May
06
2010
my mother has cataract but we dont have money for her operation?
Posted by: in cataract treatment, tags: Cataract, Don't, money, Mother, Operation
My mother has a cataract but we don’t have money for her eye operation,how could i help her?i’m just a student
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May 6th, 2010 at 11:50 pm
Try to get a donantion or a loan. this might help you pay for it.
May 6th, 2010 at 11:59 pm
There are ways to get help. Ask for a payment plan or apply for aid. Don’t let this go, her eyesight depends on it.
May 7th, 2010 at 12:01 am
A lot of eye care camps are conducted almost every month at many places by government hospitals . Why dont you take your mom there? They do cataract surgery free of cost and is also is safe. Better do it fast. God bless.
May 7th, 2010 at 12:24 am
There are a few options for someone without insurance who needs cataract surgery which can range in cost from $3,500-$5,000 per eye depending on the surgeon’s fee, surgery center fee, and anesthesiologist’s fee.
One option is to finance it. Both CareCredit http://www.carecredit.com/ and Chase Health Advance http://www.chasehealthadvance.com/patient-financing/ offer lines of credit that can be used for healthcare expenses only.
Another option is to see if she would be eligible for Medicaid. Every state has its own financial requirements so it’s near impossible to know what the qualification requirements are without researching your particular state.
A third option is to go to the local teaching institution (ophthalmology residency). Most of these programs allow for a financial hardship waiver of fees. The downside is that she would have her surgery done by a resident who is still learning how to perform the surgery. In general, spring is the best time of year to elect this option as the residents are near graduation. However, a new class of residents begins in July/August so I would avoid teaching institutions during the summer.
An additional option would be for her to sign up for insurance that does not have any pre-existing condition clause. However, these are not easy to get and can be expensive. If you are in California you might try checking out Kaiser. Although I am generally anti-HMO (because of the financial incentives to withhold care), I’ve been impressed Kaiser’s system and doctor’s.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
David D. Richardson, M.D.
Medical Director
San Gabriel Valley Eye Associates, Inc.
207 S. Santa Anita Street, Suite P-25
San Gabriel, CA 91776
626.289.7856