Got medical bills? Organize your own benefit!

[MineralDiva]

They haven't already been let go from the Board.  That would be rather "Scroogey" of me at Christmas.  But after the holidays...we'll consult our attorney and our bylaws, to hopefully simply ask them to step aside.  (I don't think "she" wants to continue on the board anyway. But "he" was planning to stay on.)

The "benefit" is scheduled for next weekend.  So we won't have long to wait for how things work out!

I'll definitely keep you all posted.

[Balletmom]

I'm coming in late here...but my jaw is dropping at the audacity.

I'm on the board of a 501-c organization, and you are so right and so wise to be watchful of your group's interests.

That is just sickening what he did with the platforms. He knew very well how careless he was being, and as a board member, he should have gone above and beyond efforts to take care of your group's theatrical assets.

If they don't both step down nicely, I hope you get them out by whatever means necessary!

[MineralDiva]

I'm coming in late here...but my jaw is dropping at the audacity.

I'm on the board of a 501-c organization, and you are so right and so wise to be watchful of your group's interests.

That is just sickening what he did with the platforms. He knew very well how careless he was being, and as a board member, he should have gone above and beyond efforts to take care of your group's theatrical assets.

If they don't both step down nicely, I hope you get them out by whatever means necessary!

Thanks.  I agree that he knew how careless he was being with the platforms, and that as a board member, they should have been more considerate with company assets.

Still makes my blood boil, just thinking about it!

[HogwartsAlum]

Thanks for that explanation; that must make it very tough for the average income worker if their job doesn't cover the insurance.  Here in Australia everyone is entitled to free medical care in a hospital (most GP's used to be free too but that is becoming more and more rare) but there are also insurance schemes people can join.  The advantage to that is if you require non-essential surgery you can go in almost straight away and/or choose your own doctor.  But if you have say, a stroke or are in an accident, you are admitted to hospital immediately and everything is free.

*packing my bags* Make room! I'm coming over!!!!!! 

[HogwartsAlum]

Wow....I just read this whole thing. I can't believe these people.

I hope you get your board stuff worked out, MineralDiva.  I don't blame you for never loaning out your stuff again, either.  All it takes is one time for people to be careless and they're off my borrow list.

[MineralDiva]

Pretty amazing, huh?  I haven't heard any more about the "benefit" that is supposed to happen this Saturday.  But believe me...when I do...I'll post here for all the enquiring minds! (Including my own!  lol)

[avonlea29]

I don't begrudge a person a few luxuries, but if you are going to hit me up for money, try not to seem even more prosperous than me.

OR....here's what my parents experienced. They were living in an area with a particularly low economy and were really struggling. Their friends were also struggling and sympathizing and praying to make ends meet. Imagine their surprise to learn that one particular "struggling" couple actually had like 10 grand in savings, but were "struggling" (and accepting offers of help!!) because they didn't want to touch it.

[Bijou]

but if people don't have insurance is the only option to pay the bill in full themselves?  Is there any type of government funded medicare available?

There is government assistance...IF you qualify.  But you have to be nearly homeless for that to happen.  The average person cannot afford the expense of medical insurance, unless it is a company paid benefit.  Many companies are not paying those benefits anymore...which means the "average person" with a decent income, can neither afford their own insurance, nor qualify at an income level that would give them government assistance to pay the bill.

So in a word, yes, they must pay the bill themselves, should one be incurred.

I make just enough each month, to pay my regular bills.  But I don't make enough to purchase health insurance.  Since I have enough each month for "regular" expenses, I'm not at an income level that would qualify for government (Medicare) assistance.  So I'm on the hook for any medical bills I may have.  Which means I rarely see a doctor...and when I do, it's only under the most DIRE of circumstances...and I have to figure out how to pay for it later...IF I can wait them out long enough to be seen in the first place.

ETA:  Fortunately, my father is a doctor.  Unfortunately, he lives across the country.  But it's nice to be able to make a phone call to check things with him, before incurring any expenses I can't afford!

Sorry to drift OT, but as someone who DOES work in the business of securing health insurance for the poor, I had to dip my oar in here. I see it's already been addressed, but there's been some confusion of medical programs.

Medicare is a totally separate thing from Medicaid, Diva, and Medicaid is what you're talking about here (Medi-Cal in our fair home state). Medicare is what is termed an "earned benefit" - you work for X number of years, and when you turn 65 you become entitled to Medicare insurance - which is not always free but I'm not a Medicare worker so I'm not going to get into the ins & outs of that one. All I know is that pretty much anyone over 65 who has worked in this country can qualify for Medicare. Some people under 65 can qualify for some reason or another, but as I said, I work for Medi-Cal, so I don't know much beyond the basics of Medicare.

Medicaid (which is Federally-sponsored but state-administered), on the other hand, is for children up to age 21, families (with children 21 and under), and aged, blind or disabled (ABD) people who are unable to afford medical insurance. You have to meet certain Federal poverty standards (last determined in 1976(!) - so imagine how poor you have to be) - but you CAN own certain amounts of property. The bad thing is, if you are over 21 or under 65 and don't have kids, aren't blind, and aren't disabled (by criteria established by the Federal government), you're pretty much out of luck. There's all kinds of playing with numbers involved in order to get people down to the Federal poverty standards set down 30 flippin' years ago, but the fact remains: you have to be pretty poor to qualify for Medicaid. You CAN be working, but that's a whole other kettle of fish. Rules vary from state to state and even county to county - I only know California's laws and my county's rules because I happen to work in California in that particular county.

