Asking for prayer

[Brigid]

I feel a little guilty asking for this prayer for myself, but I'm applying for disability and am needing to see a regular doctor and a cardiologist, who's giving me really expensive tests (one costs $2000-$3000 - nuclear stress test). Thing is, I am 2.5 years unemployed (and couldn't work more than very part-time anyway), have no medical insurance (and no company will insure me - the state high-risk insurance would cost almost $800/mo.). I have no income (other than less than $200/mo.) and am living on savings that are close to running out. I'm bamboozled. I really need your prayers.

[Shin]

Oh my that's a large one.. but for God all burdens are light..

So I pray God carry it for you and bring you through it.. God help you financially! St. Joseph intercede..

No guilt! Ask for prayers! And I pray get many of them!

I will pray especially for this intention.

I think I need to find a good financial help prayer.. until I do, I think St. Joseph, St. Jude, and the three Magi are good for these things.. Sts. Melchior, Balthasaar, and Caspar..

Sts. Melchior, Balthasaar, and Caspar orate pro nobis!

St. Jude, patron saint of the impossible, ora pro nobis!

St. Joseph, ora pro nobis.. Intercede we pray for Brigid and help her in her financial straits to overcome all difficulties.. and all those in need. Look kindly down upon the poor O Lord, and free us of anxiety, but give us guidance to all we need for our daily health and bread and home, all our duties and cares.

Ancient Prayer to St. Joseph

O St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most Loving of Fathers. O St. Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach you while He reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us.

[Shin]

I feel a little guilty asking for this prayer for myself, but I'm applying for disability and am needing to see a regular doctor and a cardiologist, who's giving me really expensive tests (one costs $2000-$3000 - nuclear stress test). Thing is, I am 2.5 years unemployed (and couldn't work more than very part-time anyway), have no medical insurance (and no company will insure me - the state high-risk insurance would cost almost $800/mo.). I have no income (other than less than $200/mo.) and am living on savings that are close to running out. I'm bamboozled. I really need your prayers.

Have you been to Social Services and checked out if Medicaid might help or if the state has a local free/low cost plan? Look into it if you haven't!

[Brigid]

I feel a little guilty asking for this prayer for myself, but I'm applying for disability and am needing to see a regular doctor and a cardiologist, who's giving me really expensive tests (one costs $2000-$3000 - nuclear stress test). Thing is, I am 2.5 years unemployed (and couldn't work more than very part-time anyway), have no medical insurance (and no company will insure me - the state high-risk insurance would cost almost $800/mo.). I have no income (other than less than $200/mo.) and am living on savings that are close to running out. I'm bamboozled. I really need your prayers.

Have you been to Social Services and checked out if Medicaid might help or if the state has a local free/low cost plan? Look into it if you haven't!

I know the state's plan is only 15%-30% less and since I learned this the state had to admit they were deeply in the red, so it's probably less now. $560/mo. isn't possible either. I haven't looked into Medicaid, though. That's a possibility I haven't thought of - and I used to do billing of ins. cos. and Medicare and Medicaid.

[Shin]

I feel a little guilty asking for this prayer for myself, but I'm applying for disability and am needing to see a regular doctor and a cardiologist, who's giving me really expensive tests (one costs $2000-$3000 - nuclear stress test). Thing is, I am 2.5 years unemployed (and couldn't work more than very part-time anyway), have no medical insurance (and no company will insure me - the state high-risk insurance would cost almost $800/mo.). I have no income (other than less than $200/mo.) and am living on savings that are close to running out. I'm bamboozled. I really need your prayers.

Have you been to Social Services and checked out if Medicaid might help or if the state has a local free/low cost plan? Look into it if you haven't!

I know the state's plan is only 15%-30% less and since I learned this the state had to admit they were deeply in the red, so it's probably less now. $560/mo. isn't possible either. I haven't looked into Medicaid, though. That's a possibility I haven't thought of - and I used to do billing of ins. cos. and Medicare and Medicaid.

