With over 15 different places coming after me and no income, I don't even have $1 a month for them.

I just wanted to come back to this post and clarify something--not to start an argument or change the way this post is going... but so other people are not misled.

Mere, that may be the way it is with your medical places in your town--but that is not the truth everywhere.

I asked my mom if that was true... if I could get by with only paying $1 a month on each bill, even though, as I said--I don't even have that much.

She said absolutely not... that is incorrect. She asked the clinic in town if they would accept $10 a month and they said no. Anything less than $30 a month, they send to collections because they are not getting it quickly enough. Most other places will not take less than $20 a month, but some want as much as $50 a month.

So, while that may be true where you live, that is not the case everywhere. I don't want someone to see that, be relieved, and start dropping payments to only $1 a month--only to have their bills turned over to credit agencies. It can ruin your credit. Believe me, I'm there and I'm only 24.

I stand to be corrected... thank you. I am sorry that you are having such difficulty with medical bills. It certainly does not help to have that stress when you are not feeling well. Perhaps the medical entities might reduce the bill if they know your situation?

Hope you feel better soon.

Mere

Sorry, I just reread my message and it sounded a bit harsh. Wasn't meaning to sound that way at all--just in a lot of pain today and it came out in my post.

Some places may very well take $1 a month--so I don't doubt that you are correct in some cases. But the clinic here in town would not accept that. I suppose it depends on the specific place.

As each call comes in, I explain the situation. We had a lawyer write letters to each of the places in July. My mom was paying on all my bills--she has been since I was little and just never stopped. The lawyer said that now that I am over 18, she has no obligation to pay. He also said that if I am not working, they can't really come after me (well, they can--but they can't take my pay since I don't have any). He sent letters to each medical place, basically saying: You've gotten 80% of your payment from our insurance. Sarah can't work due to her medical problems. Will you just write off the rest and call it even? Well, nobody has. Somehow the lawyer says not to worry about the collection agencies and whatnot--but I'm terrified. Not only about my credit, but I'm afraid that they will come haul me off to jail for not paying. I have no idea if that's even possible--but it is really stressing me out.

But I'm hoping that some places will either write it off at the 80% from insurance, wait for payments until I can work, or allow part of the bill to be written off. I guess only time will tell. I hope you are having a good day!

You aren't being harsh. I think you are on a good track having a lawyer involved.

Have you started filing for SS disability? I never thought I would feel so bad to have to get it but I did and I used a lawyer. Most disability lawyers collect a percentage of back pay for their services only and when you are awarded benefits. It helps a lot. I never wanted it as I have worked hard all of my life. I worked my way into a position as a VP of operations and stayed with my company for 25 years. My employer was understanding but I was loosing more and more time due to illness. I quietly retired and then applied for disability. It is one of the most disappointing things I have had to do in my life...but completely necessary.

I hope you feel better soon. Please try not to worry. I know that is easy for me to say, but it will only make you feel worse...

Mere

Well I'll give you my shpeal--There are lots of lovely drugs to try. And evening primose oil and alpha-lipoic acid help me. Or try other products with GLA other than EPO, such as borage oil. And some are recommending r-lipoic acid instead of alpha. Also you might try a very healthy lifestyle as recommended by Dr. Dean Ornish, McDougal, Dr. Andrew Weil, etc. This consists of what you eat, exercise, stress reduction, social support. Also look into Dr. Mark Hyman. His site looks very commercial but I think he is onto something, he is into functional medicine, where you actually go to the cause of illness instead of putting a band-aid on it with drugs. Look into nutrigenomics--food is information to your body.

I believe exercise is very important and you can start that now. Avoid meat, eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains. Avoid refined carbohydrates like flour and sugar. Eat good fats like nuts, avocados, canola oil, extra-virgin olive oil. This is what I am doing and it has reversed some of my weird neurological symptoms.
Electron

Thank you.

I have applied--but without a lawyer first. They said to be prepared to not have a decision for 2-4 years, and to be declined. Said almost everyone gets declined the first time. But if I do, we already have a lawyer ready to appeal with us. Hoping that is how he works with the money situation, because I certainly don't have any money to give him. I would have to make sure--otherwise we'd have to appeal on our own, which would probably get me denied again. (We=my mom and I) So I am still waiting to hear on a decision. I just graduated in May after 6 long years of college. I've only had neuropathy since December (that's when the pain started, anyway). I have, though, had 4 things wrong with my back since I was born (pain started when I was 8). I worked very hard to get through college with all the chronic pain I had, and now that I finally graduated in May, I can't use my degree. I hope that even if I do get disability, that I won't be on it forever. I want to use my degree and work... but at the same time, I'm not too proud to not accept financial help because I certainly do need it!

Sarah Mae - before you start paying a lawyer (or anyone else) to apply for disability compensation - contact Mike Finkelstein. Mike is a member here as well as other PN sites and he has helped lots of PNers obtain their disability claim and more often than not they get approved on the first try...and he doesn't charge you anything.

Mike does not prepare the application for you but he guides you every step of the way---he is a pro at this and knows exactly what to include in the application as well as what NOT to include. As I said, he does not charge for his expertise but I think that once your application is approved and after you receive that first check that you would want to give him a nice stipend but he would never ask you for anything. Why does he do this? Because he enjoys helping out his fellow PNers! Period, end of story. I've known Mike for several years and we met and had dinner together in New York city about 5 years ago - he is totally legit and there are members on this site that can verify what I am saying.

You can contact Mike at mike3736@hotmail.com and you can also call him at 1-718-966-3736. Mike lives on the east coast so keep that in mind if you call. He also says the best time to call is from 10 PM to Midnight. So, if you are applying for disability be sure and contact Mike - he will save you a pocket full of money and a lot of frustration in getting your claim approved.

That does sound a little crazy and too good to be true, but I will believe you!

I have a question though... I've heard it is best to go through a lawyer because they know the process (as you say this guy does...) but.. if I happened to have him help me if I do get denied, and then was denied the appeal... is there a chance to appeal again or would I have to start all over from the start with a lawyer? Just curious.

Call or email Mike and ask him that question - he will answer you truthfully and if your not satisfied with his answer then hire all the lawyers you want. And BTW, Mike worked at SS doing disability claims so he knows the business inside and out. But, the most important thing of all is for you to be satisfied.