http://www.norwoodnews.org/id=6806&story=be-healthy-wednes…/
(This was written March 22,2012)
Can a couple live in New York City on $1,159 a month?
Please see the article above...
That's what Gov. Cuomo expects those of us who are caring for an ill spouse at home to do. Let me tell ya something, in New York State, we can't. But we may have to if we have Medicaid in place for the spouse who is ill. In our case, of course it is due to Alzheimer's Disease.
To get some background I will quote from the article: " For years, those caring for an ill, disabled or elderly spouse at home through the public insurance program have been able to protect their savings through a provision known as spousal refusal — which allows someone to separate their income and assets from their partner who needs care in order to meet the strict income limits required by Medicaid."
That was part of our estate planning. I knew that I would have to do that.
One way to avoid this would be for me to divorce my wife Valerie. I won't do that. It is a holy sacrament and I will not break my vows for this Governor or anybody else. But that is the gun that may be pointing at my head. Do it, or else.
We are already near poverty, I lost my job and our savings are gone because of the cost of this disease.
They say that this will save millions of dollars and will help to fight fraud. Let me just say if you go after the folks who are involved in the fraud, prosecute them, then those of us who need the help will get it without all this nonsense. And if we force people into facilities, that is going to cost even more! So how does that save money?
I personally was investigated for fraud after I had applied for Medicaid for my wife. We had not yet even been approved for Medicaid yet. But someone in the government thought we had and wanted to investigate me for fraud. How about the government getting their act together first and go after those who are really defrauding the system. It seems that we who are doing what we can for those we love are being treated as criminals because the government does not have the capacity to go after the real criminals. That is prejudice.
We went through the whole medicaid re-certification process and Valerie was approved. I spoke to the guy from Medicaid about the "Spousal Refusal" and sent them all the documents they requested. A higher spend down was calculated and they want to "meet" with me about the "Spousal Refusal" form I filled out. Yes again.
Funny how people were telling me over and over again, just get Medicaid and everything will be fine. And one of these friends actually works in a local government office here in NYC. How much people don't know or understand about all of this is scary. It is not easy, and no, everything is NOT going to be ok, which is why I didn't want to go down this road until I had to. Then I had to.
This is part of the budget process here in New York that from what I understand, should be completed by April 1 of this year.
So my future may look like this... Divorce Valerie or live in poverty. Decide to not have Medicaid and care for her without any help. Or just put her in a Nursing Home. But I want to care for her, and have some help at home. Is this really asking all that much? Why am I, and my wife being punished and put through every ringer in the book because I have the audacity to actually want to care for my wife?!
The easiest thing for me to do is just place Valerie in a Nursing Home. Why don't I just do it? I don't have a criminal nature, but those that do, will probably still get away with their crimes. It seems however, that the real crime against the state, is doing all you can to care for your loved one at home. I put my job on the line for my wife. I eventually lost it. I've put everything on the line for my wife, and couldn't care less if I lost all the material things I own as long as I can care for my wife and give her the dignity she deserves to let her live in her home as long as possible. Why is this considered so wrong?
And why are there so many barriers in our system that make me jump through hurdle after hurdle to do right by my wife? For those who cannot care for someone at home, ok, there may be the need to put them in a facility because there is no other choice. But what about those of us who want to do it, who just need some help? I'm not saying it is easy. It is hard. So? Many things in life are hard, are we just going to give up?
I mean really, Mr. Coumo, would it be easier for you if we simply both committed suicide? That is not as an outlandish question as it seems, but that's what would save money in the budget now wouldn't it?? Again, that is not something I would ever consider, but the amount of crap I have had to go through just isn't right. And if I have to, I will let them drag my butt to court. This has got to stop! What are they going to do when there are more millions of people in the next 10 to 15 years who will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and will need help? I mean do you want to just kill them all? Don't think that is not a serious question, as it is the logic of their position and their insensitive manipulation of the common citizen.