Medicaid tends to be available for people with -very very little- (I don't know what the cut off point is and it's worth finding out) to zero income. I know some states have their own plans that cut in at a certain point, or even are required to, and can be fee based.  The also sometimes give people emergency funds when you sign up for at social services the first time, there's a limited fund for that. I can say, the sooner you sign up and see if you can get it the better because not everyone accepts it, and it can take time to get appointments from doctors normally -- with it it can take even longer.

I've had to use it a few times, but I'm no expert on the requirements. From what I was told however, even if you don't have the card, you can say you should be covered for it as you are applying for it in emergencies, and have it take care of some things even before the paperwork goes through or retroactively.

I once went through quite a hassle with them to try to get a hearing aid but it never worked out. They did however take care of a few doctors' visits. I'm hard of hearing, runs in the family.. Just over the border line for needing one.. Can hear normal conversation from most people, but if there's enough background noise or you're very soft spoken with a tiny voice it can be a great problem. Still haven't got one! Have to eventually find a program that will help pay for one I hope.

It's definitely worthwhile to take a trip down to social services and find out what they have there. They have brochures for all sorts of programs.. sometimes electric companies give discounts to low income people.. heating.. It can never hurt to go! Sure you might have to wait a bit in line, but that is life, and the place where you pray for the success there if you haven't yet. 

[Brigid]

I will definitely go down to apply! And I will notify my drs. that I am, too. I'll tell my family around about emergency services, too. Last time I was hospitalized it was over 8 hours before I was even awake and I know the registration dept. of a hospital wants results immediately.

I always see the thing about low-cost utility bills, but never think about them in terms of myself. I'll have to change that.

Thanks.

[Shin]

I think I just inspired myself to find out more about what programs they have available as well.  

Every little bit helps, you don't have to be more than low income for some of them, or even just meet certain other requirements, such as caring for enough dependents -- so many people simply miss out during a tough spot because they do not think to go.

There were a bunch of brochures I took home the last time. Home heating was the big thing recently the government was helping out with. At least there isn't a problem now that I live on a second floor this winter with heating bills, the downstairs tenant takes care of all of that.

My family has had people working in social services in the past, so you would think I would be more on the spot with government programs for help -- my mother knows tons to help the elderly for example.. but I am a person who is helpless once forms and red tape rear their heads. But sometimes you have to get over that and go for it.

Let me know if it actually will help you though! I will keep praying! 

[Brigid]

At least there isn't a problem now that I live on a second floor this winter with heating bills, the downstairs tenant takes care of all of that.

I live downstairs and wonder about the girl upstairs getting all my heat, too.

[Therese]

I pray that our Lord will provide for you and will give you all the graces you need to keep spiritually strong during this difficult time.  May God come to your aid soon and may you be surrendered to his merciful love, confident that he is working in this situation to prove you in your faith.  Amen.

[Patricia]

I will surely pray for you, Brigid. God will definitely pave a way for you.
Right now I'm covered under my husband's COBRA but in a few months that will end and I will have to shop for insurance. About 500$ a month  for the whole family takes out a big chunk of my income and possible savings. I keep wondering if Obama's proposed health plan if it ever passes will help people like us in any way? I am against the abortion part of it, but will it help people in dire need of health insurance and make it more affordable?
There was a time when I was not sure I'd be covered under COBRA and researched every other possibility. People suggested to me to visit the county community hospital in case of an emergency. The waiting room period is long but you do get the treatment you need and it may be free for those who can't afford it.
We also have JPS Health centers here that provide affordable health care especially for those without insurance. I'm not sure if you have any such program in your state.
For your situation Medicaid will definitely cover you. I'm not sure you have looked into it. Contact your closest Social Security office, set up an appointment or just walk in and they are helpful. The waiting period is long , but once they start on your case help may start coming in. 

[Brigid]

Yes, surrender and trust in Him are really difficult for me!

Thank you so much everybody.

I hope a national health insurance goes through also, to help all those in need (as long as it doesn't "break the bank", allows for all to follow their conscience and doesn't pay, in any way for abortions). If I do get this disability at least after 24 mos. I can get Medicare. In the meantime I will definitely look into Medicaid.

