|
|
Post by iamkristinl16 on Aug 4, 2024 2:59:50 GMT
My cousin’s husband has cancer and things don’t look very good. They live in Georgia but his family mostly live in Wisconsin. They were planning to drive him to Wisconsin this weekend but decided that wasn’t a good plan. They are talking about starting a go fund me for an air option that is apparently close to $50K. Does anyone have any suggestions for services that would be appropriate for him and maybe not as expensive in this situation? He would need care while in transit. I thought if anyone knows, it would be the peas.
|
|
snyder
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,347 
Location: Colorado
|
Post by snyder on Aug 4, 2024 3:05:45 GMT
Oh my. Sorry about your cousin's husband. Cancer sucks!
I'm of no help, but highly doubt you will find anything that's not quite that expensive. My mom just got an ambulance bill the other day. 3 miles to the hospital and it was close to $3,000, so an air flight with medical care is going to be costly. Hope someone has a good answer for you.
|
|
quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,850
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
|
Post by quiltz on Aug 4, 2024 3:11:46 GMT
It might be cheaper for the people to visit him, rather than having him travel. Travel is stressful and what does his health insurance cover if he is out of state.
I have a strong dislike of Go-Fund-Me.
|
|
|
|
Post by Zee on Aug 4, 2024 3:19:32 GMT
I don't have experience in this area, but it's best to consider what is the end goal? Is he pursuing treatment, or is he end of life? Is he relocating, or just wanting to see family before passing? Is he on hospice? What kind of care would he need during the trip? Would it require nursing or medic care? All those things would help me decide. $50k is a LOT of money to try to raise with what sounds like, maybe not a lot of time if he's sick enough to need medical attention and an air ambulance.
Unless he is wanting to relocate, I would think it would be a lot easier for others to come to him to say their goodbyes or, if he's actively pursuing treatment, I would still say let others come to him if he couldn't make the trip via private car.
If he could tolerate the journey over a few days, maybe that would be an option? Depending on the level of comfort and care needed.
|
|
quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,850
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
|
Post by quiltz on Aug 4, 2024 3:45:01 GMT
My mom just got an ambulance bill the other day. 3 miles to the hospital and it was close to $3,000, That is a huge expense. Where I live, the last ambulance bill I received (last year) was $45.00 and the mileage was about 20 miles. I then sent this bill Sure Life (Extended Health benefits provider) and they paid for all of it. |
|
pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,239
|
Post by pilcas on Aug 4, 2024 3:54:57 GMT
My mom just got an ambulance bill the other day. 3 miles to the hospital and it was close to $3,000, That is a huge expense. Where I live, the last ambulance bill I received (last year) was $45.00 and the mileage was about 20 miles. I then sent this bill Sure Life (Extended Health benefits provider) and they paid for all of it. Yes, our health care sucks. |
|
snyder
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,347
Location: Colorado
|
Post by snyder on Aug 4, 2024 4:03:26 GMT
My mom just got an ambulance bill the other day. 3 miles to the hospital and it was close to $3,000, That is a huge expense. Where I live, the last ambulance bill I received (last year) was $45.00 and the mileage was about 20 miles. I then sent this bill Sure Life (Extended Health benefits provider) and they paid for all of it. I about fainted when I saw the cost. Her insurance paid 100%, but we wonder why medical is so expenisve. It is because of price gouging the consumer to death. Well, their gouging their insurance anyways. We have something called Affordable Health Care Act. My foot. Premiums for medical is so out rageous here, that many go without being covered. A person making less than $18k for a single person can get free, but if they go over that amount, their premiums jump to like $800-1.000 a month! |
|
|
|
Post by Basket1lady on Aug 4, 2024 5:33:06 GMT
I don’t know if this is an option, but back in July of 2020, my FIL had a hip replacement. We hired a handicap accessible RV to drive him back to Minnesota. FIL had the bed and a comfy chair to sit in for the trip. They had a bathroom and could make their own meals without exposing them to the public (and COVID).
He had had help lined up to come in and do bandage changes and to help with my MIL with dementia. Well, COVID swept through their small town’s home health aides and he was discharged and went home to no care or checks for 5 days. It was a huge mess and my SIL had to drive out there (Minneapolis to Wyoming). She immediately took him to the ER and it was decided that he needed to go to a rehab facility. She chose one in Minnesota. We then had to figure out how to get him there. It was about $3,000, but it kept him off a germy airplane and in their COVID bubble.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lurkingpea on Aug 4, 2024 5:52:40 GMT
It sounds to me like he is wanting to travel to see his family?
