contact the utility company. They have programs to assist with the cost of utilities for those with limited income and medical need. Utility company would most likely need a doctor's note.
Yes, I agree with the previous posts, one thing to consider is that there may be more than one program available. Here in Texas, that is normally not overly generous to seniors, vets or caretakers, there is more than one program. I signed my parents up for Light Up Texas, which is regional but part of LIJES which is national. Lite up discounts their electrical bill by around 30% but runs only through August and is ending permanently this year I was told. Then there is a CEAP national program run by a local non profit that pays up to $800 yearly of electrical bills. That you have to sign up for yearly and can take up to 3 months to get. But if the amount they pay any given month (based on previous years use) is more than your bill the credit carries forward. We are still waiting for that one. Also there are many non profits or churches that buy air conditioners for the ill and elderly. Its a lot of research and paperwork but definitely worth the time investment to keep your loved one comfortable and healthy. Good luck to you and kudos for caring.
I also have asthma. It is much worse in the summer. We live in Georgia, and Georgia Power or perhaps Atlanta Gas Light, I don't remember which, sent a card out to us asking if we needed help with our gas payments. We make too much money, so we could not get the help. But you may very likely be able to get help where you live depending on your yearly income. My husband's insurance ended a month earlier than we expected after he left a job. We couldn't afford COBRA, so we have now got health insurance, but we went without it all of the month of June, as it takes a while to get more after your insurance unexpectedly ends sooner than expected.
Wiseone, there is no affordable health insurance in this country! Perhaps the plan was for health care to be affordable to those on Medicaid? Never mind. But, if you find a decent, affordable premium your deductible is going to be $10,000.00 yearly. That increases the cost of the premium another $825.00 a month. Then if you meet the deductible you have 10K in medical bills!
there is a weatherization program that will give you a new a/c, new fridge, new windows anything that is inefficient and provide you with efficient ones so that his income isn’t drained paying for something that will drain it. You would have to talk to your city about it and I think it is part of LIHEAP program, which also gives you a 200.00 credit on your FPL bill 1x/year for those who are low income.
wise one, get on obamacare...I had to do it and I absolutely love it. Although signing up is a pain in the end I have insurance. I work at Starbucks and didn’t meet my quota and of course they offer COBRA which is absolutely ridiculous at 4-500.00/month, when I barely even make that much due to only working PT to caregiver my mother, so I signed up for Obamacare and I have the same insurance as my workplace insurance and at the same rate. Only difference is the deductibles with obamacare are big, but I decided to only use it for emergencies since I now qualify for my workplace insurance now (10/1). It was either obamacare or go without insurance and I don’t care what anybody says about obamacare, it is a good thing to have and it better never go away.
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