Knee replacement surgery for Vishnu: covering what insurance won't

Vishnu was diagnosed with a deviated septum causing chronic infections in December. The surgeon at Saint Joseph Hospital recommended knee replacement surgery, and He is scheduled for March. The hospital's financial office gave us a written estimate of $600, and after what our health plan will pay we're still $450 short. my husband has been in and out of Saint Joseph Hospital since December. The doctors say a deviated septum causing chronic infections will get worse without knee replacement surgery. We have emptied our savings and borrowed from relatives, but the estimate of $600 is more than we can find. While we wait, Vishnu struggles with daily life and can't work a full shift. His family has taken turns caring for him, and I've cut my own work hours to be there. Recovery is expected to take about 5 weeks. During that time Vishnu won't be able to work a full shift, so the costs keep growing. I'll pay the hospital and pharmacy directly and post every receipt in the updates section. Where the $450 goes: • Hospital stay (3 nights): $340 • Travel and lodging for the family: $60 • Post-operative medication: $50 Please ask me anything in the questions section. I'll answer honestly and quickly.