This happened to my friend Paul when he tore a couple of ligaments in his knee - he's 26 and asked me if there was any way in hell he could qualify for Medi-Cal - I said, "Unless there's a little Paul V (he's Paul IV) running around out there somewhere and you bring him home to live with you, I REALLY doubt it." Being childless, young, in good health and completely unemployed, he incurred a gigantic bill for knee surgery - and his mother is a doctor, or a nurse practitioner, at any rate.

Still, for some reason it didn't enter our heads to organize a charity benefit for him - probably because a busted knee isn't exactly a life-threatening condition (in most cases, anyway), he's in pretty good health otherwise, and we'd probably be laughed off the streets. He returned to work pretty soon after, having secured a new job (or two), so he's fine, but he's got these medical bills hanging over his head and (horror of horrors! Who'd've thought?) he's working them off.

Man, I hope this "benefit" doesn't even begin to get off the ground. This is just terrible.  I'm beyond speechless at their idea, coming on the heels as it does of a LEGITIMATE charity benefit (the Esperanza fire victims).  Ugh. People like this make me want to smack them with an overlarge trout. It smells worse than a clue by four.

I am glad you chimed in.  I worked in MediCal (and all of the other programs) for 24 years with MC as my specialty, and you didn't have to be  destitute or nearly homeless to qualify for MC.  We also had a state program for people who did not qualify for MC.  I'm sure things have changed alot in the three years since I retired, but at that time they were bringing in a lot of side programs to help people.  There may be help out there and I used to tell people to come and apply, if they called to ask and indicated they thought they were not eligible.

[Bijou]

Pretty nervy characters, if you ask me.  I remember a woman who had a serious illness and had a benefit.  Then about a year later she asked if I thought it would be good to have one to get her self employment business started?  What?  I must have looked shocked because she kind of dropped it. 

[Evil Duckie]

MineralDiva those two are beyond words.

I hope that you will have no problems with them leaving the board of your company.

I hate to say it but I am curious how the benefit turns out. It sounds like a train wreck about to happen.

[MineralDiva]

Indeed it does sound like a train-wreck about to happen!  I mis-posted earlier, when I said it was today (Saturday).  It's actually a WEEK from today.  And I must say, the suspense is killing me!  LOL

They haven't contacted us to be a part of it.  Nor has anyone around town been talking about it...at least not where I could hear.

As soon as I know any more, I'll definitely let you all read about it!

[MineralDiva]

UPDATE!!

The "benefit" hasn't happened yet (it's this Saturday evening).  However, we DID finally get a call today, from one of the members of Mr. Diva's band.  She wanted to confirm that they would perform.

He told her that wouldn't be possible.  He's comitted to another gig in the afternoon...and my mother is coming into town, so we won't be around to perform for this "thing" in the evening. 

My mother IS coming into town...just not THIS Saturday.  She'll be here in a few weeks. So he didn't exactly "lie."  He just didn't elaborate on the time-line.

By this time, even Mr. Diva is in agreement that the very idea of having or doing such a "benefit," is inappropriate.  (Not that he wasn't in agreement before...it's just a more solid opinion now.)

[sammycat]

Even if you wanted to participate in this fiasco (and thank G-d you aren't/don't!) aren't they leaving it a bit late to be organising entertainment?  Or maybe everyone else in town has also turned them down as well?

"Confirm" that Mr Diva can perform? - had they gone ahead and booked him anyway??!

[MineralDiva]

I think that since this band member is friends with "Entitlement Girl," and the band member mentioned it at a rehearsal some time ago...like right before I posted the first message in this thread...it was "assumed" that they'd (the band) discussed it and agreed to do the gig.  They did not.

Nothing more has been said about it, since that rehearsal.  "Entitlement Girl" is doing all the coordinating of performers, supposedly.  But it was not SHE who called Mr. Diva to "confirm."

It will be interesting to see if there is an ad for this "benefit" in the paper...AND whether or not the scheduled performers will be listed (as a partial draw)....ANDDD whether Mr. Diva's band will be among them.

If his band is among those listed as scheduled to be performing...BenefitBoy and EntitlementGirl are going to be sorely disappointed!  'Cause we're not going anywhere NEAR it!

ETA:  And if there IS an ad in the paper, whether or not it will say that it is "sponsored by" The Benefit-Entitlement Theatre Company.  Wouldn't THAT just be the icing on the cake!

[MineralDiva]

ANOTHER UPDATE!!!

Well, the newspaper came out this morning.  Yes, there is an ad for the "Benefit."  It is billed as a "Dance and Music Benefit Concert to help pay for "BenefitBoy's" stab wound.

There is a list of performers, and yes, Mr. Diva's band is listed.  (But he will not be there.)  It gives the date, and time (Saturday 7pm) tells where it will be, and LISTS ADMISSION AS BEING $20 PER PERSON!!!! 

In a separate ad for the venue where this "thing" is to be held, it lists "BenefitBoy's" 'I've been stabbed with a sword! benefit"  "The hospital bills hurt worse than my lung deflating!  Please help & come join us for a night of music and dance."

Oh...my...GOSH!  They have a rather high opinion of themselves, don't they?  Wonder if "he's" going to be doing any dancing...or is he going to just sit there and look pathetic, while counting whatever money comes in?

GAD!