Financial Assistance for Adhesions, Adhesiolysis or other Surgery
Following are some leads and tips for finding financial help for adhesiolysis surgery. Please do your own diligent
research to find the right solution for you.
We are grateful to an adhesion sufferer for researching and compiling this information.
Hospital Policies
Hospitals have "charity care policies," and this article, "Hospitals Low Key on Charity,"
(http://www2.journalnow.com/news/2012/may/28/wsmain01-hospitals-low-key-on-c harity-ar-2313333/)
explains how they work at hospitals. Some hospitals have information on their websites about their policies,
but for others you must ask the hospital employees for information. The key words that seem to be the ones
to use when inquiring about eligibility are "charity care program." The requirements of hospitals to provide
charity care differ by state, according to this article, "Hospital Charity Care Requirements,"
(http://www.ehow.com/list_7174949_hospital-charity-care-requirements.html). If you know what hospital
you want to go to and you have a surgeon willing to operate, you might want to search online for their
charity care policy or program, and if that does not work, ask the hospital staff for help.
Here are some examples of general charity care programs:
JFK Medical Center, New Jersey:
http://jfkmc.org/departments-and-clinical-services/patient-support-services/ charity-care
University of Michigan: http://www.med.umich.edu/comben/direct/index.html
Central Texas Medical Center:
http://www.ctmc.org/PatientsVisitors/AfterMyStay/CharityCarePolicy.aspx
Options for Financial Help:
Other options to consider include non-surgical treatments, patient navigators, and tax breaks.
http://www.ehow.com/facts_6824464_surgery-health-insurance.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/303307-surgery-without-insurance/
Vocational Rehabilitation:
Try contacting your local Vocational Rehabilitation organization or Department of Human
Services. This article explains how it works, and the second link is a state-by-state listing
of organizations.
http://voices.yahoo.com/free-surgery-dental-work-town-52207.html?cat=5
http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/Programs/EROD/org_list.cfm?category_ID=SVR
International Medical Travel:
Find low-cost adhesiolysis procedures in other countries:
http://medicaldiscounts.com/ (800) 771-3325
Laproscopic Adhesiolysis is listed as a $1,950 procedure, on top of travel expenses.
Research this carefully, go over the FAQs with a fine-toothed comb, ask a lot of questions,
and make sure you are comfortable with every detail before agreeing.
http://abcmedicaltourism.com/en/adhesiolysis_treatment.php
In the first search field, enter "General Surgery," then, "Adhesiolysis Treatment."
Before agreeing to undergo treatment by any medical professional abroad (or in the
USA for that matter), thoroughly investigate all the risks and benefits of having the
treatment as well the training and experience of the foreign doctor. In addition to
considering treatment's safety, a patient should evaluate the qualifications and
experience of the doctor and account for differences between training and standards
of doctors in those other countries and those in the USA.
Surgeons donating surgeries:
Some organizations are available in some areas to provide procedures to people with
low-incomes. If one of these is not near you, search for "low income surgery" and
include your city/state name. Sometimes it is one surgeon who is offering a free
surgery day once a year. Sometimes it is an organization that can offer help more
often. It is unknown whether these organizations can provide adhesiolysis.
California:
http://www.handsonnetwork.org/stories/AccessOC
http://www.operationaccess.org/Home Page (415) 733-0052
Nevada:
http://www.helpinghandssurgicalcare.com/how-we-work.html
Tips:
Call hospitals and ask for their "charity care policy" and how to be considered
for their "charity care program."
When calling organizations, you will want to use key words like "general surgery,"
"minimally-invasive laproscopic surgery" and "adhesiolysis" or "adhesions causing.
(whatever your symptoms are)."
Find a surgeon who is willing to operate first, and then work through the hospital's
charity care program. Remember that health centers/surgeon offices may bill separately
from the hospital. Make sure you ask at the office and the hospital about consideration
for low-income patients.
This summary was put together by a fellow adhesion-sufferer who is not a doctor
or a financial assistance professional. Please be your own advocate, and do your
own diligent research. If you do not see something here that helps you in your
area, use the search terms listed to find assistance locally.
Admin Note: you can also find this posting at: http://www.adhesions.org <http://www.adhesions.org/> & click on What's New.
We have put this information into a .pdf file for printing also at http://www.adhesions.org/disability.htm