Prioritizing Financial and Medical Needs: Mito on a Shoestring
When it rains, it pours; when a family experiences a medical emergency, the routine household expenses never stop. When a family member has a chronic illness, at some point an additional financial or personal crisis is bound to occur. Where do we start? Where can we find help?
Obtaining or maintaining health insurance is absolutely critical for someone with a chronic disease like Mito. One hospitalization for dehydration or an infection could end up costing tens of thousands of dollars. People who do not have health insurance tend to delay medical care until their condition is serious, resulting in higher costs than would’ve resulted from preventive care or treatment earlier on in the course of the illness. These resources can help you find and maintain health insurance through public or private programs.
www.govbenefits.gov GovBenefits.gov is the official benefits website of the U.S. government, with information on over 1,000 benefit and assistance programs. The first page has a questionnaire that will help you narrow down your search to include only the programs that you are most likely to meet eligibility requirements.
www.disability.gov “Connecting the Disability Community to Information and Opportunities” This general resource site has recently be redesigned and is much more visitor-friendly. On the home page, there is a link menu that simply states “I Want To…” and icons displayed are labeled “find a job,” “apply for disability benefits,” “learn about disability laws,” “apply for scholarships,” “learn about transition services for youth,” “find housing,” and so on.
http://www.bridges4kids.org/HelpForKids-US.html State Resources and Information that can benefit the entire family. Resources include: education, child care, rent assistance, custody/parenting issues, free/low cost recreation, transportation, and more! Click on your state to get started.
For a list of state-sponsored medical programs for children who do not qualify for Medicaid or waiver programs, try searching for your home state here.
The Medical Bill Assistance Network offers state-by-state suggestions of nonprofit groups specifically geared to help with medical bills already accrued **WARNING** the site is covered with the unavoidable ads for all sorts of “Credit Clean-up” and “Work-at-home” schemes that appear on any web page having to do with financial assistance. Stay vigilant and be sure to only click the links associated with free, non profit groups in your state. Even then, double check the claims of any credit counseling group by searching for the financial records through a “financial watchdog” such as www.guidestar.org.
The 2-1-1 System connects people with needed human services through an easy to remember
three-digit phone number. Every state offers this service from land lines only. To access the program via the internet, click here.
Do you have an overdue bill, a surprise car repair, or other expense that is putting your fragile budget in jeopardy? The Modest Needs Foundation may be able to help. Modest Needs can pay a one-time bill that costs up to a month’s mortgage or rent. To see if you qualify, read more information about the program here.
Here are some sources of assistance with foreclosure prevention:
www.homesaversusa.com www.hopenow.com
SEE ALSO - FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR MITO COCKTAIL, Paying for Prescription Formula
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