Answered Prayers

My children receive health insurance through the state. We used to get food stamps but I started working and no longer qualified, so they were cut but we got to keep the insurance. On Friday, November 1 2013, around 6pm, I tried to pick up my sons prescription. They told me it would be nearly $400!! I asked why my insurance wasn't applied and they told me it was no longer valid. I was so confused because our cards didn't have expiration dates on them or anything and I hadn't received anything in the mail about our insurance being cut. And of course it was too late to call because all of the involved agencies were closed for the weekend already.....not that it would have mattered in the case of calling my agency: there is only one phone number to call the call center and it is busy from the time the center “opens” to the time it “closes.” You can’t get through, it just rings busy; trust me, I have tried MULTIPLE TIMES.

The following Monday, November 4, 2013, I went to the county agency to figure out what happened. And while we’re at it, let’s apply for food stamps again since I am in and out of temporary positions and struggling a little bit; I mean that’s what it’s there for, right? To temporarily help struggling families through rough periods until they can do it on their own? Anyway! After EIGHT HOURS, they said they had sent me something in the mail (to this day I have still not received anything from them) requesting some info and they never got it so they ended our benefits. I asked what they needed; turns out it was something I had turned in WEEKS prior to this, I even had a receipt that they had scanned it into the system!! They said there was one more thing--that I left, picked up, and brought immediately back--and that after that it would take 10 working days for everything to be back to normal. 

Wednesday, December 11th 2013, came around and still no phone call, letter, smoke signals.....and still no insurance. So that morning, I called off work and went to the agency yet again. I sat there for FIVE HOURS for them to tell me that the case worker wasn’t there and that they were going to have to have him call me. In the meantime, they gave me a pamphlet on financial aid for health care….wait, wasn’t that why I was there in the first place?! 

Tuesday, January 14, 2014, came this week and I had to call off work due to my Nanny having a mental breakdown very last minute. Since I was already awake, dressed and had my coffee in hand, I figured what the hay, let’s go to the agency AGAIN since the insurance had still not been taken care of. I sat there for THREE HOURS this time, finally got called to the counter and the man asked me what was going on….even though I had already told them at check in. I explained EVERYTHING and he said he was going to call my caseworker to get some info, just to have a seat. About ten minutes later, he called me up again only to tell me that my caseworker was teaching a training class but would be calling me THAT DAY to get things straightened out. I got no call. 
Wednesday, January 15, 2013 came around and my phone rang with an unknown number. I almost didn’t answer it. But I did and it was my caseworker’s supervisor and he told me that he was just touching base with me and wanted to call me on Thursday morning to review what is in the computer already and then process our benefits. I was a little annoyed that I had to wait AGAIN for a call instead of doing it right then and there, but agreed to an 8:30am phone call. 

Today is Thursday, 16 January 2014, and at 8:53am, my phone rang with an unknown number. I immediately answered even though I am at work. The same supervisor was on the line and he was really nice, unlike the majority of people who work at the agency. When all was said and done, he backdated our insurance to November!—AND—we were approved for the SNAP program (food stamps) and that was backdated to November as well!! I can’t tell you how much stress was relieved in just a twenty minute phone call. My son has been without his medication for so long, we’ve avoided the doctor on multiple occasions because of this, I was scared of debt from two unavoidable ER visits and I could barely afford rent, let alone our other bills, because I was really worried about feeding my tiny humans. So thankful for this help. Words cannot express my gratitude.