First off, I dislike GFM so that may be tainting my opinion, but 50,000 is a hell of a lot of money to raise. Wouldn't it be cheaper to fly people to see him? If they are set on a GFM they could start it for that and would likely come closer to covering that cost.
It seems really odd to me to want to move a person who is dying and needs medical transport to say his goodbyes. I would think it would be more comfortable and kind for people to visit him.
|
|
|
|
Post by littlemama on Aug 4, 2024 11:37:59 GMT
That is a huge expense. Where I live, the last ambulance bill I received (last year) was $45.00 and the mileage was about 20 miles. I then sent this bill Sure Life (Extended Health benefits provider) and they paid for all of it. I about fainted when I saw the cost. Her insurance paid 100%, but we wonder why medical is so expenisve. It is because of price gouging the consumer to death. Well, their gouging their insurance anyways. We have something called Affordable Health Care Act. My foot. Premiums for medical is so out rageous here, that many go without being covered. A person making less than $18k for a single person can get free, but if they go over that amount, their premiums jump to like $800-1.000 a month! Single insurance does not cost $800-$1000/month for most people. If it does, that person is probably much older and has a top tier plan. |
|
|
|
Post by littlemama on Aug 4, 2024 11:39:46 GMT
I agree that is depends on the end goal.
If it is to see family, they should figure out how to get to him and not further burden his family with more expenses.
|
|
pantsonfire
Drama Llama
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 6,294
|
Post by pantsonfire on Aug 4, 2024 12:28:20 GMT
The only thing I know about is Angel Flight but I believe that is only used for access to medical treatment. But you could call and see if they have any other ideas.
Also ask his case manager or social worker. Again they may have ideas.
Why can the family not travel to him? I honestly think that would be in his best interest since he is so ill. Why make him go through travel when he would receive care during??
|
|
pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,239
|
Post by pilcas on Aug 4, 2024 13:16:04 GMT
I also believe that those who want to see him can do so rather than have him go in his current condition.
|
|
Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,853
|
Post by Rhondito on Aug 4, 2024 13:16:06 GMT
I think it would be highly inappropriate to start a GFM for a person who wants to take a medical air flight to visit family. Instead they should invite the family to Georgia to visit him and explain he is too ill to travel but wants to see his family.
My opinion would be different if the travel was for medical care, but then there are options for insurance and Angel Flights.
|
|
|
|
Post by christine58 on Aug 4, 2024 13:23:57 GMT
He might not survive a plane ride. That’s an awful lot to put him through as he comes to the end of his life. Anyone who needs to see him should fly to him. That’s the unselfish thing to do.
|
|
|
|
Post by crazy4scraps on Aug 4, 2024 13:32:41 GMT
I about fainted when I saw the cost. Her insurance paid 100%, but we wonder why medical is so expenisve. It is because of price gouging the consumer to death. Well, their gouging their insurance anyways. We have something called Affordable Health Care Act. My foot. Premiums for medical is so out rageous here, that many go without being covered. A person making less than $18k for a single person can get free, but if they go over that amount, their premiums jump to like $800-1.000 a month! Single insurance does not cost $800-$1000/month for most people. If it does, that person is probably much older and has a top tier plan. I agree, we have our insurance through our state exchange and for our family of three it is under $600 a month and we’re not low income. We have a pretty high deductible/family max though. An ambulance ride would run into the thousands which wouldn’t be fully covered unless the deductible was met. ETA: I also am not a fan of GFM because of the fees they siphon off the top. I think you could fly a lot of people from WI to GA for much less than $50k, plus I would think it would be easier on the sick person if everyone wasn’t there all at once anyway. My friend lives in FL now and her kids are always finding insanely cheap flights down there on Southwest. |
|
GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,510
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
|
Post by GiantsFan on Aug 4, 2024 13:42:51 GMT
If he wants to see his hometown one last time, try renting an RV and hire a CNA or person who has medical training to go with you. If it's to see family, they should fly to him.
