Hospital denies treatment to man with cancer who won $1 million

[Oeditpus Rex]

NAPLES, N.Y. -- Five weeks after Wayne Schenk was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer, he hit a $1 million state lottery jackpot on a $5 scratch-off ticket.

With doctors giving him little more than a year to live, the former Marine has no need for a new house or a fancy car. He's hoping to buy a little time — by checking into a Philadelphia hospital that specializes in advanced-stage cancers.

"I understand money can't buy everything, but money can prolong things, you know?" Schenk said.

But it's not so easy. The $1 million New York Lottery prize pays out in $50,000 annual installments over 20 years, and the Eastern Regional Medical Center told him it would need $125,000 up front and $250,000 in reserves to be tapped as his treatment proceeds. His Veterans Affairs insurance cannot be transferred to an out-of-network provider.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070214/LOCAL17/702140440/1012

[politicat]

1. So... he sets up a trust.

Easy. Talks to the finance people at the hospital and sets up a trust whereby the funds from the winnings go directly to the hospital every year. If there's a trust whereby they know they will be paid far more than they are spending, and know they have guaranteed income for X number of years, they're in better shape for the long run.

Alternately, there are annuity specialists out there that do nothing but buy up annuities and dispense lump sum cash (at a discount, of course). He may lose 20 to 30% of the value of the annuity by cashing out through a broker, but if he dies, he's losing 100% of the value.

People do this stuff all the time. Financial planners are paid to handle this kind of stuff.

[Richard Steele]

2. This is how George Bush's America "supports the troops", folks.

Anyone who doesn't happen to have 125 grand lying around
in free cash has the FREEDOM to fuck off and DIE.

King George III would call you a LIAR if you told him
half the shit we swallow every damn day, people.

[aquart]

3. What is the matter with these people?

HE'S A VET!

If someone puts himself in the line of fire for his country, his country owes HIM, not the other way around.

No veteran of our armed services should ever have to pay a medical bill. EVER. (And I'd extend that to cops, firemen, and first responders. These are our life or death people. We do not want to discourage them.)

[trumad]

4. He should find a funder...

somebody will cone in and take over his ticket for cash down. Oh sure, he won't get the whole thing but hey...