XP from 3rd Tri: Anyone have experience with Medicare Part B? (NBR)

LittleDelany

Long story short, my grandfather is broke, has no assets, and is dying of lung cancer - he has a few weeks, maybe a month or so to live at best.  He really wants to go to the Mayo Clinic for treatment (the VA hospital won't do any more treatment on him at all, even though there are other treatments available).  The only way the Mayo Clinic will accept him is if either my parents pay for the treatment, or if he has Medicare part B.  I've been on the phone with them all morning, and basically got b*tched at because he didn't sign up during his original enrollment period (couldn't afford it on just his SS income).  Signing up is not a problem, but even if he enrolls by tomorrow, the effective date won't be until July 1st, and he probably doesn't have that long unless he gets treatment.  The lady advised me to have him write a letter explaining the circumstances and take it into the SS office when he enrolls, and they *might* consider it, but it isn't likely.

We're grasping at straws here, and it's especially difficult since he's in Michigan and my parents and I are in other states.  Just wondering if anyone has had experience with Medicare part B or any of the situation above, and can give me some help/advice/guidance.

TIA!

(Side note: I even went all crazy pregnant lady on them and cried and said "he's my only grandfather and he needs to meet his great grandson and la la la la la but the lady wasn't having it).

stefy98

Is he at least signed up for Medicare part A?

lhicks13

So sorry you are going through this!  I have no personal experience with this, BUT- an ex coworker of mine had to go out on disability retirement due to terminal breast cancer.  She worked as long as she could, but once she got to a point she was too weak, she decided to go out.   The doctor signed her disability forms with a certain coding that showed she was terminal and it should be rushed.  It was rushed through (maybe 2 weeks), but I *believe* she said that as long as the paperwork was submitted, if she had passed away before it was officially approved she would still be covered?  I'm not 100% about that part, but I DO know they used a special coding to show "rush" on her paperwork.  Hope this helps.

 

LittleDelany

stefy98:

Is he at least signed up for Medicare part A?

Yes he has part A.  We're sending him to the SS office tomorrow with a ton of paperwork, letters from doctors, etc, and hoping like h*ll they'll do something to push it through faster.

stefy98

Can they do anything for him at the hospital then? The part A is for hospital coverage.

LittleDelany

stefy98:

Can they do anything for him at the hospital then? The part A is for hospital coverage.

The part A covers inpatient care, what the Mayo clinic is requiring is the outpatient coverage that part B provides