Unexpected Medical Costs

Hi all! You probably know by now that Samuel is in Stage 5 Kidney Failure (technically End Stage Renal Disease) and on chronic dialysis. Sam attends dialysis treatments three times a week for approximately 4.5 hours each time. Unfortunately, because of this, he has not been able to work full time and averages about 6-12 hours of work each week. And, because of that, we were just informed that the tribe will be cutting him off from his medical insurance effective September 1, 2023.

This is where things get tricky for us. We have the option to continue with his current insurance if we can pay the premium out of pocket. After stressing and brainstorming for the last few days, this seems like the best choice for us right now because Sam’s insurance and the transplant center have already accepted and approved each other. And I’m worried if we lose this insurance it will push us back in the forward motion we are currently making in getting Sam his kidney transplant.

We have applied for Medicare but the Social Security Office didn’t receive his application until August 9th and they said it can take up to 60 days before a decision is made. And his disability application has been denied. We have asked for a reconsideration in that decision. Fingers crossed we get approval for both on the sooner side of life.

Sam has a full day, in person appointment with the transplant team in Seattle on October 17th. This will require an overnight stay. He also has a fistulogram in Wenatchee on September 5th. This also will require an overnight stay. The Wenatchee appointment will tell us if he needs another surgery on his arm to potentially add an artificial tube in his vein to strengthen his fistula needed for dialysis.

All of these appointments, treatments, and surgeries are currently being covered (mostly) by his insurance.

We hoped that we could hold off on creating a go fund me until Sam was as close to transplant as possible, however, the wrenches that have been thrown at us this week are forcing us to reach out and ask for your help.

We are basically a one income family of four, sometimes five, and as hard as it is to admit, we just can’t swing paying the premiums on his insurance on our own. If you are able to help, we would be forever grateful and thankful.

We love you and thank you for taking time to read this. At the very least, please share.

— Sam & Kellie