futurehope Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 I have a friend with a sick daughter. The daughter lives in Rochester, MN where the Mayo clinic is. They do not accept her insurance.Are there any options for unhealthy poor people with much debt and no insurance?I'll let my friend know of anything you tell me.Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzygirl Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 could she by chance apply for medicaid?? some hospital have a program or waiver kinda thing.. that the hospital will right off your bill if you meet the criteria for low income...I realize that if she is sick that a possible payment arrange ment maybe hard.. but even if you make an honest effort to pay something everymonth..(even if it is 1-5 dollars everymonth) they can not send you bill to collection or a collection agency b/c you are making the best effort that you can to pay the bill off..just a thought.. ir eally hope that she can get thetreatment that she needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morgan617 Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 I don't know of anything. Sorry. My insurance will pay out of area if no experts are where I am at a certain percentage. So I don't know, they could check on that. If she's a minor medicaid is an option, but then she'd have to drop the insurance she has, I believe. So a rock and a hard place, I'm sorry. morgan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Hi,Maybe she could have all the testing that her insurance are willing to pay at another hospital and then have the rest of the tests at Mayo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yogini Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 I think the Mayo Clinic has a program for people who can't afford it. You may want to check their website or give them a call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
futurehope Posted February 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Thank you all.Rita, I told my firend to look into financial assistance at Mayo.Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunfish Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 here's the link for for billing & insurance at mayo: http://www.mayoclinic.org/billing-rst/it's definitely not a given, but it appears there MAY be some options as far as payment &/or reduced charges. and while it can be time consuming & frustrating, it doesn't hurt to make some calls. based on my experience though these options can be more limited though if someone already has insurance, even if the insurance doesn't cover particular services/providers.as others have mentioned too, i wouldn't completely rule out the insurance they do have yet. there are MANY levels of fighting for coverage before it's a definite no. sometimes getting a case manager can help with the process. again...time consuming & frustrating, but potentially with an outcome that they will pay.at times insurance &/or a hospital will not commit to helping/covering in advance but after the fact (sometimes with a fight) things can be worked out....i do hope something works out for your friends... melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacquie802 Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 I had free care at a hospital around here. The only thing it didn't cover is the physician fees, which end up costing a pretty penny. Still better than nothing. One day the doctor himself who read the EKG strip called my house because I owed money. I sent a little at a time, but he left a really nasty message on my answering machine nice, huh?!Jacquie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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