Oh my gosh you really have tried everything!! I will keep thinking. Good luck!

I'm actually from there and could stay with friends if I could find a way to get the surgeries and treatment I need. What hospital is it?
I'm calling the Cancer Society and Catholic Charities tomorrow. Thanks for that!

Note Erins response on "illegal to turn me away" because that is the reality of it.

Believe me, I have! Everything I an find to try anyway! I'm just looking for the winning ticket lol. Someone has got to know something so I'm just putting it out there and hoping it comes back to me!

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to leave out a thank you to everyone just for prayers and good thoughts, I really appreciate it!!!

Can you contact Amercian Cancer Society , pehaps they can help you !!!

May be able to help...work in a hospital in Knoxville will PM you!

How recently did you lose your job? Could you get COBRA?

I am shocked that you would not qualify for Medicaid under these circumstances. Unfortunately, I did know that "non-essential" surgeries like the one for your hand aren't necessarily covered, but I would have thought under life-threatening circumstances, they would have to take you. I guess I did not understand just how f*cked up healthcare is in this country.

I guess for the hand, I would put that on a credit card and just make minimum payments. You want to keep your fingers.

For the rest, I agree with others who suggested you call the American Cancer Society. I would have thought that for cancer, a hospital would have to treat you.

Oh how I wish that were so! Yep, it's pretty F'd up in this country. I'm also looking into going up to Canada or over seas. At least the plane ticket would be cheaper than the mess I'm in here!

The credit cards are jacked up to the limits so I can't charge anything else on them.
The job loss was the last go round so it's been quite a while. I'm sorry, I don't think I know what COBRA is? I don't want any snakes though :p

I'm calling the cancer assoc. tomorrow.

The good news though, I just found this online and it fits my situation to a T so maybe I CAN get my hand fixed! Well see!
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Tennessee Employees Are Often Incorrectly Classified as Independent Contractors
It seems that my office is seeing a bigger trend of employers classifying their workers as "independent contractors" in an effort to avoid providing benefits. We often see these cases when someone is hurt on the job and they are denied Workman's compensation benefits upon the grounds that they are an independent contractor. Unfortunately, the classification as an independent contractor is often given incorrectly and was only given in an effort to escape these benefits.
It is important to know that even if you sign an agreement stating you are an independent contractor you may not be one. The law in Tennessee looks at not what the employer calls the worker but the actual control the company has over a worker to determine if he or she is independent contractor or an employee. In order to determine the extent of the control the following factors are considered:
A. the right to control the conduct of the work
B. The right of termination
C. The method of payment
D. The freedom to select and hire helpers
E. The furnishing of tools and equipment
F. Self scheduling of working hours
G. The freedom to offer services to other entities
The more of these factors which exist allowing the employer to control the worker the more likely a worker is an employee. As such, if you are hurt on the job and were denied workman compensation benefits on the grounds you are an independent contractor, please contact a lawyer to be sure your the denial is legal.

What part of Tenn. are you in? I live in Tenn, also. Where is your cancer at? The
reason I ask is if it is breast or cervical you can be insured.

Your company is required to give you full health coverage through COBRA after you are terminated (not sure if that's the case if the termination was for cause). Unfortunately, you have to apply for it within... 30 days? They might stretch the deadline for you if you really push. I am surprised you weren't told about COBRA when you left, I thought it was the law for HR to inform you. If they didn't, that may be another way you could demand coverage.

Catholic Charities should be able to help you. What about United Way.

Hi, Im so sorry your going thru so much, Its a shame the health care system
is such a mess, There are so many of us who have no insurance and need help
Not sure if you have a family doc BUT mine had to admit me to the hospital to have the nessasay test i needed, They have many programs thru the hospital that will help, also, Have you tryed the insurance companies who offer discounts, Its not major insurance but rather a discount on many services, The one i use even covers 50% of dental and they do not punish you for having pre existing conditions. praying you find the help you need.

The others have already suggested everything I could think of. I have to admit, I'm shocked to learn that the medical system is allowed to operate this way. I pray you find your answers soon, and I'll continue to keep you in my prayers during your recovery. Please keep us posted on what happens.

I would look into COBRA. I think you would have a good argument to demand coverage if you were not informed when your company terminated you. You do have to pay a monthly fee, but nothing close to what your treatments could cost.

Also, could you get a job at the post office, or DMV? No offense to anyone who works there, but it seems like the bar to employment is pretty low. :rolleyes: