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Elderly couple in apparent murder-suicide indicated they could not afford medical care
The Hill ^ | 08/09/19 | Marina Pitofsky

Posted on 08/09/2019 8:17:04 AM PDT by yesthatjallen

An elderly couple in Washington state was found dead in their home in an apparent murder-suicide, authorities said, and police say they discovered notes about the couple’s struggle to afford necessary medical care.

A 77-year-old man living near Ferndale, Washington, called 911 Wednesday morning and told the dispatcher he was contemplating suicide, according to a Facebook post from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff's office wrote that the dispatcher tried to keep the man on the line, but he hung up saying, “We will be in the front bedroom.”

Deputies arrived at the scene minutes later, according to the Facebook post, and a crisis negotiator “attempted to contact the occupants of the home” for an hour. Deputies then deployed a “robot mounted camera” into the home and saw the man and his wife were dead. Both appear to have died from a gunshot wound.

The sheriff’s office is now investigating the case as a murder-suicide. Several notes were reportedly left in the home “citing severe ongoing medical problems with the wife and expressing concerns that the couple did not have sufficient resources to pay for medical care," according to the sheriff's statement.

“It is very tragic that one of our senior citizens would find himself in such desperate circumstances where he felt murder and suicide were the only option. Help is always available with a call to 9-1-1,” Bill Elfo, Whatcom County Sheriff, said in the post.

The identities of the man and woman will not be released until after the next of kin are notified.

Two dogs were also found in the house, and have been taken to a local Humane Society. “Numerous” firearms were also found. (?)>


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: healthcare; obamacare
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To: yesthatjallen

The U.S.Government has plenty of tax dollars to throw away on illegal alian health Care and foreign aid.But nothing to care for our own citizens.

Truly disgusting.Thanks for nothing Demrats.


41 posted on 08/09/2019 9:17:39 AM PDT by puppypusher ( The world is going to the dogs.)
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To: lurked_for_a_decade

Sorry about your uncle, and aunt. This is not an uncommon scenario. My wife worked in multi level care facilities for many years. Most couples in that situation get a “legal” divorce that basically no one but the lawyers know about.. to preserve their assets. The social service persons where my wife worked made people in this type of situation aware of this option.


42 posted on 08/09/2019 9:18:16 AM PDT by fireman15 (p)
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To: Robert DeLong
"No longer needs to. Once one turns 65 or older they are automatically put on Medicare, which covers 80%."

When I retired, and became eligible for Medicare, I was told by my employer...NY State, that I HAD to take Medicare. Prior to retiring my coverage with NY State was my primary insurance coverage. Once I went on Medicare, that became my primary, and my State plan became secondary. Basically my State plan pays little or nothing towards doctor/hospital care. The main thing it does provide is my prescription plan.

43 posted on 08/09/2019 9:25:26 AM PDT by mass55th ("Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." ~~ John Wayne)
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To: fireman15

I have Blue Cross and Blue Shield of MI through my employer, although I work in Georgia. I pay $73 every two weeks for medical, dental and vision.

I just accepted a new position with a company closer to my home and will pay over $800 for the same coverage, but with a different insurer.


44 posted on 08/09/2019 9:31:06 AM PDT by Dacula
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To: yesthatjallen

I assume some degree of mobility impairment was involved resulting in no/limited sun exposure which resulted in an ongoing case of depression due to seasonal affective disorder (SAD).


45 posted on 08/09/2019 9:37:58 AM PDT by fso301
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To: yesthatjallen

That’s because we have to pay for illegals health care/food etc. Even the poorer people who have to pay minimal tax pay for illegals.


46 posted on 08/09/2019 9:38:47 AM PDT by Hattie
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To: Robert DeLong

I do not think it is automatic. See this:

Medicare enrollment begins three months before your 65th birthday and continues for 7 months. If you are currently receiving Social Security benefits, you don’t need to do anything. You will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B effective the month you turn 65. If you do not receive Social Security benefits, then you will need to sign up for Medicare by calling the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 or online at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/medicareonly/. It is best to do it as early as possible so your coverage begins as soon as you turn 65.


47 posted on 08/09/2019 9:40:49 AM PDT by NEMDF
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To: yesthatjallen
Should have taken a pill and eaten peas.

Obama!

