My husband has been disabled for 9 years, is 57 years old, has Medicare and BCBSNC but the insurance companies said they will not pay for a caregiver after an upcoming surgery that will require him to not put any pressure on his foot. I work full-time and am taking off 1 week but he will be unable to take care of himself for the next 4 weeks. He cannot use crutches, due to vertigo and spinal problems and cannot get around the apartment on his own through the narrow doors in our apartment. He needs someone to help him get ready in the mornings, walk his "service dog”, and get his meals. Where do I go to get help? We cannot afford to pay for in-home care due to all the medical bills. My husband has a long, long list of medical problems. HELP!
Do you have a written denial from BCBS (I'm not sure what NC means at the end of the BCBS) about your husband's post-surgery care? If so, I'd contest it up the chain of command at BC/BS. Has your husband's doctor prescribed home care? See if he can do that. If those two things don't work, I'd start a petition on Change dot org - I can't put the website link here or they'll take it out - about your situation. Get friends and family to sign it and get it posted on Facebook. That route has resulted in many, many people getting whatever they're petitioning about. BC/BS won't like the negative publicity.
Another thing I'd wonder about is whether Obamacare (which starts in October) might offer better benefits. Can your husband wait for his surgery? Can you check out if the benefits will change next month? I'd also check that out. Good luck, you've got your hands full. Please keep us posted on what happens.
You might also check with family, friends, church, neighbors to see how they can help. For example, a neighbor teen MIT be able to walk the dog before and after school.
Talk with your employer, maybe you can work something out where you can go home at lunch. I'm not certain of your circumstances, but some employers allow their employees to donate their leave to another employee in need so they can be off and get paid leave. This might buy you some extra leave time. Do you have a job that you could work remotely via computer for some of the days?
You obviously will have to get up earlier to help him get ready. Maybe rent a portable toilet chair or urine jug to use if he can't get up and be mobile to bathroom during the day. You could pack lunch, drinks, snacks in a cooler and have the cooler stationed by the couch so he can get by during the day while you are out of the house.
This is tough, but you'll have to get creative if you can't get assistance and the surgery is necessary.