All of this takes me away from caring for my wife. I hate that!
(This was written March 22,2012)
Can a couple live in New York City on $1,159 a month?
Please see the article above...
That's what Gov. Cuomo expects those of us who are caring for an ill spouse at home to do. Let me tell ya something, in New York State, we can't. But we may have to if we have Medicaid in place for the spouse who is ill. In our case, of course it is due to Alzheimer's Disease.
To get some background I will quote from the article: " For years, those caring for an ill, disabled or elderly spouse at home through the public insurance program have been able to protect their savings through a provision known as spousal refusal — which allows someone to separate their income and assets from their partner who needs care in order to meet the strict income limits required by Medicaid."
That was part of our estate planning. I knew that I would have to do that.
One way to avoid this would be for me to divorce my wife Valerie. I won't do that. It is a holy sacrament and I will not break my vows for this Governor or anybody else. But that is the gun that may be pointing at my head. Do it, or else.
We are already near poverty, I lost my job and our savings are gone because of the cost of this disease.
They say that this will save millions of dollars and will help to fight fraud. Let me just say if you go after the folks who are involved in the fraud, prosecute them, then those of us who need the help will get it without all this nonsense. And if we force people into facilities, that is going to cost even more! So how does that save money?
I personally was investigated for fraud after I had applied for Medicaid for my wife. We had not yet even been approved for Medicaid yet. But someone in the government thought we had and wanted to investigate me for fraud. How about the government getting their act together first and go after those who are really defrauding the system. It seems that we who are doing what we can for those we love are being treated as criminals because the government does not have the capacity to go after the real criminals. That is prejudice.
We went through the whole medicaid re-certification process and Valerie was approved. I spoke to the guy from Medicaid about the "Spousal Refusal" and sent them all the documents they requested. A higher spend down was calculated and they want to "meet" with me about the "Spousal Refusal" form I filled out. Yes again.
Funny how people were telling me over and over again, just get Medicaid and everything will be fine. And one of these friends actually works in a local government office here in NYC. How much people don't know or understand about all of this is scary. It is not easy, and no, everything is NOT going to be ok, which is why I didn't want to go down this road until I had to. Then I had to.
This is part of the budget process here in New York that from what I understand, should be completed by April 1 of this year.
So my future may look like this... Divorce Valerie or live in poverty. Decide to not have Medicaid and care for her without any help. Or just put her in a Nursing Home. But I want to care for her, and have some help at home. Is this really asking all that much? Why am I, and my wife being punished and put through every ringer in the book because I have the audacity to actually want to care for my wife?!
The easiest thing for me to do is just place Valerie in a Nursing Home. Why don't I just do it? I don't have a criminal nature, but those that do, will probably still get away with their crimes. It seems however, that the real crime against the state, is doing all you can to care for your loved one at home. I put my job on the line for my wife. I eventually lost it. I've put everything on the line for my wife, and couldn't care less if I lost all the material things I own as long as I can care for my wife and give her the dignity she deserves to let her live in her home as long as possible. Why is this considered so wrong?
And why are there so many barriers in our system that make me jump through hurdle after hurdle to do right by my wife? For those who cannot care for someone at home, ok, there may be the need to put them in a facility because there is no other choice. But what about those of us who want to do it, who just need some help? I'm not saying it is easy. It is hard. So? Many things in life are hard, are we just going to give up?
I mean really, Mr. Coumo, would it be easier for you if we simply both committed suicide? That is not as an outlandish question as it seems, but that's what would save money in the budget now wouldn't it?? Again, that is not something I would ever consider, but the amount of crap I have had to go through just isn't right. And if I have to, I will let them drag my butt to court. This has got to stop! What are they going to do when there are more millions of people in the next 10 to 15 years who will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and will need help? I mean do you want to just kill them all? Don't think that is not a serious question, as it is the logic of their position and their insensitive manipulation of the common citizen.
All of this takes me away from caring for my wife. I hate that!
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