I have a son who is bi-polar aand I am having problems getting help for him. I applied for SSI for him and was denied and with just my husband working we cant afford the meds he needs, I have callled and emailed everywhere iI can think of to try and get help.Noone seems to want to help. This is very concerning for me because I pay whatever I can but noone wants to work woth us. He is tp a point at 10 years old that he wants to hurt himself. I dont know what to do. I have applied for medacaid for him but that takes a long time. He needs help now.Please if someone has been thru this I neeed help.
Well SSI denied my son but we are going to fight it. His doctor has helped alot with samples for his meds and taking time to talk to him. And a very good friend works with bi-polar and schizophrenic adults and has been helping me with what she can so ...I guess right now we are ok but Im not going to stop fighting. I really think there needs to be more help for children with thos disorder
Contact ESU3 there in the Metro Area. The school that he goes to, did they evaluate him at all? What about the doctor can he help at all?
I am not sure I have any advice for you but I can offer my condolences. It must be scary to have to watch your son going through this and then having to worry about the finances too. I do know that Medicaid shouldn't take too long to apply for,at least it doesn't in my town and I know that as long as you are accepted they will pay the back medical expenses from the date you applied. Most hospitals and doctors offices will set up payment plans with you and as long as you continue to pay they can't refuse to treat your son. Is there a clinic in or around your town that see's patients on a sliding scale fee? They just charge you based on income and expenses and if you contact the medical manufacturers direct maybe they will help you with the cost of the meds. That might be a longshot but anything is worth trying. My daughter is on medicaid, Thank God, because my husband and I don't have health insurance through either of our jobs and her meds for her asthma total about $280. per month. Because my daughter is not my husbands child they don't use his income when calculating how much money we earn to qualify for medicaid. Is there a CHIPS program in your state? Its similar to medicaid but you pay partial amounts of the costs of treatments and meds. I wish you all the luck in the World for you and your family and hope you get the help you need.
I feel for you. My 17 year old daughter is a low grade bi-polar, obsesive defiant disorder, epileptic, and depresed. There are many goverment agencies out there that can help with medications. Have you talked to your pharmacy? I also have just found out that Walmart I do believe it is has a generic plan for $4.00 a RX. Maybe this will be able to help you also. Does your Son see a counciler? He may need to. That is help full for my daughter. She now has a boyfriend who is bi-polar and is going threw the same things. I would look on line for some affordable insurance for his medications. There is another one put out by a pharmacutal company. Sorry about the spelling. Spell check would be good on this sight.. Hope this helps at all. I will check back to see how you are doing, if that is ok.
This may be a silly suggestion, but have you gone to a hospital and told them your situation? I'm sure there is some type of fund to assist parents with similar situations and the hospital staff (probably the nurses or a patient advocate) would know. Try that route because a hospital cannot refuse care and if he's inclined to hurt himself, I would think that is an emergency.
My friend was recently diagnosed with bi-polar. Once she found a job and went back to work she lost her medicaid. Now she can't afford her meds. She constantly has to decide between her medications or some other bill. She also has a daughter and she wants to make sure she takes her medication. She is suppose to have counseling as well but her insurance only pays for so many a year. Good luck on your search!
S.-
I am to bi polar I can remember my mom had problems affording my meds too.. The Doc Always gave us coupons for 10.00 off maybe try asking your doc if he has any.....Dhs sometimes has help in there services....another service i used to be in is called systems unlimited Out of Iowa city Iowa here.... but i am sure there is something simmlier there? They did one on one visits with me for 1 hr at a time to educate me about what it is.. and what to do when it triggers.. I am now 25 and i went off meds at 18 I have my good days and my bad days. But that class/counsling really helped me! I hope this is some help!!!
hang in there
A.
I have been told to keep trying to get the SSI. I heard it can take a while. Since you live in Iowa. Contact Hawk-i medical insurance. Its almost like having medipass. http://www.hawk-i.org/ If you are at or below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines you qualify. Look into that.
Do you have the book The Bi-polar Child? It is excellent and I really reccomend it, it helps with ideas on how to try to help your child and how to cope as a parent. Who is his psycologist? Kevin Took is very good and if you called his office, they may have information on getting assistance. I have a nephew with bi-polar and adhd and he is 12. My son is 10 with adhd and was previously diagnosed with bi-polar but that diagnosis has been taken away due to no longer having the anger/agression and mood swings. This may sound silly, but I know that Montel Williams (the talkshow host) has some sort of group that helps with persription med costs. Just a thought. Let me know if you have specific questions, I can call my sister. She is the one with the son and also she is a behavioral specialist.
Sorry to say I have not found much help without medicaid. You can try counseling or a phychiatrist but their expensive too. try health clinics that are run by the go youvernment because they go by your income. You can get that information from health and welfare. Also, SSI turn people down at least once or twicebefore they award it, so maybe try applying again. Also there is Therapy places that help bi-polar children, you can get PSR (phsyco-social rehab) and someone to take your child for as a day just teaching him how to behave properly at home and in town.
I hope this helps somewhat. Good Luck and stay positive. You also want to check out each medication your gets put on. Lithium, Tegretol, Risperdal, Straterra all bad. They have suicide tendencies and not all phsychiatrists will be up front. My son Killed himself at twelve and we did everything I have told you.
Watch him vigiantly and always love him no matter what.
A. W.
There are lots of companies that will help you with the meds. Just do a search on free medications and you will find the help you need.
I would talk to your doctor. Nearly every pharmacutial company out there has some kind of program to help those that can't afford the medicines. My mother was able to get her prescriptions for 2 years when she suddenly lost her job and insurance. Your doctor needs to fill out the paperwork and then the drug company supplies the meds to the doctor for your son free of charge.
