Vent: Client's insurance changed, hours cut!

Specialties Private Duty

Published

Specializes in Home Health, PDN, LTC, subacute.

Adult client but still has parent's insurance. Now he's depending on Medicaid and the hours aren't there! So sad and now I'm out $$$$.

Clients at our agency are drying up too as insurance/medicaid is being cut and homecare is going bye-bye. It's a shame because I'm sure medicaid would have NO PROBLEM paying for him to live at a nursing home.

Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

I was always told that Home Health nursing paid in the upper $20's per hour. Now that I'm in the field I can't seem to find a job that pays over $22. They always tell me "it depends on the type of insurance they have". Well, it seems like everyone has crappy insurance these days. I think agencies are taking the extra on certain cases and running with it.

Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

I left priavte duty because I always felt insecure in my job. You might be working ont he same case ofr months and then the client might lose their hours or the family decided to switch nurses etc and boom you've gone from full time to no time with no notice and you can't apply for unemployment because technically your not laid off.

This is why it is always wise to work for more than one agency and to be on more than one case at a time. That was good advice even when times were better. It is unfortunate that agencies across the board are taking advantage of the current economic situation to put it to their employees.

Specializes in Home Health, PDN, LTC, subacute.

I have another case but with the same agency. I'm going to look into other agencies or pediatrics soon.

I left priavte duty because I always felt insecure in my job. You might be working ont he same case ofr months and then the client might lose their hours or the family decided to switch nurses etc and boom you've gone from full time to no time with no notice and you can't apply for unemployment because technically your not laid off.

OMG!!!! You can't get unemployment!!!! Yikes. I didn't even think of that. My patient is doing quite well and there is talk that he may get rid of his trach soon. I am thinking that shortly after his trach is gone that he will probably be getting rid of his tube feedings too. I am happy for him of course. CNA's will then take over my patient.

I am hoping that they will be able to find another patient for me. I am worried that they will find a patient that lives far far away from me.:crying2:

Getting unemployment when listed with home health agencies is hampered by the fact that the home health agencies lie to the EDD when they state that the employee has refused work when in fact they have offered no work. They also use the fact that one can refuse a case in hh and remain employed against the employee. Apply for unemployment and you will find yourself with the worst cases, in the worst neighborhoods, too far away to justify the low wages. And you won't be able to get work elsewhere because the agency will lie to prospective employers as well as the EDD.

Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

Well one of the first questions the EDD asks is if the employer gave your a packet saying you were eligible for unemployment. We are per diem workers which means they dont have to guarantee us any hours so eevn though we may not be working unless they "fire" us we are still employed

;)Thanks so much caliotter3 and tothepointeLVN. I have been living in a total fantasy land.:eek: I had been thinking that if I lost my patient and were unable fo get another one nearby that I would be eligible for unemployment. Thanks for the reality check. I think I had better start thinking of getting out of private duty too.

You are eligible for unemployment, as long as the agency does not lie to the EDD to insure you can't collect it. I got unemployment, until the agency appealed the EDD decision and lied to them stating I had refused work. The EDD interviewer was fully versed in how home health agencies operate.

Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

Being eligible for unemployment is VERY hard.

Specializes in Home Health, PDN, LTC, subacute.

I had to sign a paper stating that I could not collect unemployment if there were no cases.

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