At the beginning of 2020, Beatriz Martínez, from 65 years, I had decided to return to Mexico. Her undocumented status in the United States would not allow her to retire with any pension and she was ready to return after more than 20 years of having worked in this country.
She would return to live with a daughter in her native San José, in the state of Morelos; But the most important thing is that she would finally meet her two grandchildren. I was excited.
But Beatriz could not fulfill her wish since the COVID pandemic – forced him to delay his trip and he had no choice but to wait. A few months later, in August, while bathing, he fell and hit his head. She was left in a coma. After almost half a year of fighting, she finally lost the battle last Wednesday, around 3 in the afternoon.
Without insurance and without money
Anel Martínez, Beatriz’s eldest daughter, says that when her mother She was admitted to the hospital, her faced the problem of how to pay for her treatment. His mother had no documents and did not have health insurance.
Eventually, Anel found out about the Prucol program (Permanently Residing Under Color of Law). Under this status, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) know that the immigrant lives in the country, but they have not decided to take measures to deport them.
“It is important to note that Prucol does not it is an immigration status, it is a category of benefits, “said Angie Gil, spokesperson for Mental Health Advocacy Services.
Gil explained that the program includes people who have submitted an application to adjust their status, but who have not yet received their green card as beneficiaries of Deferred Action (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), U Visa and T Visa applicants, to name a few.
Once Beatriz was approved for Prucol, she managed to obtain health insurance which helped her cover all medical expenses, while her family waited for her to get better.
However, over time , Beatriz’s health was declining and the doctors recommended that Anel make the decision to disconnect her mother. She flatly refused, stating that she did not want her mother’s life to be in her hands.
“If she dies on her own, that’s fine, but I already told the doctors that I’m not going to give the order to be disconnected, “said Anel shortly before her mother passed away.
She hoped that a miracle would occur and left her mother’s health in God’s hands.
Prepare for the unexpected
AARP, the Traditional ranges around $ 7, 500. That is why they recommend planning ahead like any other large and unavoidable expense is planned.
The Conversation Project, an organization that works to promote greater discussion about end-of-life care , revealed in a survey that the 92% of people believe that it is important to talk about wishes for the end of the life with loved ones, but only one 32% does.
While the Kaiser Family Foundation found that the 96% of people in 65 years or more consider it important to put their wishes to receive medical care in case of serious illness in writing, but only a quarter have shared that document with a doctor.
Additionally, a large majority of people say they want to die at home, but the 60% die in hospitals or institutions as was the Beatriz’s case.
AARP indicates that many life insurance policies can pay a lump sum to the beneficiary of the insured person upon death. The money can cover the cost of the funeral or any other financial need that the surviving family members have.
There is also a funeral expenses insurance, whose policy is designed to pay the costs associated with the death, and advance insurance, designed to cover a predetermined amount for a funeral.
Another option is the account payable on death (POD), which is a bank account that allows you to separate money for the funeral and appointing someone to have access to the money when the person dies. The designated person presents the death certificate to the bank and receives the money on the spot.
Some other options include loans, prepaid services at a funeral home or low-cost options such as cremating the body of the deceased or donate it to a medical school.
Veterans of the armed forces also have options depending on their case of death and the place where they want to be buried.
Options
Anel told Real America News that the Loma Linda hospital in San Bernardino , where her mother’s body is found, she told her that they can have the body for up to two weeks while she looks for the best option for her mother’s last resting place.
Anel asked to be do an autopsy to reveal the reason for her death – she estimates it was due to failure of the heart or lungs – which will take seven days.
Beatriz’s daughter hopes that by then she may already have a solution for se pulture. She is seeing if she will be able to send her mother’s body to Mexico, as she wanted, or if she will have to incinerate her immediately.
“At the funeral home they told me that if I choose cremation they will take care of collecting the body, but I’m not going to be able to see her because of the covid, “said Anel. “They would only give me the ashes.”
The family has established a GoFundMe account with the name ‘Beatriz needs help’, for people who want to donate for her funeral: