Sandi Winn - Medical Expenses, etc.
Donation protected
We may not know you, but we need your help.
Our mother (Sandi Winn) found out two weeks ago that she is in liver failure - decompensated cirrhosis accompanied by peritonitis (abdominal infection) and other extreme symptoms. The peritonitis was very severe, but has subsided for now but it will likely come back. There is a 50% chance of fatality in the next 2 years. She is 53.
Her husband, David, has been on Social Security Disability for several years now and they are accustomed to living on a very small budget. Sandi has been an amazing caregiver for David for many years, and now they are caring for each other as best they can - it is inspiring. Sandi and David have both spent many years as teachers in the community and at home, raised their kids with utmost care (they now have 3 grandkids), and have done all they can to be a loving and active part of their communities. Their children are local business owners in Spokane, a law enforcement officer, a nurse at Sacred Heart Medical Center (Spokane), a Kadlec office admin in the Tri-Cities (who is also a youth Karate instructor), and a Washington wedding photographer.
While there are so many problems in front of them that can only be faced with faith, there is one absurd problem that could make a huge difference: insurance. Sandi currently isn’t insured and with the way insurance works, she won’t even get a chance to find some until November, and that won’t qualify her for anything until January. She is in need of care now.
Their situation seems like a shoe-in for her to go on Medicaid to cover major hospital and specialist bills.
But they can’t get over this very absurd hurdle: David is given just barely too much money for Sandi to qualify for Medicaid. $120 per month too much. Because of his disability, he can’t work, so what we’re talking about is purely his Social Security income that overqualifies his wife from Medicaid. (This money he gets is the fixed amount given to him for what he paid in throughout a lifetime of work).
As their kids, we’re not sure what to do.
We’ve looked at Affordable Care Act insurance plans but they all have high deductibles. There are thousands of dollars in upcoming (and soon-to-be-billed) medical expenses, and because of the time of year anyway, so much will need to be handled out of pocket.
So we need 3 things:
1. Spread the word - in the event that somehow someone at Medicaid or Social Security will help fix this, or knows something we don’t about this super convoluted system. If you have a blog or are in the media or healthcare industry and would like to discuss the information, please contact us at [email redacted].
2. Give if you feel inclined. We’ve set up this GoFundMe with a rather arbitrary "goal" (because it's required by GoFundMe) and all the money goes to David and Sandi, for medical expenses (we don't have the bills for these yet, but we know of at least 2 procedures in the next 1-3 months that will together use up almost all of this GoFundMe, if successful) as well as short-term needs like a new produce and protein based diet, a mattress, and bills.
3. Pray.
Also please know that we are still pursuing all possible options on the insurance front, and have solicited help from a variety of organizations throughout the state. We've even spoken to the Washington Insurance Commissioner's office, and they have affirmed our understanding of the situation.
Thank you so much for reading this far - that alone means the world.
If you have any questions or recommendations please shoot us an email: [email redacted].
Thank you,
Their children: JD, Shannon, Hannah and Logan
and their children's spouses: Meredith, Evan and Drew
Our mother (Sandi Winn) found out two weeks ago that she is in liver failure - decompensated cirrhosis accompanied by peritonitis (abdominal infection) and other extreme symptoms. The peritonitis was very severe, but has subsided for now but it will likely come back. There is a 50% chance of fatality in the next 2 years. She is 53.
Her husband, David, has been on Social Security Disability for several years now and they are accustomed to living on a very small budget. Sandi has been an amazing caregiver for David for many years, and now they are caring for each other as best they can - it is inspiring. Sandi and David have both spent many years as teachers in the community and at home, raised their kids with utmost care (they now have 3 grandkids), and have done all they can to be a loving and active part of their communities. Their children are local business owners in Spokane, a law enforcement officer, a nurse at Sacred Heart Medical Center (Spokane), a Kadlec office admin in the Tri-Cities (who is also a youth Karate instructor), and a Washington wedding photographer.
While there are so many problems in front of them that can only be faced with faith, there is one absurd problem that could make a huge difference: insurance. Sandi currently isn’t insured and with the way insurance works, she won’t even get a chance to find some until November, and that won’t qualify her for anything until January. She is in need of care now.
Their situation seems like a shoe-in for her to go on Medicaid to cover major hospital and specialist bills.
But they can’t get over this very absurd hurdle: David is given just barely too much money for Sandi to qualify for Medicaid. $120 per month too much. Because of his disability, he can’t work, so what we’re talking about is purely his Social Security income that overqualifies his wife from Medicaid. (This money he gets is the fixed amount given to him for what he paid in throughout a lifetime of work).
As their kids, we’re not sure what to do.
We’ve looked at Affordable Care Act insurance plans but they all have high deductibles. There are thousands of dollars in upcoming (and soon-to-be-billed) medical expenses, and because of the time of year anyway, so much will need to be handled out of pocket.
So we need 3 things:
1. Spread the word - in the event that somehow someone at Medicaid or Social Security will help fix this, or knows something we don’t about this super convoluted system. If you have a blog or are in the media or healthcare industry and would like to discuss the information, please contact us at [email redacted].
2. Give if you feel inclined. We’ve set up this GoFundMe with a rather arbitrary "goal" (because it's required by GoFundMe) and all the money goes to David and Sandi, for medical expenses (we don't have the bills for these yet, but we know of at least 2 procedures in the next 1-3 months that will together use up almost all of this GoFundMe, if successful) as well as short-term needs like a new produce and protein based diet, a mattress, and bills.
3. Pray.
Also please know that we are still pursuing all possible options on the insurance front, and have solicited help from a variety of organizations throughout the state. We've even spoken to the Washington Insurance Commissioner's office, and they have affirmed our understanding of the situation.
Thank you so much for reading this far - that alone means the world.
If you have any questions or recommendations please shoot us an email: [email redacted].
Thank you,
Their children: JD, Shannon, Hannah and Logan
and their children's spouses: Meredith, Evan and Drew
Organizer and beneficiary
Evan Dunn
Organizer
Spokane, WA
David Winn
Beneficiary