Help Us Stay Together During My Hospice Care

***UPDATE*** 8/30/2023

Hi! My name is Elaine and I am one of Kay's closest friends and wanted to give you an update. Thanks to many generous donations, Kay and he husband have been living together and feel well cared for. She remains in hospice, but thankfully with Dennis. As was stated in the first GoFundMe ask, insurance does not pay for any of the care they are receiving and money is extremely tight. Please, if possible, help them to be able to stay together as Kay's cancer is progressing and her only wish is to stay with Dennis for the rest of her days.

6/2023

Hello, my name is Kay or Kathleen, and my husband's name is Dennis. We are an average "couple of old farts" who made the mistake of opting for an Advantage HMO insurance policy instead of Medicare. The agent painted a wonderful picture, and it was great for years when we were not sick and only had to pay copays. However, as we've entered old age (which is certainly not for the faint-hearted), we are facing major illnesses, and now the insurance company decides whether we can receive assistance in hospitals or rehab facilities, as well as how much they are willing to cover.

My husband has developed minor cognitive deficiency due to mild Alzheimer's, which has also led to Parkinsonism, causing him to shuffle while walking. In January, I was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer, and the prognosis gave me six months to a year to live, as the cancer has spread. In March, Dennis shattered his elbow and spent two months in rehab. Then, two weeks ago, he broke a bone near his pelvis and was admitted to the hospital. However, the insurance company abruptly cut off his benefits for rehab after just two weeks, even though the break needs time to heal and he cannot undergo rehabilitation. Moreover, he can't come home as he requires 24-hour care. I am currently on Hospice Care and my condition has deteriorated to the point where I am unable to lift him. The cost of home health services is $40 per hour, which is beyond our means as we don't have any savings due medical bills and my husband’s company going bankrupt a year before he retired - the funds we planned to live on vanished.

I now understand why some older Americans end up homeless. We are being forced to move from our apartment, where we have lived for five years, to a group home. The cost for each of us is $3,500, with none of it covered by insurance. It would be more affordable for Dennis to go into a VA facility, but that would mean we would be separated. I want to spend the remaining months I have with my husband, not struggling to arrange rides to see him, and eventually facing the possibility of being unable to see him at all or have him with me, which terrifies me.

I need to emphasize that this situation is incredibly challenging for me, but I am sharing it nonetheless. Thank you in advance, and may God bless you.