|
|
|
|
Post by sierra821 on Aug 4, 2024 14:28:43 GMT
I don’t know if this is an option, but back in July of 2020, my FIL had a hip replacement. We hired a handicap accessible RV to drive him back to Minnesota. FIL had the bed and a comfy chair to sit in for the trip. They had a bathroom and could make their own meals without exposing them to the public (and COVID). He had had help lined up to come in and do bandage changes and to help with my MIL with dementia. Well, COVID swept through their small town’s home health aides and he was discharged and went home to no care or checks for 5 days. It was a huge mess and my SIL had to drive out there (Minneapolis to Wyoming). She immediately took him to the ER and it was decided that he needed to go to a rehab facility. She chose one in Minnesota. We then had to figure out how to get him there. It was about $3,000, but it kept him off a germy airplane and in their COVID bubble. With the cost of premiums and deductibles and copays I honestly almost want to risk going without. Somebody neede to fix this mess. |
|
Tearisci
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,261
Nov 6, 2018 16:34:30 GMT
|
Post by Tearisci on Aug 4, 2024 14:39:05 GMT
My sister moved from WA state to Texas a few years ago and was transported by medical ambulance. She is bed bound and had to have medical care on the trip. They did it straight through and my brother went with her. I think it was $$$ but it was the only way to get her down here with the rest of the family.
|
|
|
|
Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Aug 4, 2024 15:18:39 GMT
Disclaimer: Not being rude and unkind, when I say this. Just simply expressing my personal thoughts and feelings.
I am curious:
Is the desire to see all of the Family, a last request of your Cousins?
Is seeing the Cousin....a "want" by the rest of the Family?
Personally, if I were at the end stage of my life and knew my time here was coming to an end soon....I wouldn't want to be "visited" by anyone other than those who have been in my inner circle and maybe a few of those in my outer circle.
Those in my >> what I call "extended circle....outside edge of my life" >> random acquaintances, Family members that I don't like and am obligated to be "polite and civil" to.....I wouldn't want to see at all and would them put on "no entry" list.
I've never understood when various people come from the *proverbial* >> everywhere and out of nowhere.....to "rush in and visit" when someone is in the hospital or at the end stage of life.
If someone hasn't been an integral part of my life or in a *wanted or liked by me* aspect--part of my life....then why now?? are they rushing in to see me.
If it's your Cousins desire to see Family, then I think they should travel to him.
|
|
|
|
Post by Scrappyhappy on Aug 4, 2024 16:31:34 GMT
We used an air ambulance to transport my mother in law from Texas to Wisconsin ten years ago. The cost was $12,000. This included two nurses and my husband on the flight.
|
|
|
|
Post by Basket1lady on Aug 4, 2024 16:39:22 GMT
I don’t know if this is an option, but back in July of 2020, my FIL had a hip replacement. We hired a handicap accessible RV to drive him back to Minnesota. FIL had the bed and a comfy chair to sit in for the trip. They had a bathroom and could make their own meals without exposing them to the public (and COVID). He had had help lined up to come in and do bandage changes and to help with my MIL with dementia. Well, COVID swept through their small town’s home health aides and he was discharged and went home to no care or checks for 5 days. It was a huge mess and my SIL had to drive out there (Minneapolis to Wyoming). She immediately took him to the ER and it was decided that he needed to go to a rehab facility. She chose one in Minnesota. We then had to figure out how to get him there. It was about $3,000, but it kept him off a germy airplane and in their COVID bubble. With the cost of premiums and deductibles and copays I honestly almost want to risk going without. Somebody neede to fix this mess. I’m not sure what exactly this is in response to, but his surgery and aftercare was all paid for through Medicare since he was 89 years old. The issue was that in this remote area, all the health care workers were exposed to COVID all at once. Dozens were exposed and caught it. |
|
snyder
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,347
Location: Colorado
|
Post by snyder on Aug 4, 2024 17:49:46 GMT
I about fainted when I saw the cost. Her insurance paid 100%, but we wonder why medical is so expenisve. It is because of price gouging the consumer to death. Well, their gouging their insurance anyways. We have something called Affordable Health Care Act. My foot. Premiums for medical is so out rageous here, that many go without being covered. A person making less than $18k for a single person can get free, but if they go over that amount, their premiums jump to like $800-1.000 a month! Single insurance does not cost $800-$1000/month for most people. If it does, that person is probably much older and has a top tier plan. It most certainly does and yes it is a better plan than a huge deductible plan. They are one of the people that are caught in the middle. Make too much to qualify for help, but don't make enough to afford paying a deductible of $8-15 grand each year for their medical expenses because that would really put them in the poor house. They do have some medical issues that they need decent coverage. |
|
iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,317
|
Post by iowgirl on Aug 4, 2024 17:57:25 GMT
Single insurance does not cost $800-$1000/month for most people. If it does, that person is probably much older and has a top tier plan Self employed. $14/K a year now for DH & I. Good BC&BS, but it does not cover prescription, eye or dental. 6K deductable. So yea... it can cost a lot. We are healthy. Just the occasional stitches and DH did severely break his arm 2 years ago, but it was all fixed within 9 months. |
|
RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,577
|
Post by RosieKat on Aug 4, 2024 18:02:02 GMT
I can say somewhat definitively that yes, he'd need an air ambulance and no, there's not going to be anything cheaper. I agree, people visiting is the better option.
