Amy
Rademaker – “Local chapters of organizations like: Rotary,
Kiwanais, Lions Clubs, Shriners etc.”
Corin
Nava – “Check to see what programs the hospital has available.
Mass General had parent rooms to sleep in, a shower facility, a kitchenette for
parents to use, a laundry facility, free parking passes for the local garages
if your child was there longer than 30 days, free meal trays to breastfeeding
moms, and meal tickets for the hospital cafeteria. However, these things
weren't mentioned upfront. A lot of it would be mentioned weeks after we were
there as an afterthought. I would ask the social worker to look into what
services they offer parents ASAP.”
Judi
Toth – “In addition to the Federal and State Programs mentioned
already, here are a few additional programs and assistance available for
financially strapped families, especially if you have a sick child, spouse or
family member at home:
SSI - Keep on appealing if you get turned down!!!! Request
a hearing in front of an Appellate Administrative Judge from SSA. I can't
emphasize this enough as I, myself, was turned down 3 times (for 28 separate
disabilities, already receiving 90% VA disability and 100% OPM disability) and
finally requested a hearing in front of a judge where I was deemed immediately
disabled retroactive 3 years! If your child has a learning disability, hearing
loss, medical problems that persists after birth, the CHILDREN ARE ELIGIBLE!!!
Even ADHD & HDD are considered disabilities. Your child upon receiving SSI
automatically becomes enrolled in Medicare and while you may not think you need
this now, if you or your spouse were to ever lose your jobs and insurance, or
switch jobs, some insurance companies may not pick up your child due to
pre-existing conditions and the Medicare is a God-send then. If you say you
have insurance now, Medicare actually becomes the Primary and your other
insurance becomes secondary and will cover all those co-pays to the different
doctors. Some States have no-cost insurance for low/working class people and
their children - but you are limited with where you can go, whereas, if you
have the Medicare in addition to the State Insurance, you are not quite as
limited and don't have to pay quite as much out of pocket expenses. Not all
States will allow you both Medicare and their State insurance but some do.
Local Programs, either on the County or City level: WIC
(Women, Infant & Children) to help out with formula, milk, protein sources
for both mother and children; Food Stamps - don't be afraid of the stigma of
going on food stamps! These days food stamps are issued on a debit type card
and you pay for the food stamp items on that and your non-food items can be
paid for using cash, debit card, etc. The only person knowing you are using the
food stamp debit card is the cashier.
Military: You can go to Army/Air Force/Navy Emergency
Relief which can assist in grants, especially when faced with the death of a
child; and/or grants or low cost loans to help pay bills. You can't use this on
a monthly basis but the counselors can assist you with your bills by referring
you to a debt consolidator, so that your bills are consolidated into one
smaller payment and they can also help with reducing your high-paying interest credit
cards and loans at the same time paying that smaller amount. Military members
should automatically head straight to their base's hospital counselor and
enroll yourself in the Exceptional Family Member Program. This program ensures
that the active duty member and family is stationed at a military base that can
handle their child's health problem. Many overseas locations have exceptional
medical hospitals and DoD schools. Sometimes, during early enrollment in the
program, the deployed Active Duty member can return home or be prevented from
deploying to war until the child stabilizes while enrolled in the EFMP.
Red Cross: The Red Cross can assist families that are
facing medical emergencies during times of natural or other disasters (fires,
power outages, floods, etc.) to ANY family, especially if you have a medical
emergency. The Red Cross is also the organization to contact IMMEDIATELY if you
have a medical emergency and if your spouse or child's parent is at another
location than you and your child. They can cut through some of the red tape to
get the spouse/parent of a child in a medical emergency
to get them in touch with you and possibly assistance in getting them on
emergency leave to be with you and your child.
Utility Companies: If your child (or other family member
you reside with) is on life-sustaining medical equipment, i.e., oxygen,
respirator, etc., contact your utility companies (including phone company) to
be placed on their emergency medical list. Normally, what this means is that
during a power outage, they will respond to your area first. It also means that
if you are facing financial difficulties, they cannot shut off your service. In
case of a power outage, ALWAYS make sure you have an old-fashioned telephone
(not cordless type) because you can use these phones during a power outage,
whereas the cordless phones cannot be used. Also, even if you cannot afford a
cell phone, if you have an old cell phone that's service is disconnected or if
you have a family member or friend that has an old cell phone (with charger of
course), you can still dial 911 from any old cell phone.
Credit Cards - if you have high interest credit cards,
call the creditor and explain your medical situation with your child and ask if
they can lower your credit card interest if it's high (some card's APRs are up
to 29.9%!!! Check your monthly statements for your APR and you may find that
what started out as a low interest card was only for 6 months and then jumped
up high after that initial 6 months. Most credit card companies will reduce
your rate vs. not getting a payment, even if your credit is messed up,
especially for medical reasons. Also, check to see if you were enrolled in
their insurance program where if you got sick, lost your job, etc., that
particular insurance program will pay your monthly credit card payment. It's
better to try to work with the creditors directly sometimes and you won't screw
up your credit.
Some of these suggestions are also good to know even if your cherub is healthy.
You never know when something pops up that can cause chaos in your life!?”
Tammy
Spohr – “I'm not sure about other states but in California there
is:
Medi-Cal = even with a PPO or HMO you can qualify for
Medi-Cal as a second insurance. Sometimes there is a share of cost.
California Children's Services (CCS) - they usually pick up
as a third party (after your insurance and Medi-Cal are billed). You have to
have Medi-Cal to qualify. They were really helpful when it came to getting
Bryston his RSV shots.
In Home Support Services (IHSS) = when you are home with
your CDH babe, they will pay you to take care of them, when the care is beyond
normal care. They rather pay the parents than hire nurses to do the job. (you
have to have SSI to qualify).
The state and system is there to help you. Contact your
hospitals Social Worker and ask for help.”
Kara
Hess
– “Ohio offers BCMH (Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps). It is a
supplemental insurance. If you don't qualify for it they also offer a cost
share program. It's a lot of paperwork to fill out, but worth it.
Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) funding is also available
usually through your county health department or board of mental retardation
and developmental disabilities. They give out coupon vouchers that can be used
for things such as therapy required toys, tools, cups, spoons, etc. It can also
be used for thickeners, supplemental food, and therapeutic services. Here in
Ohio, one can qualify for up to $400 every 6 months.”
