Medical bills

[Ruthie5671]

My DH was the lucky receipient of a kidney transplant last month. Prior to the transplant, he had already accumulated numerous medical bills from the hospital and various physicians. We have been doing our very best to pay the bills, but unfortunately since there have been so many, he has been sent to collections on some accounts.

So now that we are post transplant, we have double the amount of medical bills for the hospital and physicians, along with prescription medication that is quite costly. DH gets Medicare, draws a disability check and works part-time (he was off work for 4 weeks unpaid after the surgery). Due to our income, he does not qualify for any state funded aide. I have found a program with one of his more expensive prescriptions that might be able to help offset that particular co-pay. Do any of my budget minded friends know of any resources we can tap into to assist with these costs? We're most certainly not looking for a hand out. We both work very hard and unfortunately are dealing with debt issues that are separate from the medical bills issues (another story for another time). Any ideas or links to other resources are appreciated. We have already been blessed that he received the transplant. Now I just need to keep the bills paid.

 

[angwill]

My DH was the lucky receipient of a kidney transplant last month. Prior to the transplant, he had already accumulated numerous medical bills from the hospital and various physicians. We have been doing our very best to pay the bills, but unfortunately since there have been so many, he has been sent to collections on some accounts.

So now that we are post transplant, we have double the amount of medical bills for the hospital and physicians, along with prescription medication that is quite costly. DH gets Medicare, draws a disability check and works part-time (he was off work for 4 weeks unpaid after the surgery). Due to our income, he does not qualify for any state funded aide. I have found a program with one of his more expensive prescriptions that might be able to help offset that particular co-pay. Do any of my budget minded friends know of any resources we can tap into to assist with these costs? We're most certainly not looking for a hand out. We both work very hard and unfortunately are dealing with debt issues that are separate from the medical bills issues (another story for another time). Any ideas or links to other resources are appreciated. We have already been blessed that he received the transplant. Now I just need to keep the bills paid.

Everything is based on income. For meds check out needymeds.com For medical bills you need to speak with the hospital billing department and each billing company to see if they can help. If you qualify at the hospital for financial assistance most of the other billing companies will help with a copy of the hospital financial aid award letter. This was the route before national healthcare but it is my understanding that now that everyone has to have coverage the aide is no longer required or there is a lot less to go around. There might also be kidney transplant charities google it. Good luck to you.

 

[LJSquishy]

First, I would like to say congrats to your husband getting a kidney transplant. I hope he's doing better. I think you are probably great, hardworking folks who want to take responsibility for your debt and I hope you find some programs out there to qualify for help.

Have you already spoken with the financial coordinators at the hospital(s) and doctor's office(s) he has been a patient of to try and work out a payment plan? I know hospitals are very flexible with interest-free payment plans if you just ask. They just want to know they are getting paid. Sometimes they let you pay as little as $25/mo. Ask the same question at all of the medical facilities he has been seen if you haven't already.

I don't have any other advice for you since I haven't been in a situation like yours, but I know everything will work out for you. Hang in there!

 

[bumbershoot]

Have you already spoken with the financial coordinators at the hospital(s) and doctor's office(s) he has been a patient of to try and work out a payment plan? I know hospitals are very flexible with interest-free payment plans if you just ask. They just want to know they are getting paid. Sometimes they let you pay as little as $25/mo. Ask the same question at all of the medical facilities he has been seen if you haven't already.

Yes yes yes and yes.


Before the transplant, did you meet with financial coordinators? From my friend's liver transplant experience I would be very very shocked if you didn't. At UW Medical Center in Seattle, they want to make sure that you have the means (whether that's insurance, etc) to cover everything, so you don't start skipping medications and cause the transplant to fail, so they are very thorough, and I assumed that ALL transplant programs would be the same.

Contact every office and get on a small payment plan with everyone. There is NO reason to be sent to collections since most providers just want *something* coming in.

Also, go over those EOBs with a fine tooth comb! Make sure it's all being billed correctly and covered correctly.

 

[angwill]

Yes yes yes and yes.


