Medical care

[A mother]

Can someone please help me.I have a daughter age 51 , who has a history of drug ans aolchol abuse for many years , however she is clean and sober and has been for almost a year . She found out six months ago she has hepatitis A and B . She has no health insurance , works for a temporary service company, makes a monthly income of less than $800.00. She went through a public clinic for the working poor here in our town and was given the bad news that they suspected she had hepatitis but they would not test her . I was able to find the money to pay for the test and was then told it was B and C.We are unable to get any one to treat her and she can not get a medical card.she was told to apply for diability and then she might get a medical card .
She says no way she can just give up working , and still stay sober , plus she loves working . sorry to be so long , but can anyone tell me where she may get some medical help.She has had no Ct scan and no biopsy . She complains of being so tired all the time , and is always itiching .and her complexion is so red and blotchy. I'm a worried Mother any response will be appreciated . Thanks  God Bless

[fishdoc]

I'm not sure of the numbers, others here will have them at their fingertips... there is something called "committment to care" and the drug companies themselves provide the drugs at no or a very reduced rate.  this is huge, as one member recently posted the total cost of her tx, for geno 1, at $85K.  Fortuneately, she had insurance.  Also visit http://janis7hepc.com/, they have info on no insurance options.  Best of luck, and congratulations on finally having your daughter back...

[mycoldfeet]

Tell her to apply for food stamps and the card comes with approval, you do not have to quit working to be accepted, only if she lives with you, her food and yours must be kept and cooked seperate, Ist you must have a physician, doesn't matter how good he is, but have the results of the test faxed to him, then call Pegasys and let them know her finances, they will provide her medication free with the Drs rx and the results of the test, when her card comes in you can change
drs. Its not a hard or long process. Best of luck.

[Kalio1]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry your daughter is sick, she is lucky to have you be trying to help. Commitment to Care can likely qualify her for treatment drugs but she will have to have a treating physician at a clinic or whereever she finds one. The doc submits the scrip to them and they send the drugs. She will need regular blood work and other tests. Their number is 800 521 7157. There is another one Pegassist, you can google for that number I dont have it handy. Sounds like she is symptomatic, that's tough. It is important she stay clean as you probably know. For me, the symptoms resolved not long after I began treating. I am hit with sides from the meds, but the problems of illness I had are gone. She has to stop that viral assault and hopefully she will start feeling better. I think Hep A resolves on it's own. If she can find a treating physician, she can get the meds for Hep C. Best of luck to you I hope she can get a doctor.

[way]

Talking to doctor on Friday I asked about Vaccinations and he don't worry about HepA, they just would give "I think he said..." GammaGlobulin? or maybe it was just Globulin.
Anyway he said not to worry about it as if it were no problem.

[A mother]

In Kentucky $800.00 a month is too much to get food stamps , when there is only one family member, and even if you get food stamps if you have no minor children you still do not get a medical card . The lady at the social services said she thought it was awful , but seems if your children are grown they figure just let people die, those were her words not mine.
  Thanks for all of you replying ,I knew the drug company will help with the cost of the medication . I understand that they treat the hepatitis C with Intreferon , my other daughter took really large doses for her cancer , she has melonama skin cancer that has spread to her lungs and brain.She took it everyday given through a port ,then took self injections for one long year, she was a very sick lady the entire time.The cancer is still spreading inside her body and she has lasting damage from the interferon, the large doses they gave her does do damage to the rest of the body.I wish you all the best and keep us in your prayers as I will all of you .  Wanda

[cuteus]

that is correct in most states, you do not qualify for medicaid if you qualify for food stamps, they do not come together, each is a separted application, The only time you get everything is with Public assistance.  In some states, the money from the tobacco settlement started health programs for the uninsured. They are called Health Plus in NYS.  The income can be higher than with Medicaid.
One thing I used to suggest to people that applied for assistance was to apply when their income was at its lowest. The counties send a verification of income form that goes back a few months.  So if the person applies when their income is at its highest, they will be denied. But if they apply during the low months, they might qualify and be approved for a yr. At which time they recertify.  THings can be timed so that when recert time comes, the hours worked are not high enough to be denied for Medicaid.
The other alternative is the county clinics that offer care with a sliding scale rate, or a study that might include all meds and tests, like biopsies.