What does JPS stand for?

[Patricia]

John Peter Smith hospitals. You may have a similar network in your area if you inquire around. Also I heard on the Clark Howard show that Kaiser-Permanante is a good and affordable insurance if you're planning to buy, but I don't have that company in my state.

[Shin]

I tend to think the National Health insurance proposed so far has been more harm than good, but we can always hope that eventually a proposal of some good could come out, though how likely that is I have my doubts.

A simple reform and extension of Medicaid would be a better solution than the complicated take-overs proposed so far, which have violated subsidiary, and the rights of individuals and doctors to decide how they wish to give and pursue health care.

[Brigid]

More bad news today - I'm not quite eligible for Medicaid yet (just give me a couple more months or a few more of these tests), it's looking like the nuclear stress test is going to be a done deal - I don't think the cardiologists will agree to do the exercise stress test as it's too risky (at least that's good eventually for disability ). And my cholesterol labs came back so high that the dr. is putting me on a statin (over $2.00 per pill) right away without waiting the three weeks 'til my next exam as he was planning.

Oh, help!

Lent is here with a vengeance!

A simple reform and extension of Medicaid would be a better solution than the complicated take-overs proposed so far, which have violated subsidiary, and the rights of individuals and doctors to decide how they wish to give and pursue health care.

[Shin]

More bad news today - I'm not quite eligible for Medicaid yet (just give me a couple more months or a few more of these tests), it's looking like the nuclear stress test is going to be a done deal - I don't think the cardiologists will agree to do the exercise stress test as it's too risky (at least that's good eventually for disability ). And my cholesterol labs came back so high that the dr. is putting me on a statin (over $2.00 per pill) right away without waiting the three weeks 'til my next exam as he was planning.

Oh, help!

Lent is here with a vengeance!

A simple reform and extension of Medicaid would be a better solution than the complicated take-overs proposed so far, which have violated subsidiary, and the rights of individuals and doctors to decide how they wish to give and pursue health care.

My mother had to skip one of those stress tests because her heart rate would go through the roof! Her chlorestoral is high too but I think it's genetic, she does watch what she eats though and refuses the medicine so far. I hope that statin helps!

I was worried about the Medicaid, it's a tight cutoff! But at least you know now when you will be!

You might already eligable for food assistance if you didn't check that. The cut off isn't as strict there I believe. Reducing grocery bills is a help!

May the Lord watch over our health all the more, and thanks be to God.

[Brigid]

More bad news today - I'm not quite eligible for Medicaid yet (just give me a couple more months or a few more of these tests), it's looking like the nuclear stress test is going to be a done deal - I don't think the cardiologists will agree to do the exercise stress test as it's too risky (at least that's good eventually for disability ). And my cholesterol labs came back so high that the dr. is putting me on a statin (over $2.00 per pill) right away without waiting the three weeks 'til my next exam as he was planning.

Oh, help!

Lent is here with a vengeance!

A simple reform and extension of Medicaid would be a better solution than the complicated take-overs proposed so far, which have violated subsidiary, and the rights of individuals and doctors to decide how they wish to give and pursue health care.

My mother had to skip one of those stress tests because her heart rate would go through the roof! Her chlorestoral is high too but I think it's genetic, she does watch what she eats though and refuses the medicine so far. I hope that statin helps!

I was worried about the Medicaid, it's a tight cutoff! But at least you know now when you will be!

You might already eligable for food assistance if you didn't check that. The cut off isn't as strict there I believe. Reducing grocery bills is a help!

May the Lord watch over our health all the more, and thanks be to God.

Thank you so much.  Apparently this state has a general food assistance plan (which I'm not close to being eligible for) and a food stamps program that I may be eligible for without selling my car.

I hope your own cholesterol is okay, since you think it's genetic. Now they're saying to start getting it checked even in your twenties. They've done autopsies on young soldiers (so very young and fit) who died in combat and they already had lots and lots of cholesterol build-up.