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Did she take the Cobra insurance from her employer when offered? This is supposed to help people like your Mom who are not eligible for Medicare, and have too much money for Medicaid. Was she hospitalized or will she be? If so, get in touch with the social worker in the hospital and ask what she can apply for to cover this. Depending on what state you live in, there might be some state services available to her.
Did she take the Cobra insurance from her employer when offered? This is supposed to help people like your Mom who are not eligible for Medicare, and have too much money for Medicaid. Was she hospitalized or will she be? If so, get in touch with the social worker in the hospital and ask what she can apply for to cover this. Depending on what state you live in, there might be some state services available to her.
Unfortunately, she was an independant sales rep, so health insurance was not provided.
Thanks for your info, I will definitely look into that.
I was leaving St Elizabeth's hospital and a nurse was taking care of a Hispanic patient. I overheard her say, "I have no health insurance..." And yet she was being treated. After that I asked the admission lady about that... She said a lot of illegal immigrants come in for health care and they DON'T PAY A DIME. The hospital by law has to treat them and they they just WRITE OFF THE EXPENSE.
I say ask a friend to ask the hospital what they would do to your mom if she came in and was treated with no health insurance.
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA)[1] is a U.S.Act of Congress passed in 1986 as part of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). It requires hospitals to provide care to anyone needing emergency healthcare treatment regardless of citizenship, legal status or ability to pay. There are no reimbursement provisions. Participating hospitals may only transfer or discharge patients needing emergency treatment under their own informed consent, after stabilization, or when their condition requires transfer to a hospital better equipped to administer the treatment.
But the hospital will expect payment plan, and may even turn it over to collection agencies.
I was leaving St Elizabeth's hospital and a nurse was taking care of a Hispanic patient. I overheard her say, "I have no health insurance..." And yet she was being treated. After that I asked the admission lady about that... She said a lot of illegal immigrants come in for health care and they DON'T PAY A DIME. The hospital by law has to treat them and they they just WRITE OFF THE EXPENSE.
I say ask a friend to ask the hospital what they would do to your mom if she came in and was treated with no health insurance.
The issue with people without insurance is the hospital must treat them until they are stabilized. Then they are released with presumably no follow-up, although I am sure many return to the ER. I read a story recently of a Las Vegas hospital which went bankrupt because of illegals coming in for dialysis. At times they waited too long or weren't considered critical and were sent home. They would return later at which time they were so sick, they needed hospitalization for weeks - which is what was bankrupting the hospitals.
Being uninsured is not the best option.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Asheville Native
But the hospital will expect payment plan, and may even turn it over to collection agencies.
Which clearly will get nowhere with the indigent and/or illegal. Stable citizens, on the other hand, will be harrassed by collection agencies, and may need to file bankruptcy if they can't work out a payment plan.
Kinda makes you wonder, doesn't it? Why are we legally required to treat these people? If they can come in for free care, even when they have commited a crime, got shot during it, and/or harmed someone else, does this 1986 Emergency Medical baloney still make sense? I think, if you are here illegally, you have NO right to anything. Not a job, not food stamps, not child care, not a drivers license, and certainly not free medical care. But I know. This is not the American Way.
OP...........If your mother has been without health insurance for at least 6 months, she should look into the federal high risk program. As far as I know they can't decline anyone due to pre-existing conditions.
States have high risk programs as well that don't require you be without for 6 months, but they really vary by state as to affordability and benefits.
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