Need advice, please! [View All]

[njlib]

I have a friend in Iowa who has lung cancer. Her business exists in name only until sometime in May, when her accountant will finish up the necessary closing paperwork. She's collecting disability (which covers rent & utilities...she's usually out of food a few days before the next check shows up), sold her house and is now in an apartment. She has Blue Cross and they just raised her premium $300/month! Her quarterly insurance bill is now $3,000!!!

She's supposed to have another CT scan in 3 weeks, but there's no way she's going to be able to come up with the $800+ that she'll have to shell out BEFORE the procedure. She's also too young for Medicare and because she owns a 5 year old Mazda, she can't qualify for Medicaid. She refuses to give up her car because she's all alone and needs the car for doctor visits, food shopping, etc.

My question is directed to any Iowans or other people who've been in this dilemma....is there anything she can do, anyplace she can contact for some financial help? She goes to Wings of Hope for cancer counseling, so I suggested she talk to a social worker, if they have one on staff, who might be able to help guide her in the right direction. I also suggested she mail her bills to Rush Limbaugh and every other asswipe that insists anyone can get medical care in this country!!

Does anyone out there know of anything she could do? ANY AND ALL SUGGESTIONS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!! Thank you!!