Before the transplant, did you meet with financial coordinators? From my friend's liver transplant experience I would be very very shocked if you didn't. At UW Medical Center in Seattle, they want to make sure that you have the means (whether that's insurance, etc) to cover everything, so you don't start skipping medications and cause the transplant to fail, so they are very thorough, and I assumed that ALL transplant programs would be the same.

Contact every office and get on a small payment plan with everyone. There is NO reason to be sent to collections since most providers just want *something* coming in.

Also, go over those EOBs with a fine tooth comb! Make sure it's all being billed correctly and covered correctly.

You would be shocked at how many hospitals, doctors offices, and medical billing companies are not flexible with just something coming in. I have helped more than one person find ways to pay medical bills. I don't know when or if the $5 or $10 paid per month worked for not going to collections but in my experience that is not longer the case. It is a percentage based on how much is owed. The one hospital I worked with wanted the total divided by 12 no less or off to collections you go. They want it paid off before the next years deductibles kick in.

I helped with a cancer patients payment for meds where the hospital cancer center had a person in their office not doing her job. She kept telling the patient that they were working on getting their paperwork and bill to the cancer charity that was helping them with their huge insurance deductible. 2 months of phone calls she kept saying she was working on it and not to worry. Most times she didn't bother to call back. She did absolutely nothing so the hospital billing center sent it off to collections despite being aware of the situation being their own workers fault. They simply said there was nothing they could do to prevent it going to collections without a thousand dollars payment. The meds were just under $12,000 deductible $6000. I have yet to find a medical billing company who will take under $50 per month and most want $100 or off to collections you go and you can negotiate smaller payments with them. If you have 20 plus bills coming in from everywhere and everyone involved in a surgery and treatment that is more than most people can handle financially.

 

[melissakrichards]

My hubby had a successful kidney transplant 4 years ago. Prograf has a national program out to help cover the cost of the drug for several years. You should check it out.

 

[Brownsfan317]

First of all, congratulations and I hope he is doing well. My husband had a transplant 10 years ago and I can relate to the large number of medical bills.

In addition to speaking with a financial counselor at the hospital, try https://m.helphopelive.org/. They are a fundraising site that focuses on transplant and provides a lot of tools to assist in fundraising.

Not sure how it is now, or what your insurance situation is, but 10 years ago, my husband was eligible for Medicare because of the kidney failure. We also had insurance at my job, so it helped to have two insurances.

Good luck!! I wish him a speedy recovery!

 

[Ruthie5671]

First, I would like to say congrats to your husband getting a kidney transplant. I hope he's doing better. I think you are probably great, hardworking folks who want to take responsibility for your debt and I hope you find some programs out there to qualify for help.

Have you already spoken with the financial coordinators at the hospital(s) and doctor's office(s) he has been a patient of to try and work out a payment plan? I know hospitals are very flexible with interest-free payment plans if you just ask. They just want to know they are getting paid. Sometimes they let you pay as little as $25/mo. Ask the same question at all of the medical facilities he has been seen if you haven't already.

I don't have any other advice for you since I haven't been in a situation like yours, but I know everything will work out for you. Hang in there!

We did speak to the financial coordinator at the hospital in the process of being approved for the transplant. It would not have been so overwhelming if DH didn't have other medical bills (previous hospitalizations) that have just stacked up. We have talked to the financial aid department at the hospital and the monthly amount they are requiring is much more than we can afford. So we're paying what we can, but it's just not cutting it.

My hubby had a successful kidney transplant 4 years ago. Prograf has a national program out to help cover the cost of the drug for several years. You should check it out.

It's acutally not the Prograf that is crazy expensive. It's the Cellcept and his phosphorus medication that combined are over $100 a month, plus the cost of his other 15+ medications. Glad to hear your hubby is doing well after four years. I hope for the same luck.

First of all, congratulations and I hope he is doing well. My husband had a transplant 10 years ago and I can relate to the large number of medical bills.

In addition to speaking with a financial counselor at the hospital, try https://m.helphopelive.org/. They are a fundraising site that focuses on transplant and provides a lot of tools to assist in fundraising.

Not sure how it is now, or what your insurance situation is, but 10 years ago, my husband was eligible for Medicare because of the kidney failure. We also had insurance at my job, so it helped to have two insurances.

