Where to start

[geebug]

A little background:  I have an assortment of symptoms that all seem to be covered by ACM, but I've never been diagnosed.  I'm unemployed, uninsured, and don't yet have any sort of financial assistance.  

My symptoms have been worsening over the last several years, and now the dizziness, upper back pain, and pressure in my head are almost constant.  

I know I need to see someone, but I don't know where to start.  I've been considering going through the ER at one of the hospitals that offers charity care, but I haven't had much luck with that in the past (they told me I had a sinus infection and then the doctor tried to charge me for an office visit, even though I saw him at the hospital).  My only other options seem to be making an appointment with someone and just paying them off as I can or applying for Medicaid and waiting until I get it (assuming I do).  

I'm kind of at a loss, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks, in advance!

[selmaS]

   Bumping up

[geebug]

Irislita, thank you.  Insurance companies aren't always easy to deal with, but it's definitely better to have insurance than to be on your own.  

I'm going to do whatever I can to get them to do an MRI.  If they tell me it's stress again I may just cry.  I heard that so many times when this first started.  

Thanks again for your kindness and support.

[irislita]

I am sorry u r dealing with insurance issues.i wish i could give u more support.here in europe i think its almost impossible to be without insurance...thats a good thing i guess.everybody should be able to get medical aid.i hope u find a way to get at least an mri.i am sorry to say that,but i know that u have to mention non stop ha to force the drs to make u an image...otherwise they ll leave u with muscle relaxers and say its stress...

[geebug]

Hopefully it will.  Thanks. :)

[selmaS]

  That would work.....

[geebug]

I think this time she's using the bipolar diagnosis she got.  Her psych is much more helpful, so maybe it will work out this time.

[selmaS]

  Well even if it were mental, there is a way to qualify for disability with that as a dx,.....

[geebug]

I'll be sure look for that thread.  She did have an attny the second time around, but her pcp didn't send the records he was supposed to and has generally been really unhelpful.  He seems convinced that her problems are all mental.  She'd see someone else but her options are very limited.  The whole situation is just disgusting.

[selmaS]

  I've been told if u get denied once, go in with an appeal with an Attny.....that is what helps....I also have a link or a thread here on how to appeal SSID as well....I will bump that thread up.

[geebug]

I hadn't thought about clinical studies.  That might be worth looking into.  

I'm a little apprehensive about trying to navigate the whole Medicaid/disability system.  My mom's in similar shape with the same sort of symptoms and she's been denied disability twice.  We're hoping the third time's the charm for her.  According to them she's just not disabled enough.  So I'm afraid of getting the same sort of runaround.

I might wind up trying the ER, just to see what they can come up with.  

Thanks again!

[selmaS]

  U may be able to get one in a ER....u never know, there r also clinical studies u can check out, but I also think u need a DX....

U may want to appeal to them saying ur health is failing and u need a dx and do not have coverage, it may be enuff to get the coverage too.

[geebug]

Thanks, Selma!  I've been without coverage for about 7 years now.  

Thank you for digging up that link for me.  It looks like I'd need to have a diagnosis that's on the list of conditions before that would help me, but it's still good to know that such a thing exists.  

[selmaS]

  This is what I found  -

Compassionate Allowance.  Here's a quote from the website:  "Social Security has an obligation to provide benefits quickly to applicants whose medical conditions are so serious that their conditions obviously meet disability standards.    Compassionate Allowances (CAL) are a way of quickly identifying diseases and other medical conditions that invariably qualify under the Listing of Impairments based on minimal objective medical information. Compassionate Allowances allow Social Security to quickly target the most obviously disabled individuals for allowances based on objective medical information that we can obtain quickly."

============
  

Here's the link to the SS website:
http://www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/

[selmaS]

  Hi...there is a way to get emergency coverage...I know it was posted in a thread, so I will see if  I can locate that for u....

But there is a way to speed getting things passed so u have the care u need.....

How long r u with out coverage?is it more then 6 month?