Health insurance & Hospice

[T&KBrouse]

A little over a month ago, my 42 year old husband suffered a mild heart attack. It was caused from high blood pressure and while it could have been much, much worse, it knocked him out of commission for three weeks. He couldn't work, which meant our income was cut in half, and since we can't afford health insurance, the doctor bills, blood tests, medications and hospital bills have wiped out what little savings we have, as well as destroyed our regular budget for monthly living expenses.

Because we work for a small company, the cost of health insurance would be $120 a week. It still would carry a $50 co-pay on all Dr visits, no prescription plan, no dental and no optical. We don't qualify for state insurance, as we are too married and too working.

Last year, my daughter was refused Medicaid and Florida Kid Care insurance because both her parents work. When I asked the caseworker if I needed to leave my husband, turn tricks and develop a nasty crack habit to get her help, she disregarded me as "just being silly."
When she realized I was dead serious, she didn't know what to say.

I just don't understand how the government and powers that be can measure the value of human life. I pick up young people frequently that died from an illness that if they could have gotten medical attention, they could still be alive today. How many lives have been cut short? How many children lost their mother or father or sibling, simply because without insurance, a doctor won't see them and hospitals won't administer proper care because they don't know if they'll get paid? Why can prison inmates get complete medical treatment, but those of us that work sometimes two and three jobs to get by have to decide whether to go to the doctor or pay the electric bill?

Think about the message thats being put out here:
Insurance is costly. Hospice care is free.
Its all on you if you should get sick, but if you can't afford medical treatment and you're so sick you're going to die, well, then we'll help you die with dignity. (But not until you're too terminal to get better.)

I apologize if I have been offensive to anyone. I really don't mean to be. I guess I'm just frustrated that we've cut back so much, and now we're looking at having to sell some of our animals that we've spent years raising up for breeding projects to try to stay afloat. But even then, it'll only help so long. What about next month?

Okay... Rant over... Temporarily.

 

[Barbel]

I agree. I think insurance is a total rip off and too selective in who they "allow" to be covered. I mean, think about how much you are paying to the insurance company every month and how often you actually go to the doctor. Also, many companies will limit how many visits are covered. For example, you can only go to the dentist twice a year or you can only receive so many ultrasounds during pregnancy. If you need more, sorry!
Insurance is supposed to help provide people with medical care if you have a medical condition, which they pray will NEVER happen, because they want to keep all that money you are paying THEM for YOUR COVERAGE to themselves. And if you are already sick, than forget it! They know they will have to pay out on you and they won't if they don't have too! That's why most won't take preexisting conditions.
Doctors dislike insurance companies as well. They have to file claims and fill out tons of paperwork and they don't get paid for procedures until months later.
That is why more doctors are moving toward health care benefit programs and trying to stray away from insurance companies. That is what I have been using for my maternity appointments, because I don't have insurance or qualify for any state programs. I compare it to a like a grocery store member card. At the grocery store the cashier rings up your total then scans your card and you are given a discount. It kind of works the same way. I get a bill from my doctor, then contact my benefits company (some offices will contact the benefits company for you, it depends) who then discounts the price 20-80% depending on the services. Doctors prefer this method because they don't have any paperwork and they get paid that day. Yes, I pay more than a $25 deductible at the appointments, but I only $40 a month for my plan, which includes prescription, dental, vision and medical, so I feel like I am only paying for medical services I am actually using instead of banking money for an upcoming possible condition, know what I mean?

 

[ajveachster]

I have a flex spending account at work. I can pretty much tell what my plan won't cover, and budget that out so at least it is pre-tax dollars I am spending. It's still a pain. I am grateful that my work still offers insurance.

 

[T&KBrouse]

A bit of "disclosure" here:

I have a cousin that lost custody of both her girls many years ago, due to horrendous drug use that fried her brain to the point of skitzophrenia, sever bi-polar disorder and a battery of other ailments. She lives on the streets when she isn't in jail or institutionalized. When she goes off her meds (which she does frequently) her and her trash boyfriend of the week do terrible things like home invasions and robberies to get drug money.
And because "shes so sick" shes on full disability, Medicaid and gets food stamps.

Her two daughters, who have now been adopted by her sister, cannot get any benefits because both the parents in the household work. Before Don and Mica adopted the girls, they got medical coverage and SSI, because they were directly connected to their deadbeat mother's case.

It doesn't make any sense.

I have to wonder, though. (And this is the conspiracy nut coming out) How much longer before the normal, blue collar people of the U.S. just snap and we have another Revolution on our hands?

 

[LizMarie]

Health Care/Insurance is a mess! My mom doesn't make enough money and her job doesn't provide healthcare so we're eligible for low-cost health care, it isn't the best but I rather have that than nothing at all. My only real complaint is that doctor seem not to care and I'm always asked to do a follow up for one thing or another. I once went to the doctor she didn't talk to me, didn't even ask me whats wrong, looked at my chart and handed me a medicine and said take this. I was so annoyed and ran in the hall after she ran out because I deserve a proper diagnoses. Or when I go to the dentist it's a visit just for x-rays, another to review the x-rays then lastly another for the cleaning. Another thing too is that the health insurance might not authorize the visit right away so the doctor sends you a huge bill then I have to go and dispute it with my insurance. But what do you expect for a $5-$10 co-pay and small city clinics? I swear I walk out sicker then when I went in. ugh.

In this country you either have to be dirt poor or insanely rich to afford healthcare, it's so sad.

 

[T&KBrouse]

It is sad, LizMarie. And it just really bothers me that that you can get Hospice care for free when you're at the point of no return. To me, it sends a clear message that we're dispensable.

 

[BalloonzForU]

Hi K. I meant to post here yesterday and things just got a little crazy here. I'm so sorry this happened it just out right sucks. One thing you should know is you don't have to break the bank to pay any outstanding dept to a hospital. They can not do anything to your credit and can not harass you into payment. They can and will use collections agencies to try to collect but you can pretty much tell them to go pound salt and make payments as you comfortably can.


Hope your hubby feels better soon!!

I'll be posting a rant here in a few minutes that runs along the same line but didn't want to highjack your thread.

 

[T&KBrouse]

Thanks, Fe! Thats good to know.
The hospital is just going to have to wait then. He has cardiologists to see and they want cash up front.
One thing at a time, I guess.

 

[Barbel]

Check out my website in my siggy. I enroll people into the program that I use.
I just got my lab bill for my prenatal tests yesterday. The bill was originally $358 and I paid $134. I also paid $9.99 for my nausea meds which originally cost $32.99 for 30 pills.

 

[GekkoGalaksen]

It´s hard for us here to understand that you must live under conditions like this. It must be terrible to have to choose between paying bills or get the medical attension and medicin that is needed.
It probably sound strange in your ears when I tell you that we pay 50% tax on our income. But we don´t starv in any way. We have our house,car,animals and so on.
We even have money left at the end of the month, that we can choose to save or buy the extra thing we want ( like geckos fx ). AND seeing a doctor or going to the hospital is free. We pay a % for medicin, but when you have payed for a certain amount under a year, it´s free the rest of the year.
The only thing that is expensive here is going to the dentist, but we have cheep travelarrangment to fx Poland, were you can get you teeth fixed for a small amount of money.
I really hope that you some day soon can get better healthcare conditions.