Apparently, it’s Thursday
Things are a little crazy this week, and I pretty much forgot I needed to write a post. I’m pretty certain I was planning one on why you sometimes need to spend money on yourself, even if it seems like you shouldn’t. I guess that post will come next week.
Yesterday we submitted a rather important application, with a $300 application fee. We’ve gotten the email that they’ve received the application and will let us know if we’re accepted probably in the next week or so. (Yes, I’m being vague, at least until we’re accepted in to this process.) Anyway, that has been a big part of my focus.
My other focus right now is that we need to get the MIL qualified for Medicaid. It’s possible that she flat out qualifies and we won’t have to do anything, but we don’t know yet. That process is also weighing a lot on my mind. Her 100 days of Medicare covered SNF care will be up in April, and it’s very doubtful she’ll be ready to come home by then.
In addition, we found out today that her insurance company (who is also my employer) is now trying to say that her care is custodial, not skilled, and therefore isn’t covered by Medicare, because she’s making very little progress. The facility is fighting that, and you can bet I will be, too. They’re trying to blame a traumatic brain injury. But the last brain injury she had that I’m aware of happened in 2000, and she recovered from that, and was living on her own up until she went in for knee surgery in October 2011.
Her recent setbacks have all come since mid-January. And considering there were times when she didn’t even know we were in the room, the fact that she’s trying to communicate with us (even if she can’t find the right words) is, in fact, progress.
It’s a frustrating process financially and emotionally.
I am very grateful for our roommate J, this week, as he’s made dinner both on Tuesday night and tonight, when we just didn’t have the energy. Having a third person to make the dinner certainly saves us from going out to eat- which trust me, we would have tonight if there weren’t chicken cacciatore in the crock pot.
So that’s where things stand. I hope you’ll forgive tonight’s rather rambling post. I hope to be back on target next week.
I feel your pain on the health care issue. It took 6 months for my son to get his "special" chair and I have a primary insurance and a back up. Part of it is the "reps" fault. However, I do not have a choice in durable medical providers so I am stuck. Then again, the chair cost $10K so insurance was not just going to "approve" it.
Just an idea…If you are trying to figure out the "system" you might be able to find a support group on Yahoo (I have found 4 medically related groups for my son). Other people who live in your state may provide you with more information to get Medicaid, etc.
Thanks for the thoughts. I know the system- I work in healthcare. As I mentioned, my employer is my MIL's Medicare Advantage insurance provider.
The folks at the SNF will take us through the Medicaid process. From what we understand, it's best not to do anything until after the application, and then divest assets if needed. Looking at the basic information available, though, we think it's possible she won't need to divest any assets. But you never know until you apply and medicaid gets back to you.
Ramble away! The beauty of having a blog is it's yours and you can do anything you want with it. Express yourself, share ideas, educate others, and wait for it, ramble! I do it myself, as you know about my insurance battles of late. Hope things get better and good luck with your super secret application!
Not that I don't ramble all the time, but I try to generally keep my blog posts slightly more focused and on topic. It's a writing exercise for me. But every once in a while, yes, rambling is called for.
My wife and I have several weighty family issues going on right now, so I understand too well how it's going for you. It's as if we have parallel lives going. For our jobs, we smile, do our 'thing' and come home to the latest crisis and the decisions that have to be made. Life is something, isn't it?
It is definitely something. C and I recently made the decision this year that we couldn't let some of these "life happens" issues push back the other goals we were working on. It adds some stress, but it's good stress, because it's working towards what we want instead of just handling what life is throwing at us.
It's so sad when you are already going through enough emotionally that this gets added on top of it. Wishing you the best of luck when dealing with the insurance, we all know that isn't the easiest task.
Your roommate sounds nice and I am glad he helped you guys out this week.
We do have the best roommate. I won't lie about that.
Dealing with the insurance, though, is one of the easier things for me since it's my job. I know exactly who to yell at and what forms need to be filled out. But I'd still rather not have to be arguing with it.