Imagine this: You’re a 34-year-old, single man. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit your community and you’ve been furloughed from work and quarantined to your home for the past three months. You have little to no income now, you have yet to see a single unemployment payment, and you’ve started losing function in your right arm.
This is Michael’s story.
When he arrived at the Aurora St. Luke’s South Shore Emergency Department (ED) it had already been about a month since he had last been able to use his arm normally. When the ED physician examining him asked Michael why he had delayed seeking help, Michael told him he was nervous about being able to pay for any medical bills.
The ED physician discharged Michal but referred him to a neurologist for follow-up care. He also referred Michael to the hospital’s Financial Advocate.
When Michael met with the Advocate, she worked with him over-the-phone to complete a financial assessment. The Advocate was able to help Michael enroll in Badger Care for the upcoming follow-up care and surgery he needed. She was also able to approve him for Aurora Helping Hand Patient Financial Assistance Program to cover the ED expense he has already incurred the month prior. 
Michael is still healing and now has insurance coverage to carry him through the recovery process. He has already seen improvements in his arm function.