What people with MS do when there is no insurance?
I get turned down for SSI, of I'm angry but dealing with, I call Shands (referred to by hospital neuro) to find out why they haven't called about an appt time only to be told they haven't called due to I haven't met my share of cost for medicaid (2000.00) doesn't anyone think if I had that kinda of money I would be asking for help!!!!!!!!
Hi Ladygraycloud
May I ask...have you only applied to get SSI once? It seems the norm to be turned down the first time. Do appeal the decision. My mother, who has a major mental disability, had to do this twice and this was after getting so many doctors to say that she needed it.
Okay get your pen and paper ready because I have lots of information for you about financial assistance.
First of all MS Health Central has a newly updated page (actually I had suggested this page be created since so many of our questions are about financial and insurance concerns) about money matters. You can view this special Healthcare and Insurance page right here.
I am also going to give you the number and link to the National MS Society:
They have been very helpful to me and I am sure that someone there would be able to advise you. In a recent newsletter they talk about having hired 600 financial advisors to help with giving advice on anything from employment issues, insurance, to getting financial aid for the MS meds. Here is the link to the NMSS web site. And here is their phone number: 1-800-344-4867
The National MS society also has a page dedicated to information about financial assistance from all the drug companies which you can find here.
And here is direct information about how to reach any of the drug companies. They all seem to offer some form of financial assistance:
Drug NameManufacturerTelephone Number Avonex Biogen Idec 800-456-2255 Rebif Serono: MS Lifelines 877-447-3243 Betaseron Berlex Laboratories 800-788-1467 Copaxone Teva Neuroscience 800-887-8100 Novantrone Serono: MS Lifelines 877-447-3243
Need help with affording an MRI?
There is assistance for paying for MRI's from the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.
And if you need general telephone support or answers to questions there is
a new organization out there which gives peer to peer support by telephone 24/7 and they are called MS Friends. Here is their link and here is their telephone number: 1-866-673-7436 You can call toll free.
I hope this information is of help to you. MS is expensive. It is bad enough to have this disease but then to get stuck with all the bills can be overwhelming. Please let us know if there is anything else we can help you with. And thank you for your question.
- Thank you for your input
- Ranked Helpful (4)
- Report Abuse
