Somebody PLEASE answer. What can be done?

Question

Brief background. Lost my youngest niece when she was in her mid 20's to cancer. Hospitals didn't want to help her because she had no insurance or money. Now, fast forward about 5 years later.

My oldest niece who is around 35 or 36 has been diagnosed with cancer as well. She has 3 young children. So far, the hospitals in the area have turned her away. What can I do to help her? How can I be her advocate? Who can I write, call, or otherwise beg to give her medical help? I can't lose my other niece and I think my sister would just go over the deep end if she lost her only other daughter. I'm in Texas but I'm moving back to where they live. They live in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Any suggestions on where to go for help?

Thank you so much for any information you can offer.

Answer 1

Without knowing what your niece's income level is, it's a bit difficult to answer this question.  If she is unable to work because of the cancer, she can file for either temporary or permanent disability through the Social Security Department (SSI or SSDI).  If she has been employed, but is having difficulty keeping her job and paying her bills, some employers offer Temporary Disability Insurance as part of their available benefits package.  Your niece will either know, or can find out through her HR department if she has this, or if she is eligible.  She can also file for Medicaid and other health programs through her local Department of Welfare.  This Department has a different name in practi cally every state, as do the programs offered, but she or you should be able to find this office with a bit of research.  If someone has no money, and has children under 21, there is usually no reason under the sun that they cannot receive assistance.  That's what social services are for.  From where I sit, there is no reason whatsoever your younger niece couldn't and didn't receive medical help, but there is perhaps much you haven't posted about this scenario.  Did she have children or was she single?  Was she married but not covered under her husband's insurance?  Did they even have insurance?  I recognise you're in the South, which can be, shall we say, "a bit backwards...: (like in the Dark Ages) about such things as social services and healthcare for those who are ill, but did you really exhaust all your resources, and all possiblity of help from an agency outside your immediate family?  It's my understanding that no one in this country has to die b/c they cannot find or do not have enough money to get medical care.  Your words are saying otherwise.  Can you explain a bit better?

Answer 2

I know here in IL the county hospitals cannot refuse to care for you if it is an emergency, I wonder if the county hospital there would be able to help.  Here you can get assistance from them too.  There is only one hospital that is like that for each county.  The other hospitals don't offer those programs.  Also call the cancer research center and ask them for help.  I think that they have advocates there, I'm not sure though.  Good luck, from someone missing their 29yr old cousin lost to cancer Feb. 2008.

Answer 3

She can apply for Medi Cal  for her medical problems.  This is based on income level of the indigent. She can go to  any medical clinic and ask for help .

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Answer 4

Has she applied for assistance through the state? I do not think it is ethical for a hospital to refuse treatment.