Joe's Medical expenses for sleep study

Heather Pacetti is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hello everyone.... this is extremly hard for us to admit we need help and put are personal life out there but Joe is the main provider for are family and he needs some help. We moved to Washington state a little over a year and a half ago for a better oppertunity job wise for Joe and are family. Like anything there are always obstacles that you can't predict. Several weeks ago Joe was put on standby at work along with his other co-workers due to lack of work available . This change in are income totally took us by surprise and we were not prepared but we managed like we always to do to make it work. Fast forward 4 weeks Joe's medical card for his commercial driver's license was due. Which means he needed to have a physcial. He hadn't needed one for since moving to Washington. In AZ his employer always covered the expenses incurred with it and he wasn't aware till this week that we would need to cover it. So we paid $140 needed to get the physical thinking that would be only cost incured and we would make cuts in other area's to make it happen. This is his lifeline to his livelihood and it had to be done. Usually you will receive your medical clearance for 2 years but sometimes it's a year, six months or less depending on any issues that a rise. The Dr. told him that he needs to have a sleep study done and he would not pass him for longer than 3 months until he has this done. The DOT is cracking down on providers so that they screen better for sleep apnea now. Joe meets all the criteria he over weight, over 40 and hasn't taken care of himself very well. This wouldn't be so scary but we are in no financial situation to cover an emergancy expense like this but left with no choice. He either dose it or he looses his commercial drivers license. He also isn't going to fool himself and knows he will probably not pass the screening which will mean further expenses (sleep apnea machine, follow ups etc) Little back story here is that Joe has no medical insurance and hasn't for almost 2 years. He makes too much according to the state to qualify for state coverage(even on standby unemployment) and he makes too little to afford the coverage his work offers with a large deductible. Joe is the main provider for are family and is the type of father and partner that always makes sure his family's needs come before his and because of this he has has neglacted his own health for many year's. It's easy to fall into bad habits when you work long hours or like he has the night shift for many decades. It wears on your body and creates health issues. The Dr provided him with a referral and 3 months to handle it. We called the place that he was referred and they DO NOT allow you to make payments. The payment for the sleep study and interpretation is required up front. That alone is $700 ($550 sleep study,$150 interpretation). This is just the intial study, if he needs a machine, that will be around $1500 and then there are check ups at sleep Dr and also fees at DOT Dr. that are $140 a visit. Once he has it all under control he will be in compliance to receive a yearly clearance. We asked about other places and the Dr gave us two other places to try. The other places may consider payments but they won't take a referral from a DOT Dr. and would require him to see a pulmonologist first. So we are left with the first option and have to figure a way to cover the expense. Joe is scheduled to go back to full-time work by the end of the month. He was going to aquire about going on insurance but thinks the chances of that happening are very slim as it's past open enrollment. Even if he gets on insurance at work we will need to cover a large deductible and numerous copays. Looking at the long run for are family we know his health needs to be taken seriously but we are just not prepared for these expenses in such a short period of time and this is why we are asking for help. This isn't easy to have to do but he just wants to be able to provide for his family and the lack of medical coverage has made it next to impossible. Also just so everyone is aware he has gone on a intense lifestyle change as far as his eating habits and health are concerned to help but that alone isn't enough at this point. If you have the ability to donate, are family would be eternally grateful, if you can't, no worries..... we thank you for taking the time to read this!

The Colon family