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Thank you so much, Chuck, for this detailed, personal account of what you and Joyce went through. i admire your resolution, toughness, and persistence, Planning for a future of increasing disability is one of the most daunting aspects of PD. I wonder if anyone has found good resources on this topic. Kathleen 2009/6/6 <[log in to unmask]> > > This is Chuck using Joyce's membership to sign on. > > > > After nearly 28 years with PD, Joyce is still with us in (almost) fine > condition. > > > After personally funding her live-in companion(s) since 1996 it was > impossible to continue > and I had to seek alternative ideas. > > Some of you might remember my sadness to have to make the decision to > divorce Joyce in order to make > a Medicaid application for assistance. Finally I had no choice and we > were divorced in 2007. > > What followed was the most difficult financial audit in my lifetime. > having a private business I was subjected to state and federal > examinations > including state sales tax audits. I passed all without exemption!!! > > Nothing can compare to a medicaid audit. I hired the top medicaid lawyer > in South Carolina, called many times to testify in front of state > appellate and federal level counts including the US Supreme court for > medicaid > cases. She knows her stuff. > > The current look back is five years but she found a provision to narrow it > to three....big deal...!! > > Folks, if anyone is considering applying to Medicaid be ready to provide > in duplicate and triplicate every single transaction from whatever source > which can be shown which could be thought of as a way to reduce the > beneficiaries assets. For me it was a five month process and a dossier > of nearly > 4 inches of papers. EVERYTHING financial over $1000 was requested in more > than one direction. What made it soooo difficult was that the three years > prior included years that we were married and co mingled investment and > bank accounts. Ouch. > > Items such as helping our son's wedding, our other son's car down payment > and many more normal family actions that were NOT accepted because in > effect it was considered a gift. believe me this sucked. > > If any lives in South Carolina there is another program under which the > patient can apply and which is for the most part not publicly advertised. > I > will supply the info if you ask me. The criteria is similar but has some > leeway that straight medicaid does not have. > > After 4 months she was accepted for 1/2 of the benefits...medical and > medicine...leaving the actual living expenses in a nursing home (assisted > living > is not covered) up in the air. The bills kept coming but since we > didn't know if we were accepted how far back they would cover. so i > never > paid anything except her personal care items. > > I contacted the state ombudslady who after hearing and reading my letter > asking for her support agreed to act on my behalf...the lawyer was against > a > brick wall... > > It worked and with a lot of tears from the lawyer, ambudslady and ME last > week I received notice that she qualified for the missing link and I was > totally free of ALL expenses. > > Joyce is now living in a nursing home in Columbia, South Carolina, using a > power wheelchair to get around and which opened a new world for her. Her > PD symptoms continue as was for years and years...no use of her legs > complicated by the loss of the use of her right hand due to an car > accident. > She is the life of the party, knows everyone, just received an honor for > redesigning and reorganizing the library, credited with starting a maj > jong > game club..and known as somebody who will always bring a smile to anyone > near. > > Nobody every accepts PD or a nursing home but she has made peace with > herself...i think... > > We remain closest friends and I am thankful to my current wife who totally > supports my efforts and actions for Joyce. Although they havent met, > Joyce continually sends her thanks to us both. > > If anyone is interested in writing to her, and although she cant write > back, she will dictate to me and Ill answer all mail. I will give her > address to anyone interested who requests it to Joyce's private email > at [log in to unmask] (mailto:[log in to unmask]) > > > I had to share this experience for those who find themselves facing > financial disaster due to the care giving expenses which will keep > mounting. > The thought of divorce was the hardest but something that MUST be done, > > good luck to all.. > > Chuck CG Joyce first dx 1981 now 65 years old. > > > > > > > **************Stay connected and tighten your budget with a great mobile > device for under $50. Take a Peek! > ( > http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100122638x1221845911x1201401556/aol?redir=http://www.getpeek.com/aol > ) > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto: > [log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn