any help for bipolor

my twin sis has bipolor and is having a hard time with it . She can't afford the med and the treatments , Dr. bills ect.. so I beleave some times she tends not to take meds right all of the time. about a mounth ago she had a bad fall back and tried to kill herself , but after a very long night of talking with her along with her ex and our mom ;we got her to go to the hospl. she got in thr Dr. face when asked about killing herself  so they kept her over night . they tested her for drugs ect. They put her in a rehab and got her help and said that most of the cost would be covered by the state. Well she got the bills in the other day and now she can't pay. My ? is do any of you know of any one that could help with these bills. most of the meds are covered thru a drug co. but the hospl. bill is well over $7,000 , the ride to the rehab is over $500 . this is what they did'nt help her with. Also do you know of any talk groups for bipolor that meet in Arkansas , you know people that have the same problems who can talk with each other. Thank you for your help!

[shawn47]

Have you talked to the hospital about it? They may have a protocol, not really a program, for absorbing the bill.  Or they may reduce the bill and agree to reasonable monthly payments.  Or they might just agree to monthly payments.  Ya never know.  What's important, though - and this is from personal experience - is that you establish and maintain communication with the hospital's billing department.  Don't drop out like i did because they'll sic collections on you and that's an even bigger bummer.

Maybe Craig's List has some sort of info for local-area BP groups...?

[deanna1]

my sister did ask about the bill and they said as long as she pays some no matter how much , then they will not send to a collection . But as you may know she just feels like her health is not worth that bill. her kids need to eat! Hay thanks I'll check on some of the things that you told me about.

[sheltercrow]

My first bill came to 5800. I told the billing people I couldn’t afford it. I got two bills I ignored. I went back three more times and received no more bills. The last time was for 10 days in the psych ward. The hospital has funds to cover the indigent but there are few forms that are let out to the public. The billing administration people will most certainly fill out the forms to send the Medicaid/Medicare people regardless of what is communicated to you. All hospitals are issued moneys for that purpose and as a cost cutting chore do not inform the public nor provide the forms to apply for them.

[deanna1]

Thanks , we will ask about paperwork . I have someone looking at the hospl. bill because she thinks it is to high for for what we went in for. she asked for a Itemized bill to see if they billed her for something that was not done or is for something else. How long have you had bipolor ? My sister has known she had it for the last two or three years but only saw a family Dr. for it. a month ago she told her oldest daughter to tell everyone good bye and that she loved everyone , but she hated the way she felt and the out- come of it . she said she tried to drive off into a river but something stoped her. then she drove to a hotel to take something and she did'nt have eough money. she then drove around . I was calling her every five to ten min and the whole family was looking for her. a few weeks ago she cute her arm ,but one of the girls came in on her , so she stoped. she does not want them to see anything.You know this has been going on for years . As a twin I always knew when she was in trouble and went to her , but sence my 7 year old was born I do;nt have those  feeling any more. I hate it because I know even with all the help she is getting now that we got her to go to the hospl. she will keep trying and I just can't know any more when she is like this . This is a Great fourm , I wished she had the internet so she could talk to people like you! Thanks

[melodious1]

NAMI (The National Alliance on Mental Illness) is a great resource. They can direct you to any consumer groups in the area, and would perhaps know about funding her care.