no medical insurance (health insurance, to buy, school)

[curtisboy]

my sister has been diagnosed with an orthopedic condition requiring 2 surgeries and she does not have medical insurance. She has gone to a free medical clinic but they can't cover these surgeries. Her doctor had recommended she apply for disability but a decision takes a log time and from what I have read typically are turned down; her doctor has strongly advised that she stop work but how to live? I have 2 questions: how can she get disability in a timely fashion and what can she do to get help on getting these 2 surgeries covered. One is lower back and the other is knee. It's quite painful and she can barely move right now.

[Pandoras]

I don't know about the disability question. However, has your sister applied for Medicaid? Hopefully, this helps. Try default

[gallowsCalibrator]

If the doctor is willing to say that she's disabled, or the surgery will cause her to be, then she may be able to qualify for Medicaid and receive disability assistance, as well. However, the downside is that it does take a long time and a lot of scrutiny, paperwork, and sneers of disgust from social workers.

If they won't rate her disabled, she has zero chance of getting into Medicaid - unless she's a minor, senior citizen, or pregnant. Virginia doesn't actually care about "healthy" adults who need health insurance for a serious issue and have not the means to buy their own.

If she can't get Medicaid or assistance, the only other thing she could possibly do is to get the surgery done and make payment arrangements.

[Erma]

what caused the orthopedic condition? was it ergonomics at her job? was it something since birth?

[curtisboy]

at this point they don't know the cause much beyond wear and tear. Her job is aggravating it but no not something since birth. Docs have told her to not stand but she's a cook and that's what she does. As for skills this is all she knows.

[Erma]

I would suggest the disability decision unless she is at an age where she can go to school and learn a skill that doesn't require standing for long periods of time. Maybe work at a call center or service center?

[curtisboy]

we have looked at call centers but the ones that are hiring require a skill set she doesn't have. Yes will look at disability as goes back to the clinic and will ask for help in what direction she can go. On the SSI website the type of muscular condition she has they mention; it looks like they have to see how well a person can move. Right now she can barely get up & is hoping that she can get some kind of help/direction as to what to do.