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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ClearSkies on December 4, 2007, at 8:12:10
A slightly adjusted perspective on my personal health care crisis with the denial of prescription coverage, psychiatric and headache care denied as well. I have now joined the ranks of a growing percentage of the population living in the US whose healthcare has been threatened by circumstance.
My stance is no longer to feel panicked by this change in fortune, but to accept it as a change in my fortune. Perhaps I will be able to secure part time employment in the future and get this coverage back. Perhaps I will have to put money aside and pay for these necessary expenses out of pocket. I can certainly explore more cost efficient ways of buying my prescription drugs - via mail services, or through secure international pharmacies with my doctors' prescriptions. I can approach my doctors and ask if there are less expensive drug therapies that will work as well for my various health conditions. I will explore these possibilities.
I have had to change my approach to this problem from feeling like a victim to feeling like this is my new reality, because that is what it is: any alternative insurers we try to get coverage from is likely to make the same exclusions and denials or coverage that the original insurer did, because the companies share information with each other (so I'm told). So, it's fruitless to try to hide my medical history information since I've already given it once.
It's possible that we'll find another insurer who will have a waiting period for these lapses of coverage - sometimes periods of several years - in which case we'll have to suck up and pay those expenses out of pocket in the meantime until the periods expire. We'll have to see what happens. In any case, I've had to take my mind (and body) out of this siege state of total panic, because I wasn't able to function, worrying about the insecurity of my situation. The fact is, I'm now just like thousands of other people now. People with comfortable living circumstances who cannot, for any amount of money, get the medical insurance coverage that they need.
The state that I live in did NOT pass parity legislation for mental health this year - there weren't enough votes. I am not eligible for any state or federal assistance programs due to my spouse's wages. I also don't qualify for assistance from any of the pharmaceutical companies for the same reason. I don't yet know if I'm constitutionally able to work in a part time capacity, but I'll address that at a later time, and if I do so, I'll also get coverage for my spouse at that time. I don't think that fear is a good motivation for seeking employment, and I think that any potential employer will be able to smell it a mile away, wafting off of me.
But at least I'm in acceptance of the situation, and I have a comprehensive understanding of it. I feel better having that knowledge. My spouse is also reassured that he couldn't have done anything different - this outcome was inevitable, according to everything I've read and the people I've spoken with.
CS
Posted by Phillipa on December 4, 2007, at 10:40:27
In reply to A different take on my health care crisis, posted by ClearSkies on December 4, 2007, at 8:12:10
All my Disability has gone to buying meds. Welcome to the crowd. Sorry. Phillipa
Posted by zenhussy on December 4, 2007, at 13:38:33
In reply to A different take on my health care crisis, posted by ClearSkies on December 4, 2007, at 8:12:10
stinks that growth like this hurts, eh?
you're doing a very healthy job w/ what life is handing you CS. keep w/ that attitude (acceptance) and more things will open up.
Posted by MidnightBlue on December 4, 2007, at 14:01:23
In reply to A different take on my health care crisis, posted by ClearSkies on December 4, 2007, at 8:12:10
I've been there. Both having to wait out a year or more for insurance to "kick in" and having none at all. If you can get an inexpensive policy that will just cover accidents, etc. get that. Some states have an "insurer of last resort" that has to take you warts and all, but usually at a high price.
I stopped a couple of expensive meds when I lost insurance and found I was doing just as well without them! Not that I'm suggesting you do that, but it is a good time to re-evaluate all your meds and treatments.
MB
Posted by gardenergirl on December 4, 2007, at 14:12:06
In reply to A different take on my health care crisis, posted by ClearSkies on December 4, 2007, at 8:12:10
I'm in awe of your attitude in the face of what is truly distressing and scary. There's a light shining from within you that I swear I can see all the way up here. :)
gg
Posted by stargazer2 on December 4, 2007, at 20:39:52
In reply to A different take on my health care crisis, posted by ClearSkies on December 4, 2007, at 8:12:10
Clearskies,
I think you and I will have to babble between ourselves regarding this issue, it's too cumbersome to discuss here in detail but I'm in a similar situation right now. I'm under Cobra which runs out in March so I'm pushing to find a job before then. I've always worked but had a few short term leaves before, so I know a bit about this situation, but you never know everything about it. The only way you can dealwith it is one day at a time. If it gets to March and I haven't found a job, I'll be in your situation. I never thought I would be out of work so long but after all drug trials this past 16 months, I have lost more life to this stinking depression. It has taken more days from my life than I have had without it.
When I feel better I don't even understand why it happens and after so many years we are really no better off than we were 20 years ago when I took Nardil for the first time and it worked. Most of the years in between then and now have been on new, highly touted drugs without any real improvement. What does that tell you?
So I really am the poster child for treatment resistent depression with the best psychiatry has to offer, which i have found to be more useless for me than perhaps living with depression and exercising more and taking alternaties. Who knows? That may be my recommendation for any newly diagnosed depressives, certainly not what I have gone through...this is not a success story, just a true life story of a young naive woman turned, middle aged (yikes) broad challenging her doctor for the truth. My doctor thinks I'm amazing, but who cares, I just want to live and not be a burden anymore. A job would help.
Stargazer
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