48 posted on 08/09/2019 9:47:04 AM PDT by shanover (...To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.-S.Adams)
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To: fireman15

The social services people and lawyers for my Aunt and Uncle took them to the cleaners before anyone else in the family knew what was going on. They were very simple hard working proud people who were too trusting. There are times I wish I had the morals and ethics of some famous Sicilian families.

Fortunately my Father was able to help but it was very painful and sad for everyone concerned. This happened decades ago when I was young. It’s sad to think that the same situation exists today.


49 posted on 08/09/2019 10:01:47 AM PDT by lurked_for_a_decade (Imagination is more important than knowledge! ( e_uid == 0 ) != ( e_uid = 0 ). I Read kernel code.)
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To: fireman15
This article of course is nonsense.

It's likely meant to advance two narratives. We need free health care for all and guns in the home are bad.

It's a twofer.

50 posted on 08/09/2019 10:02:17 AM PDT by yesthatjallen
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To: JBW1949

So...If you don’t believe in them, yet take them, you are a hypocrite...
It matters not to me whether you accept the response or not...LOL

You’re not very bright, are you? It is not hypocritical to take everything out of a system I was FORCED to put money into for my entire working life. It would be stupid to not at least try to retrieve my stolen money. So, I presume you are a fervent believer in both Medicare and SS? How about Medicare for all? You must be for that too.


51 posted on 08/09/2019 10:20:16 AM PDT by tstarr
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To: tstarr

I’m for Medicare for all WHO QUALIFY....


52 posted on 08/09/2019 10:22:31 AM PDT by JBW1949 (I'm really PC.....Patriotically Correct)
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To: lurked_for_a_decade

There is such a thing as a “Home Protection Trust” to avoid a situation as your aunt and uncle faced. They are also known as “Family Asset Protection Trust,” or as an “Irrevocable Income only Trust (IIOT),” or as a “Medicaid Trust.”

You want to see a good attorney specializing in trusts to get this done. My sister-in-law’s parents were able to do this when her mother developed terminal cancer and her father Alzheimer’s. It was a tragic situation but they did not lose all their assets.


53 posted on 08/09/2019 10:23:08 AM PDT by DeFault User
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To: Ace's Dad

I have found that is always a safe assumption.


54 posted on 08/09/2019 10:24:12 AM PDT by BunnySlippers (I Love Bull Markets!)
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To: NEMDF

So if you started receiving SS before 65 you get automatically enrolled, if not then you have a 10 month window where you MUST enroll in Medicare. My point was, that once you turn 65 you are required to enroll in Medicare. It is mandatory.


55 posted on 08/09/2019 10:27:52 AM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: mass55th

Correct. Medicare is mandatory, not optional once you turn 65. The state plan, you have, acts as a supplemental plan that covers the 20% that Medicare does not cover, as Medicare only covers the first 80%. I had to purchase a separate supplemental plan to cover the 20% gap, as well as, a drug prescription plan to cover prescriptions.


56 posted on 08/09/2019 10:33:25 AM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: hanamizu

Advantage plans always require a co-pay. Then they can decide what NOT to cover, whenever they want. Medigold has notified patients it will no longer cover MRI’s, meaning the patient must cover the full cost of a common but expensive test.
Part B’s cost is income based. Locked into a network means you are not covered if you travel. That totally rules that out for us; our youngest grandkids are 1000 miles away.


57 posted on 08/09/2019 10:58:49 AM PDT by Wiser now (Socialism does not eliminate poverty, it guarantees it.)
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To: SE Mom

Thanks. My husband is 73. He’d like a little time off.


58 posted on 08/09/2019 11:00:06 AM PDT by Wiser now (Socialism does not eliminate poverty, it guarantees it.)
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To: JBW1949

Actually there is a penalty to pay if you don’t sign up at 65.; a penalty that never goes away, making it even more costly.


59 posted on 08/09/2019 11:02:35 AM PDT by Wiser now (Socialism does not eliminate poverty, it guarantees it.)
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To: Wiser now
Medicare is NOT free, not does it cover all of an elderly person’s medical expenses.

No, but it covers 80 percent. And, Part D covers prescription drugs. The problem with medicare is that it's not the "Cadillac" health care that everyone hopes it will be. It might not cover what you really need, and it might not be accepted by the doctor/surgeon you really want. I have preached this to people my entire life. My wife and I planned for medicare's shortcomings. I would suggest others do the same.

60 posted on 08/09/2019 11:05:12 AM PDT by eastexsteve
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