejim]

That is very good news!

In regards to long term care, a lot of public employers have long term disability benefits. It should help with cash flow. If she can no longer work, she can start collecting SS and start getting medicaid to help as well.

The name of the game at this point is cash flow management.

 

[ezbtr]

That is very good news!

In regards to long term care, a lot of public employers have long term disability benefits. It should help with cash flow. If she can no longer work, she can start collecting SS and start getting medicaid to help as well.

The name of the game at this point is cash flow management.

yes - my point to them

 

[Old Ironmaker]

$900,000.00 for hospital expenses. My Lord almighty I wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing I owe a million bucks and besides that dealing with a loved one needing 24 hour a day health care. It's times like this I feel so blessed that I am Canadian. I have never ever once reached in my pocket for any heath care in my 64 years other than dental and eye care. I had a Colonoscopy and Endoscopy just Thursday and it cost absolutely nothing out of pocket. Even parking is no cost if you have a Disabled placard in the window of the car. Starting at 65 all prescription drugs are covered with a $100.00 a year co pay. It's not free as we pay high taxes and 40% of those taxes go to Provincial (State) health care. With all the Federal, Provincial, Municipal and 13% tax on all retail items other than food bought in a grocery store, take out or restaurants charge 13% tax, cigarettes and booze about 60% taxes, they call it Luxury tax. No idea how much on Marijuana, legal across the country now. Our total taxes amount to about 50% of our incomes annually. We call July 1st tax free day. Yes taxes are huge. But I can't believe the most powerful and richest country in the world doesn't have universal health care. There are Americans that say we are Socialists, maybe so but I don't have to worry if I can afford an MRI, CT Scan, X ray, a scope or surgery to save my wife, children's or my life.

Johnny D

 

[ezbtr]

$900,000.00 for hospital expenses. My Lord almighty I wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing I owe a million bucks and besides that dealing with a loved one needing 24 hour a day health care. It's times like this I feel so blessed that I am Canadian. I have never ever once reached in my pocket for any heath care in my 64 years other than dental and eye care. I had a Colonoscopy and Endoscopy just Thursday and it cost absolutely nothing out of pocket. Even parking is no cost if you have a Disabled placard in the window of the car. Starting at 65 all prescription drugs are covered with a $100.00 a year co pay. It's not free as we pay high taxes and 40% of those taxes go to Provincial (State) health care. With all the Federal, Provincial, Municipal and 13% tax on all retail items other than food bought in a grocery store, take out or restaurants charge 13% tax, cigarettes and booze about 60% taxes, they call it Luxury tax. No idea how much on Marijuana, legal across the country now. Our total taxes amount to about 50% of our incomes annually. We call July 1st tax free day. Yes taxes are huge. But I can't believe the most powerful and richest country in the world doesn't have universal health care. There are Americans that say we are Socialists, maybe so but I don't have to worry if I can afford an MRI, CT Scan, X ray, a scope or surgery to save my wife, children's or my life.

Johnny D

Theres gotta be ways around it, they own nothing accept one 3-4 yr old car (he's pissed away 2 houses and tons of money), at least in TX you can NOT lose your house due to medical bills...

 

[ezbtr]

She's sitting up in bed, moving her left arm, eyes wide open, PT helping!!

 

[Old Ironmaker]

She's sitting up in bed, moving her left arm, eyes wide open, PT helping!!

Good. That's the important part, she is getting better hopefully.

As far as a 900K bill, you can't get blood from a rock. Up here we are told stories of hospitals turning away patients in need of emergency care and being turfed out of hospitals because bills can't be paid. Is there any truth to these stories?

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Theres gotta be ways around it, they own nothing accept one 3-4 yr old car (he's pissed away 2 houses and tons of money), at least in TX you can NOT lose your house due to medical bills...

At least in Texas, what about the other 49 and territories?

 

[82rude]

Im a canuck and though I mostly agree with your statements abut our health care there can be the darkside also Old Ironmaker.My next app to see a spec for my bulging disc is JAN7!!! My back clearly shows wear (bad) and a bad bulge .The only real option is sugery to stabilize the area but that looks to be far far in the future.Every day i pray to the lotto gods so i can fire all the idiots up here and go get it fixed in the states pronto.No system is perfect.You know i live in the Soo,health care hell.

 

[ezbtr]

Im a canuck and though I mostly agree with your statements abut our health care there can be the darkside also Old Ironmaker.My next app to see a spec for my bulging disc is JAN7!!! My back clearly shows wear (bad) and a bad bulge .The only real option is sugery to stabilize the area but that looks to be far far in the future.Every day i pray to the lotto gods so i can fire all the idiots up here and go get it fixed in the states pronto.No system is perfect.You know i live in the Soo,health care hell.

I've heard good and bad about Canadian medical, but here in the US the docs/hospitals HAVE to treat you, we have MANY instances of folks from Mexico, coming right across border for treatment, never paying and the go right back - and forth...

 

[alldodge]

She's sitting up in bed, moving her left arm, eyes wide open, PT helping!!

Sounds so great to hear

 

[ezbtr]

She's sitting up, moving both arms, cognizant ,feed tube in stomach, cant talk yet but improving!!!

 

[alldodge]

Such good news, still pulling for her

 

[ezbtr]

Such good news, still pulling for her

Thank you! - Myla has been back twice since July 13 - a week at a time, we in central TX, she starting new job here in a few days, better bennies(immed), 10 miles closer, Seton is an excellent hospital