I'm sorry that he's so ill and they're having to make these plans.
|
|
|
|
Post by iamkristinl16 on Aug 4, 2024 22:07:31 GMT
I believe that they were going to transport him to Wisconsin so he could see more family before he died or at least be closer to to them. My uncle and some other relatives flew down to Georgia to help transport him by car but then they decided he was not able to make the trip by car and would need significant medical care along the way (and go straight to a hospital when he got there). They were looking at other options but I am guessing they will end up deciding it is too difficult and expensive. You could buy a lot of plane tickets for $45,000 or they could drive. My cousin (his wife) works in Georgia, they live in Georgia, and it seems like it would be better for her as well if he stayed there. But there is a lot that I don't know about the situation.
|
|
|
|
Post by Zee on Aug 5, 2024 1:02:42 GMT
I believe that they were going to transport him to Wisconsin so he could see more family before he died or at least be closer to to them. My uncle and some other relatives flew down to Georgia to help transport him by car but then they decided he was not able to make the trip by car and would need significant medical care along the way (and go straight to a hospital when he got there). They were looking at other options but I am guessing they will end up deciding it is too difficult and expensive. You could buy a lot of plane tickets for $45,000 or they could drive. My cousin (his wife) works in Georgia, they live in Georgia, and it seems like it would be better for her as well if he stayed there. But there is a lot that I don't know about the situation. It does seen like an incredible waste of resources and money to fly there and go immediately to a hospital, probably out of network, no established medical team there unless he's planned for that beforehand, just to probably die in a strange hospital? Or more likely, be sent elsewhere to die... It's not like it used to be where people can just show up to the hospital and stay there until they die on a cancer ward. That's not really a game plan. I hope they have all decided to visit him. They can FaceTime or zoom or whatever for those who can't be there in person. I wouldn't want him to add that discomfort and stress on to the end of his life or to stress the wife out further at this time. ❤️🙏 |
|
|
|
Post by mom on Aug 5, 2024 1:20:26 GMT
IMHO, this seems like a really bad idea all the way around. I get why they would like him back home, but it seems like that ship has sailed.
|
|
|
|
Post by KiwiJo on Aug 5, 2024 2:16:36 GMT
Has anyone asked him what he wants to do? Surely that is the most important thing.
Without knowing what he wants, my first thought on seeing that the family wants to have a dying man travel like that, instead of them going to see him, was ‘how would it end?’. So he does manage to travel, gets taken around the different families like a traveling roadshow - then what? “Oh well, it’s been nice seeing you all, guess I’d better go back home to die now”. Sorry to be so blunt, but it does seem quite callous to me. How much better it would be if he could stay home where his comforts are, and his medical team is, and the family could take turns to fly in to see him. That way it would not be everyone at once, which would almost certainly tire him out, and he could have good visits with each group of people in his own environment.
Or are they wanting to uproot him from his home, from where he has made his life and no doubt where his friends are, and expect him to travel to them in order to die. That seems remarkably selfish, to put it mildly.
|
|
|
|
Post by iamkristinl16 on Aug 7, 2024 17:30:19 GMT
So, last night someone started a GoFundMe. In it, they said that he (the sick person) said last week that he wanted to go back to Green Bay and have a chance to be with his family. They said the price for the air transport is $18k after insurance. I am actually surprised that insurance will pay for any of it since it isn't medically necessary. When I asked my mom about it the other day I said that it seemed better for his family to go to him, and she just said that my aunt told her that his parents (and my aunt and uncle) have gone there several times but that his siblings are "still in jobs" so it didn't sound like they had gone to see him. I asked about my cousin's job and their house, but she wasn't sure what the plan was for that. They are over the goal for the GFM now. I haven't donated but feel like kind of an asshole for not doing so. I don't really know the guy, but my aunt told my mom that he is racist (she said that before he was sick) and that is a huge turnoff for me. If I donate it would be more for my cousin's benefit, but in the last 20 years or so I have only seen her briefly at Christmas a few years ago. They don't have kids but I don't know what their financial situation is at this time with him being sick for so long.
|
|
