Heh.
Got a call yesterday from the social worker at Dad's rehab. There is a chance that his insurance (note to readers: avoid HAP Senior Plus LIKE THE PLAGUE!!! IT IS EVIL!!!!) will cut him off on Friday.
Apparently, Dad has "plateaued" in therapy, and they don't like that. Let's ignore the fact that he's still fighting a liver infection (or possibly a new infection... his fever is back), he still isn't capable of being on his own, still on IV antibiotics and a feeding tube and a catheter and oxygen, and NOBODY has tried to teach him how to manage those things for himself. Oh, and let's not forget that he's only eating about 200 - 250 calories a day, because EVERYTHING seems to upset his stomach. Nope, we'll ignore those things COMPLETELY! Because he's been walking 100 feet at a stretch for a week now, and he should be at 125!
Ahem.
So, I called the business office this morning, to see what private pay would cost him. As of 2 weeks ago, Dad's doctors and therapists thought he's need another 3-4 weeks at rehab (but, you know, HAP knows better?), so I wanted to have an idea what it would cost him to stay there for the time all the professionals thought was appropriate.
Here's the rundown:
- Semi-private room: $6,758 per month
- Private room (which is what he's in now): $8,680 per month.
Both of those fees include nursing care, food, and the room.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS EXTRA!
- Therapy (physical, occupational, speech): $30 per 15 minutes
- Incontinence supplies: $6.61 per day
- Feeding tube care & supplies: $7 per day
- Medications: no idea (but, undoubtedly, a WHOLE FUCKING LOT)
- Doctors care: no idea (see above note)
- Catheter care & supplies: no idea
I have NO IDEA what we'll do now. I honestly don't think he can afford to stay there. But I KNOW that he can't be on his own yet. Another facility? Home with private nursing care? My house (gasp)?
3 Comments:
ARGH! I hate it when insurance companies think they know better than doctors. (((hugs)))
Beth -- And I say this, only because I work at one of those other "evil" HMO's in the Detroit area as well ... ask the social worker for the phone number to speak to your Dad's Nurse Case Manager at HAP. He should be assigned to one.
He/She should also be another resource for you and your fam to get the care your dad may be eligible for. Have they thought about home care at home? Providing a home health aide at home? There are lots of things that your Dad's Case Manager should be able to help you with.
My experience (as a Case Manager working for an insurance company) is that family members are not aware of other resources that might be available to them that the Nurse Case Manager should be able to help arrange. Many times, family members take whatever the hospital or rehab discharge planner / social worker as gold. There are MANY nuances for benefit coverage ... even within the same insurance company.
Utilize your dad's insurance company. That's what your dad (or his former employer from where he retired from -- if that's where he gets his insurance from) pays good money for.
Hope you're not offended by this ... it just truly ticks me off when hospitals or rehab places or even home care agencies place the blame on the insurance company when they might not even be providing all the information to EITHER the family OR the insurance company!
Feel free to email me if you have any other questions ... And good luck!!
Wow, that really sucks. I'm so sorry. ~hugs~
(fyi - check out the comment I left for you in the last post. I explained how to use the strikethrough font in blogger)
Post a Comment