Hi Amy,

I certainly understand your frustration.

Has Medicaid indicated to you how long it will take to get the "paperwork" together? And, what exactly does getting "paperwork" together mean?

To get this moving faster depends on a number of factors. You can do a couple of things that may help speed up the process.  You can call Stanford and speak to Bob who deals with the insurance and see if he can help or if he has any suggestions or you can simply call your congressman because he/she has to respond.  You will want to let them know that you are in need of surgery asap and need immediate assistance in getting Medicaid to act quickly.

Hang in there and know that we are here to support you through this journey and to help you in anyway we can.

Keep us posted.

Lore

So everytime I talk to medicaid they tell me something different. First off I was told they would pay for the surgery because it was life or death. All I had to do was have Dr. Steinbergs office call to get the official approval. Last night I called medicaid and spoke to someone else. He said I needed to have my neorologist here in Columbia MO call and let medicaid know that my dr. here is referring me to California. There is a place in St Louis MO that does the surgery, but I've heard in  order for medicaid to pay for the surgery they have to have done a certain amount of surgeries. They are doing a study in St Louis, so I've heardthey are qualified to do the surgeries, but do not have enough surgeries under their belt to actually establish statics. So, I called my neorologists nurse, Julie, who is amazing by the way, she is doing everything she can to help me. If I knew all of this a week ago I could have been working on this then. It is very frustrating to be told something different everytime you call your insurance. Shouldn't everybody know the rules before they start working for a company and if you don't know the rules shouldn't you ask? This is my life we're talking about! I am having migraines so bad I am vomiting. My right arm is numb and the top of my right leg. Theresa says the surgery needs to be done NOW! I hope to try and pass a bill or something that says in a lfe or death situation surgery is done and then insurance is dealt with. How can my insurance help me if I don't survive? I didn't ask for this disease nor have I done anything to desearve this. I don't drink, smoke or do drugs. I work full time, take care of my 3 children, without any help from their fathers, and can not afford health insurance. Does medicaid have the right to  "negotiate" my life? Has anyone had success in writing their congressman? I would be willing to drive and talk with the congressman personally, if I have to. Can anyone strear me in the right direction on who I should contact? I have talked to Bob and he is waiting on medicaid to give the OK. So it's a waiting game and this isn't fair!!!

Amy