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Too much paperwork. Its overwhelming.
Caregivers | Last Active: Mar 22, 2019 | Replies (16)Comment receiving replies
I'm experiencing the same problems with my husband's financial situation. He has Alzheimer's with vascular dementia so I take care of all his business, as I have for 63 years since the day we were married. He has always handed me his pay check and I was the one to see that all the bills were paid, and that there was money enough to go around. Suddenly VA has to have his permission to even talk to me on the phone. We did fill out a form and finally got him to make a little faint mark that we witnessed giving them permission to talk to me, but still all the paperwork has to be signed by him. They don't recognize my Power of Attorney or that I am trustee of his Miller Trust.
It has been one hassle after another since Medicaid insisted we check with VA to see if he was entitled to any other assistance other than medical and prescription. I went to our county VA commission and they helped me complete an extensive form with financial information. He was award a VA Aid and Assistance Pension since he had dementia and was in a nursing home. This was just over a year ago.
Then in November the VA finally discovered that he was married although this was plainly documented on the application so they direct-deposited the back pay. Then in February after the automatic yearly increase in Social Security and his VA pension, Medicaid said his income was too great and I had to establish a Miller Trust to receive his monthly payments and then I would need to pay his co-pay for the nursing home and the amount that was my share for my monthly maintenance since my IPERS and Social Security didn't amount to what Medicaid thought I should have for monthly income. In April I finally got the approval from Medicaid and thought all was well.
Then in July I got a notice from VA that his pension had been revoked from July 2017 (when he first were approved) to the present and he owed them $25,000 of overpayment. Back to the County VA commission and the Director contacted the director of the office in Minneapolis. He got an email back that it had been a mistake and they had it corrected. I got no notice all all on any of this. When I checked his Trust account to be sure the payment had been made before I wrote the check for the co-pay, VA had deposited $9,050 plus his monthly pension payment. Back to the VA office, and we sent another financial statement (same as before. I always keep a copy and just copy the amounts over to the new copy). Then I get a letter which was dated July 27 and I received Aug 6 (must have come by Pony Express) that they had recalculated and I only owed them $13,000. Saturday I finally received a letter from them with an financial accounting of his account. Back to VA office and called his friend in Minneapolis and we sent in another large envelope of the documents he had sent previously and copies of the email he had received a month ago with a request that they send me a letter informing me of any action taken. Now we wait again. I will have to check to see if deposit is made before I write the September check to the nursing home.
I haven't even tried to contact Medicaid about any of this yet. Just another headache. I don't know where the accountants in Minneapolis got their education, but they must had played "hooky" too much. My elementary math from my BA in Education is all the advanced bookkeeping I have and I can keep better account of my money than they seem to do. Sorry I've rambled on but I have to once in a while to be able to face another day.
Replies to "I'm experiencing the same problems with my husband's financial situation. He has Alzheimer's with vascular dementia..."
@rmftucker - VA needs to have some kind of training sessions for it's employees!!!! My brother-in-law passed earlier this year and my sister-in-law received so much conflicting, or just plain erroneous information from different government agencies about what was due her and what was not.
And the paperwork was, as you said, overwhelming - especially for a little old lady in her 80s who doesn't see well.
And don't get me started. About insurance and medication. When our boy was first diagnosed with asthma, there was a gap in his insurance coverage. He was rushed to the hospital and given emergency medical attention. They restated what his Pediatrician had said. Asthma.
Prescription in hand, we leave the hospital and head straight to the drive through pharmacy. By this time it is evening and doctor's offices are closed. The meds come through the little metal box, into our eagerly waiting hands. The pharmacy tech hands us the clipboard, where to our horror, we see a bill for right at $500.
My husband says to the clerk, " We have insurance."
Yes sir, you do. But insurance won't cover this particular medicine without prior authorization from the doctor. And the pharmacy closes in one hour.
What would you do? Probably the very same thing we did. Pay for it with a credit card and bite the bullet. Your child's life depends on it.
I never used to be a political person. But things like that, and your husband's situation. My vote counts. I'm going to make somebody listen.
My sympathies are with you. I hope that things settle down for you. You are a very strong person and are to be commended for your persistance. Never give up! You are also a wonderful carer. God bless you!
Similar problems with VA. It's deplorable that the Veterans get the worst service in return for their sacrifices to our country.
To :@rmftucker
From: @Venneberg
Hi new to this posting thing. Reading your post about all the mess up with the VA. I am my fathers full time care giver. He is 90 and has Dementia along with being diabetic and kidney disease, also with Glycoma. And heart disease to boot. He also has a diabetic ulcer on his foot that is taking a long time to heal. My dad does qualify for the VA pension.. just have to fill out all the paperwork and pay Atty about 700.00 to make sure it’s done right. But your situation is exactly what I’m afraid of. Even if months down the road I would get the money back. His insurance and his Medicaid are good right now but if it gets messed up. That would put me in a financial hardship. And how slow the VA is, is it really worth the hassle.trying to keep track of all his medications and not run out is another issue. I’m typing this in the hospital right now had to call 911 because his heart was hurting and the nitro was not working. Take care.
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Wow @rmftucker You have been through the paperwork wringer for sure! What a twisting journey and little is more frustrating when you have to redo and rehash the same material over and over! I am sorry you have to endure this aspect of caregiving!
It must be doubly frustrating when they won't accept your POA! That is really terrible of them!
I can only say I hope your journey with the VA and soon Medicaid smooths out for you and causes you less hassle!
I am glad you came here to vent about this! It is important, at least it was to me, to have someplace to talk like this! Sometimes just saying something out loud, or writing it 'out load' helps with the feelings of frustration, being overwhelmed, and just plain angry over these types of situations! Caregivers are already stretched too far and this kind of thing can be over the top!
Let me know how it continues to go! I hope better that is for sure!
Courage, strength, and peace!