Now getting a sinus infection on top of eye issue!

 The Question:

Been battling an eye issue since may 2022. Bought an indemnity type of insurance in Jan, miused the national enrollment in Dec due to funerals etc. Was able to private pay for some things due to small portion of inheritance. 

Am unemployed, could not sighn up for unemployment due to computer issues on the State website...their issues not mine. 

Now too late...doing odd jobs for people, husband on ssi and doing uber. 

Eye is much worse. Still have the indemnity insurance but it will not pay for the specialist I need. Specislist cant or wont give estimate for private pay...cannot even get an estimate on cat scan. 

Going today to the cat scan place to see...do not qualify for state medicaid program...just at or above limit. My situation does not qualify as extenuating circumstances. All I get from anyone is November 1 is open enrollment. 

For both state MA and all other insurance options...now getting a sinus infection on top of eye issue that 4 doctors have said and I quote "never seen anything like it "...  Also looked at medical cost sharing...most have a waiting period or religious requirements...Any suggestions?

What did people say?

⇒ Mary: Try applying for "backdating" on your unemployment insurance. It worked for me during pandemic. And if denied, appeal and you will have a hearing where you can plead your case."

⇒ Teresa: Ask the hospital or medical group if you can apply for a financial assistance grant.

⇒ Katie: When my fiancee had an eye problem and no insurance, he found a doctor that took care credit.

They offered 12 months same as cash.

When he finally got a job, he worked a ton of overtime to make sure it was paid off by the 12 month deadline.

In the meantime, I would still be pursuing the unemployment issue.

If there is a known problem with the state system, you are not only entitled to all the unemployment from when you became eligible, you may also qualify for extra $$ due to the inconvenience of THEIR faulty system (in my state, anyway).

⇒ Allison: My cousins were also unable to get Medicaid and do not qualify for an Affordable Care Act plan as they don't make enough for that.

So they did qualify for a program at the hospital where they only play 10% for office visits and hospital services. Check the hospital that the specialist is affiliated with and see if they have any such plan that you can apply for.

⇒ Kelly: If your husband is on SSI and you are unemployed, I don’t see how you would not qualify for Medicaid. Did someone tell you you earned too much or did you actually apply and get turned down? If you haven’t actually applied, then I would do so now. In the meantime, you might check with your local Lions club sometimes they help with Vision related surgeries. I have a friend who had some sort of unusual and very rapid growing cataracts and he lost his sight completely for a while And the Lions club paid for his surgery and some other things he needed for his rehabilitation.

⇒ Deb: If you do have to wait until November use this time to determine what insurance would be best for you. Even though it won’t be available until January also look at doctors available in that insurance group. I switched insurance companies years ago because I had to threaten to call the state insurance commissioner because of the time it was taking to get a appointment (9 months).

It took a lot of digging but I found out that this great hmo had been chastised for doing this before. Pay more attention to the bad reviews.

Also call nov 1st don’t wait until December.

⇒ Kelly: Oh, and regarding the unemployment issue? It’s a problem with truly with the states computers, and the unemployment office won’t solve the problem and give you the money that you were entitled to, I would call your elected representative such as your congressman or senator. Their office can often help with situation like that and sometimes they do so pretty quickly.

⇒ Alexis: IF backdating as Mary Griffin suggested does not work, then call your state representative and explain that the state had issues on their website and you could not apply. Maybe they can help. That is what we elect them for!