I am helping an elderly relative from Texas who has recently been
diagnosed with cancer that will require extensive and expensive
treatement and testing.
She is married, 61 years old, a legal permanent resident, and has no
income of her own. Her older husband is covered by Medicare and
receives social security benefits, which are the family's only income.
I would like to know:
1. What types of federal programs are available that she might be
eligible for?
2. What types of state TX programs are available that she might be
eligible for?
3. Can hospitals/ treatment centers refuse care if she does not have
insurance? For example, some PET scans refuse to schedule without
insurance authorization. Can't we just be billed for those and try to
pay out of pocket?
When answering about federal and state programs please let me know (if
that information is available), whether she should apply for personal
reimbursement or whether it has to go through the treatment center.
Thank you. |
Clarification of Question by
answernic-ga
on
16 Sep 2003 06:07 PDT
I am not interested in being pointed to websites that are selling
information or have libraries of links. I am looking for the actual
agencies that provide assistance that my relative is likely to be
eligible for. Thank you.
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Request for Question Clarification by
bcguide-ga
on
21 Sep 2003 21:07 PDT
Hi,
What type of cancer?
Some groups target specific cancers...
Thanks
bcguide-ga
|
Request for Question Clarification by
asking-ga
on
21 Sep 2003 21:50 PDT
Answernic -
Can you clarify *when* she became a legal resident? In doing some
initial checking, it looks like there is (or was in 2002, at least) an
important cut-off date of 8-22-96. People arriving before that are
(or were in 2002) eligible for many more programs than those who
arrived later.
It may also help me or any other researchers that may be working on
your question to know where (generally) in TX she resides. Different
cities/areas have different levels of public hospital care available
to uninsured patients. (I'm assuming she's uninsured.)
thanks -
asking-ga
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Clarification of Question by
answernic-ga
on
22 Sep 2003 07:34 PDT
Hello and thank you for your questions and insights thus far.
1. The type of cancer is "malignant melanoma of the foot".
2. She has been a legal resident since the 1970s.
3. Yes, she is uninsured.
4. She resides in the San Antonio general area. Austin and Houston are
also convenient.
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