I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Medicare/Insurance => Topic started by: rsudock on March 17, 2011, 09:23:11 PM
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Well this has been the week from hell to say the least...complete with emergency room visit. (see other post in general dialysis section)
so I have been putting the pressure on my social worker to help me with my COBRA premiums. I told her about the American Kidney Fund because of course she had NO IDEA that they helped dialysis patients with COBRA. (I mean why the hell would she?!?!? It is only her job to find resources for dialysis patients is it not? I digress...) So I filled out all the forms and gave them to her asking her to give me a copy of the completed form once she faxed them. I called her the next day to confirm and she casually slipped in there, "Well I put that your family and boyfriend help you pay your bills because in the finacial form you have your expenses as $2,000 and no income." Looking back now I should have said, "What the hell is your problem no my family doesn't help me!! My brother is a D patient himself, my sister unemployed living with my mother, and my mom and I are estranged. You send the correct form now!" Well I didn't because obviously I am stupid...
So I called the American Kidney Fund on Monday and guess what! They denied my application! I was crying to some poor smuck on the phone and said, "You people are suppose to help people and yet here you are NOT helping what the f**k." His only advice...reapply in 30 days.
Anyway so the dumb ass social worker calls me tonight. Did I let her have it...no I didn't. I just said, "Well there is nothing I can do now. I don't really have anyone helping me. My boyfriend is nice enough to make sure I am not starving but he does not pay my bills." Her, "Well you should of told me that I would have refaxed the application." What the f**k ever...no you wouldn't have...And she kept pestering me saying, "Well how are you paying your bills?" It is like she didn't believe me or something...that I actually don't need help b/c I am finding a way to pay my bills, but the bottom line what makes me less deserving then anyone else?
My whole life I have been fighting and overcoming this disease. Never once has this disease ever gotten me "hand outs." I can't control what other people do or decide but I can control my reactions. Plus I can't afford to be flipping out on people my blood pressure can't handle it.
So I guess it is time to sell narcotics? or maybe become a stripper I have the body for it?
xo,
R
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We have learned to do these things on our own. Most social worker don't really know what to do.
You may have already seen this, but there are some agencies in Ohio that might help: http://www.dialysispatients.org/ohio
This has a few more resources:
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/financialhelp/