Good luck!! I wish him a speedy recovery!

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out. DH does have Medicare, but as you know, it doesn't cover everything. Congrats to your husband for being healthy for 10 years.

 

[laurafergie]

First of all, congratulations and I hope he is doing well. My husband had a transplant 10 years ago and I can relate to the large number of medical bills.

In addition to speaking with a financial counselor at the hospital, try https://m.helphopelive.org/. They are a fundraising site that focuses on transplant and provides a lot of tools to assist in fundraising.

Not sure how it is now, or what your insurance situation is, but 10 years ago, my husband was eligible for Medicare because of the kidney failure. We also had insurance at my job, so it helped to have two insurances.

Good luck!! I wish him a speedy recovery!

I was just going to suggest Medicare. Also my father (transplant 4 years ago) became eligible for Disability through Social Security. He was also a Veteran and his primary care was transferred to the VA because of the crazy prescription costs. Speaking of the VA, if he is a Veteran, there is a little known program called Aid and Attendance Pension. If your DH is a veteran, I would get him enrolled in the system as soon as possible. Things move very slowly at the VA.

 

[sherreis]

Try looking for resources through transplantliving.org

The Kidney Foundation:
https://www.kidney.org/transplantation/livingdonors/pdf/FinancialResourcesLivingDonation.pdf

http://uvahealth.com/services/transplant-services/financial-resources/support-services

American Kidney Fund:
http://www.kidneyfund.org/

Hope your husband continues to do well. Hope you can get rid of this financial stress so you both can enjoy his new level of health.

 

[lanejudy]

Genentech offers a co-pay card for CellCept. I don't know if that will help you, but it's worth looking into. www.cellcept.com

Many pharmaceutical companies may offer assistance, particularly for the highly expensive, life-giving meds. I'd look up the meds he's taking and see what you can find.

Another resource to ask is your pharmacist. They often know of programs that help people pay for needed meds.

Good luck!

 

[lvillotta1]

Glad to hear your husband is doing well. As far as pharmacies are concerned. SAMs club or Costco is the cheapest around. I have saved thousands of dollars. You do not need a membership card to use these stores. Look into this as this could really solve some financial hardship. At my Sams club the are amazing. If they do not have cellcept most likely they can order it knowing that your husband will always need it.

As far a medical bills go I have also had a ton of debt too. I wrote all my bills out from smallest to largest and allotted x number of dollars to each one. Since I am a nurse I was able to work extra shifts to pay them off. Could you work more or get a second job?

 

[Jedana]

If he's on Renvela, there are several programs that are available through the company. You may have to have your social worker help you with it.

http://www.renassist.com/patient-assistance-programs


I'm assuming that he was on dialysis, and that he has a social worker through the clinic who was helping with all this. If not, use the social worker from the transplant program--this is what they are there for. Hopefully he had Medicare parts A and B as well--the part D is not very good, but if you don't have private insurance, he needs it for the medications. He'll lose his Medicare coverage after 36 months, so get on that now.


DH is on the list (almost 2 years now), and this is one of the problems we will be facing as well.

Anyways, try these places for help:

http://www.aotaonline.org/medication-assistance-program.html

http://www.rsnhope.org/resources/medication-assistance/

American Association of Kidney Patients
3505 East Frontage Road, Suite 315
Tampa, Florida 33607
1-800-749-2257
aakp.org

American Kidney Fund
6110 Executive Boulevard, Suite 1010
Rockville, Maryland 20852
1-800-638-8299
kidneyfund.org

Dialysis Patient Citizens
900 7th Street, NW, Suite 670
Washington, DC 20001
1‑866‑877‑4242
dialysispatients.org

National Kidney Foundation, Inc.
30 East 33rd Street
New York, New York 10016
1-800-622-9010
kidney.org

National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
3 Information Way
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
1-800-891-5390
kidney.niddk.nih.gov

Lots of luck to you both!

 

[abmitch01]

was it a non-for-profit hospital? ours has a form you fill out for charity care and they settle for pennies on the dollar. And our hospital still takes $25 a month payments in good faith.