Please Help NO Insurance

Iam a 39 years young from Tallmadge, Ohio and have been researching having the surgery done for many years. I do not have any heath insurance but need to have this procedure done. Does anyone know of any programs that provide sponsors? I am open to any suggestions that anyone may have. Iam employed but with the economy the way it is money is tight.  Thank You, in advance. Karin

I have heard that there are offices that offer financing, although since we used insurance, I'm not sure who does it.  I'm not sure if some might have that information on their websites??

Depending upon your income level...did you know that many hospitals in the Akron Cleveland area offer sliding scales...and for some you can get medically necessary services written off entirely if you cannot pay!

In compliance with the Ohio Hospital Care Assurance Program (HCAP), Cleveland Clinic offers basic, medically necessary hospital-level services free of charge to Ohio residents whose incomes are at or below the Federal Poverty Income Guideline and who are not recipients of Medicaid. Current recipients of the Disability Assistance Program also qualify for HCAP assistance.

In addition to the HCAP program, Cleveland Clinic provides financial assistance to patients who do not have insurance coverage at family income levels up to four times the Federal Poverty Income Guideline. Cleveland Clinic also gives consideration to all patients, whether or not they have insurance and regardless of income level if there are exceptional cir****tances. The Cleveland Clinic financial assistance program applies to both hospital and physician services.

 

Size of Family Unit	*(HCAP) 2008 Federal Poverty Income Level	Cleveland Clinic Financial CC Financial Assistance Program (Family income up to 400% of Federal Poverty Level)
For each additional family member add $3,600
1	$9,800	$39,200
2	$13,200	$52,800
3	$16,600	$66,400
4	$20,000	$80,000
5	$23,400	$93,600
6	$26,800	$107,200
7	$30,200	$120,800
8	**$33,600	$134,400

* Assistance is provided by Cleveland Clinic on a sliding scale based on the listed income levels (family income level up to four times Federal Poverty Income Level). ** For each additional person, add $3,400.  You should check this out...

Thank You , so much for they information that you sent it will be most helpful. I will certainly look into it and hopefully I can update you with good news. Thanks again, Karin

Dear Karin - I don't know anything about programs that provide sponsors, but I think that the information that someone else has given is the best I have heard about. Do you quality for Medicaid or other assistance.  I know that there are others on this forum who have been approved by Medicaid or Medicare.  I hope you find help you get your surgery. I know that having the RNY was the best thing that I could have happen in my life and at 6 months out, I thank God everyday for my new life.  I pray that you will find a way to do this.  You have come to a site that has some very good information.  Good luck and let us know how things go for you.

i want to chim in on what one member just sai!! I too was in your shoes! I knew I needed this surgey!~~ My insurance excluded it. Someone told me to go to JFS and apply for health familes, since we have so many young kids! I did!! We was able to get the insurance through the state.  I am having my surgery and as soon as I see everything is okay, I am going to close my case.  I have a wonderful insurance it pays 100%  of everything just excluded WLS. As of today the state insurance has not paid one bill for pre op testing or anything. My main insurance has been paying it.  When I called them they said they would pay everything except for the actually surgery. (Many people on here says thier insurance would not pay a dime of any testing if WLS was excluded.)