Relapse with no insurance. What do you do?

[ShootingStar]

I recently had a bad relapse, and luckily I was covered by health insurance at the time so I could get an MRI and Solu-Medrol. But now I 've lost my job and will have no insurance starting June 1.

What do you do when you have no insurance, no income and have a relapse? Just deal? I have applied for Medicaid but my children are 18 and 20 now so I doubt I'll qualify.

Our friends in more enlightened countries need not reply

[SandyK]

Hi. I have no health insurance either so to answer your question...just deal with doctors not helping. It puts a burden on my shoulders that I can't shake but I have looked everywhere for help and it isn't available for me. I try to eat healthy and laugh as often as possible. I have to stay positive. MS is not the only thing in my life so I try really hard to not give it more time than it deserves.

Hang in there. Our time is coming.

[scorpion]

If you don't mind going in debt go to your local ER. They have to treat you. If they do not provide sufficient help keep going back to the same ER until they do or try other ER's until you find one that will help you. You deserve the most effective treatment. I have a friend that recently went to the hospital for liver failure and he had no insurance since being laid off from his job. He received a bill three months ago for $80,000 so he called the hospital and set up a payment plan of $20.00 a month;all he could afford. Good luck Sandy.

[tara97]

go on the nutritional forum at this sight and try your hand at that and yes go into debt with the ER. I have insurance and am in debt with the ER so I dont even care anymore. problem with having a chronic illness and going to the ER is that they approach you like "oh your head has popped off before and you didnt die so I think youll be fine." I had some weird motor seizure and walked into the ER completely ataxic and this being a new symptom along with bulging eyeballs and frozen neck I was very frightened and they said go home and follow up with your neuro. I was driven away from that hopsital and straight to the next where I was admited minutes before it spread to my whole body including my ability to breath.
anyway look at nutrition cuz it put me into remission.

[jimmylegs]

i do not have insurance, but i did when i was dx'd. i was approved for rebif. i decided against it. i went on a heavy supplementation program and extreme dietary mods and have not had a relapse since dx. not to say i'm in perfect health, and not to say that i have not experienced new frightening symptoms sincre dx, but they all turned out to be nutritional deficiencies from my ignorant nutrient-starvation diet prior to dx. and sometimes resulting from uninformed supplement dosing after dx. ie high d3 with no mineral balancing = bad. you can do it. see signature links below:

[NHE]

I recently had a bad relapse, and luckily I was covered by health insurance at the time so I could get an MRI and Solu-Medrol. But now I 've lost my job and will have no insurance starting June 1.

What do you do when you have no insurance, no income and have a relapse? Just deal? I have applied for Medicaid but my children are 18 and 20 now so I doubt I'll qualify.

I go to my local county health clinic. They have a sliding fee scale based on income. Note that sometimes the doctors at my local health clinic are not specialized enough for MS care and I've had some other problems with them, but they're good enough for basic prescriptions and blood tests.

In addition, if you have either a St. Francis or St. Joseph hospital in your area, then they have a "charity care" program with a sliding fee system based on income and current financial liability (monthly debt, bills, etc). It should help keep you from getting into severe debt.

NHE