NWR- Really need help! (a little long)

Does anyone, especially all you teachers and health care professionals, social workers, etc, know where I can find a parents advocate to help me with medical insurance problems? This is the situation: You all know about my son, who is autistic. He also has epilepsy and his medication is not working. I have repeatedly applied for medicaid for him, and have been denied several times. I am currently not working and my FH only makes about $35K a year, but with the SSI from my oldest son's father, we are over the income limit by $76! Luke needs to have tests done and modification to his medication. We still haven't ruled out that his seizures may be caused by a brain tumor.
I just now got off the phone with HIP, regarding the Child Health Plus application I had filed 6 weeks ago. They have NO RECORD OF IT!!! I am sitting here hysterical b/c I just don't know what else to do. I have thousands of dollars of medical bills coming in every week for past services that I had assumed would be covered by Medicaid. I am flabergasted that he was not approved, while everyone else in the household was!
If anyone has any ideas, suggestions, resources... please.... let me know.... I don't know how much more of this I can take.....

Message edited 4/21/2006 11:23:00 AM.

Re: NWR- Really need help! (a little long)

I am so sorry for what you are going through
But the only place I know of is the Child Health PLus. My friend uses it and she has had no problems! I would get on them about it!! Good Luck!!

Re: NWR- Really need help! (a little long)

IMO . . . I would go to Nassau County (or suffolk if you are out there) Department of Social Services and apply for CHP directly through them. If your income is low enough you should be able to qualify for medicaid instead of CHP. I had CHP for my daughter through Fidelis and I had Family Health Plus for me through Fidelis as well and they are great.

Good Luck

Re: NWR- Really need help! (a little long)

i am sorry, this stinks. go see the dept. of social services and work from there...and this time, get copies of all documents made so if they lose them again....

Re: NWR- Really need help! (a little long)

Nassau County Social Services or Suffolk can help you. It is not the fastest moving service. You may just have to re-apply for CHP. There is also healthfirst (which is a medicaid service) and medicaid. Medicaid is strict on income I think it is if you make more them $465 a month you are not elligable. But your son being a minor should be. You can either speak to a social worker at the local hosipital that you son would go to if sick or social services. You can FM me for questions. I work for a hospital and deal with this often. Once Medicaid goes through they will go back and pay all of your past bills for the last year. (If you get approved)

Message edited 4/21/2006 2:00:17 PM.

Re: NWR- Really need help! (a little long)

Thanks for your posts... but I already have been dealing with social services, with no success, which is why I was asking about other avenues to explore.

Re: NWR- Really need help! (a little long)

If you are over the income limit by $76 then you should be able to get Medicaid w/ spend down - you would have to spend the first $76 per month towards medical stuff, and then Medicaid would kick in and pay for the rest. Is there a hospital you've been working w/ or that your doctor is affiliated with? They should have an entitlement specialist on staff that can help you.

Re: NWR- Really need help! (a little long)

Did you contact your school district? You are entitled to Early Intervention services through your school district. You son may not need those services yet but at least they might be able to guide you in the right direction.

Re: NWR- Really need help! (a little long)

As a last resort, if you cannot get the insurance, i know that Nassau University Medical Center offers services on a sliding scale...it is very very cheap....$22 per visit I believe.

HTH!!

Re: NWR- Really need help! (a little long)

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Posted by mrsh2b

Did you contact your school district? You are entitled to Early Intervention services through your school district. You son may not need those services yet but at least they might be able to guide you in the right direction.

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Re: NWR- Really need help! (a little long)

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Posted by VadersBride2006

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Posted by mrsh2b

Did you contact your school district? You are entitled to Early Intervention services through your school district. You son may not need those services yet but at least they might be able to guide you in the right direction.

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Thank you, yes he gets EI services now.

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Re: NWR- Really need help! (a little long)

You are really lucky to be on LI because there are a lot of resources there ( I live in NC now and there isn't much here for parents).

You can contact the autism society, they have TONS of resources.

There is also the david center http://www.thedavidcenter.org/programs/

The Elija foundation was created and run by parents of children with autism and they are very good with advocating for their children.
www.elija.org

You can also contact some of the schools for children with autism. They usually have contacts and can probably set you in the right direction. I used to work at the Genesis School in Plainview. They are great people and know the field inside and out. Try to talk to Mary McDonald or Erin Sparacio. Other schools are DDI, Ascent, and Burell (sp?).

Lastly, local universities with programs, such as CW Post, might know of some people. There is an autism specific program there, as well as an ABA program.

Good luck! Definetely keep fighting for your son...you are his best advocate