My mom was just diagnosed with COPD and can’t afford her oxygen. Is there anyone or any where that can help with the oxygen cost?

Medicaid for NH care and Medicaid for health insurance only are two different things. My nephew receives SSD. Medicare and Medicaid for health insurance. He is allowed 20K a year in income for Medicaid health insurance. There is no spend down.

Her health insurance is through her job now, I assume? If so & if she is let go from her job she can get Cobra for 18 months until she works out applying for Medicare or Medicare. That could be somewhat expensive but still is an option. Cobra coverage is the cost of both what her employer pays toward her group employer coverage and the employee premium together. She can check the worksheet she fills out during her employer health open enrollment to find out both those premium costs. Add those #’s together for medical coverage and figure out what the cost will be per month. Usually most folks get paid twice a month so multiply x2. Cobra payments are due monthly.  

If she gets let go, she will receive the Cobra paperwork in the mail. It’s the law. 

 If she is at least 62 years old, under some circumstances, she MIGHT be able to get Medicare. Also, find out about your states Medicaid program.

Is your mother old enough to get Medicare?

Have you considered seeing an elder law attorney or one who handles disability issues? I would think that unless using oxygen interferes with her job responsibilities and/or activities, that firing someone b/c of oxygen use would fall under the ADA and could be considered discrimination. She may have a cast against this company, unless oxygen use interferes with performance of her job.

She could also ask her pulmonologist how to get help with oxygen supplies and equipment.

Also, does her job expose her to conditions that could cause or contribute to her COPD? Does she work in an area with a lot of dust? Is she exposed to asbestos or other respiratory toxins?

I don't understand continuous oxygen and CPAP at night though. If she needs CPAP at night, that's not continuous. And if she needs oxygen during the day, does she need a different level at night, which would justify the CPAP?

Pam is a respiratory therapist; perhaps she'll stop by and offer some insight into this.

Apply for Medicaid for your mom. She has to have less than $2000. in the bank. Sign up now and hopefully it will be processed by the time she looses her job.

You should be able to get emergency oxygen, as it is a life saving treatment (like insulin).

There are oxygen concentrators that take the oxygen out of the air and concentrate it through this machine. To buy it is a bit expensive ($500.) but you would never need to rent oxygen tanks from a company again.