Question about Spenddown program

Can someone tell me about the spenddown program in kentucky and exactly how it works? I have received spenddown before when i had gallbladder surgery but it was after I had the surgery and it just went back and paid for my bills. I've read about other people using spenddown to pay for their surgery but I thought spenddown paid for bills that you have already incurred and I didnt think doctors would do the surgery without having approval first. I have no insurance and this would be the only way I could get the surgery done. Please give me some information. thanks!

Sorry, Im not help.  Ive never heard of it paying for anything elective like WLS...

A spend down is to pay past bills.  You can apply for a one month spend down or for a quarter (3 months at a time.  The unpaid medical bills are considered and then based on your income you are responsible for paying some of the bills and then (based on your income) the spend down will then kick in and pay the remaining bills.  You can use old unpaid medical bills to help you meet the spend down but they will not be paid -- just used to allow you to pay less on the more recent bills.  You are right - most doctors require upfront insurance, medicaid or some way to pay for the surgery.  I'm not sure a spend down would be a good option for this type of surgery.  GOOD LUCK!

I have had spin downs before but it has always been for something that was needed, pretty much an emergency.  If you do the 3 month spend down, I think it is you can also get it to pay for some of your current bills.  You can't have over 4000.00 in bank, car, etc., to get spend down now and most WLS doctors do not accept medicade and that is what a spin down is.  Jacqueline