![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by kelly on February 10, 2000, at 18:49:39
I just got a letter saying as of the end of the month i well no longer get medicaid (state insurance).
I had a Dr. appointment on the first but had to cancel since i can't afford to see him($250.00) and pay for meds on top of it, that's $300.00 more. don't know what is going to happen when i have to stop taking my meds?
Posted by Sef on February 10, 2000, at 19:03:51
In reply to INSURANCE CUT ME OFF, posted by kelly on February 10, 2000, at 18:49:39
You could try going to the Social Security office and applying for Social Security Disability, then you would be covered under medicare. Talk to your pdoc, they may be able to help you qualify.
Posted by kelly on February 10, 2000, at 19:18:40
In reply to Re: INSURANCE CUT ME OFF, posted by Sef on February 10, 2000, at 19:03:51
> You could try going to the Social Security office and applying for Social Security Disability, then you would be covered under medicare. Talk to your pdoc, they may be able to help you qualify.
I'm on disabilty thats how is cutting me off
Posted by PattyG on February 10, 2000, at 19:30:46
In reply to Re: INSURANCE CUT ME OFF, posted by kelly on February 10, 2000, at 19:18:40
I don't understand. How did they determine that you no longer have a disability? Wasn't there a hearing? Can't you petition for reconsideration? Also, your family doctor can prescribe your medications (given that you know what meds work for you) and there are 800 numbers to call where the manufacturers will provide meds for those who can't afford them. Your doctor can help orchestrate this.
Posted by Noa on February 10, 2000, at 19:35:15
In reply to Re: INSURANCE CUT ME OFF, posted by PattyG on February 10, 2000, at 19:30:46
Oh, Kelly. Geez. What next.
How about calling law schools and asking if the law students do any legal assistance, maybe one can help you appeal.
Posted by kelly on February 10, 2000, at 19:39:13
In reply to Re: INSURANCE CUT ME OFF, posted by PattyG on February 10, 2000, at 19:30:46
> I don't understand. How did they determine that you no longer have a disability? Wasn't there a hearing? Can't you petition for reconsideration? Also, your family doctor can prescribe your medications (given that you know what meds work for you) and there are 800 numbers to call where the manufacturers will provide meds for those who can't afford them. Your doctor can help orchestrate this.
I'm still disability but now that i'm working i make to much.
Posted by PattyG on February 10, 2000, at 19:46:01
In reply to Re: INSURANCE CUT ME OFF, posted by kelly on February 10, 2000, at 19:39:13
> > I don't understand. How did they determine that you no longer have a disability? Wasn't there a hearing? Can't you petition for reconsideration? Also, your family doctor can prescribe your medications (given that you know what meds work for you) and there are 800 numbers to call where the manufacturers will provide meds for those who can't afford them. Your doctor can help orchestrate this.
> I'm still disability but now that i'm working i make to much.///Well, my understanding is that folks can make up to $40,000 and still be eligible for the assistance.
Posted by kelly on February 10, 2000, at 20:03:11
In reply to Re: INSURANCE CUT ME OFF, posted by PattyG on February 10, 2000, at 19:46:01
> > > I don't understand. How did they determine that you no longer have a disability? Wasn't there a hearing? Can't you petition for reconsideration? Also, your family doctor can prescribe your medications (given that you know what meds work for you) and there are 800 numbers to call where the manufacturers will provide meds for those who can't afford them. Your doctor can help orchestrate this.
> > I'm still disability but now that i'm working i make to much.
>
> ///Well, my understanding is that folks can make up to $40,000 and still be eligible for the assistance.with my husband working & I we now make over that.
Posted by PattyG on February 10, 2000, at 20:18:37
In reply to Re: INSURANCE CUT ME OFF, posted by kelly on February 10, 2000, at 20:03:11
I guess I would think that you'd have the right to ask for a hearing regarding your disability. However, if you are able to work, I suspect that will take care of that. Does your employer not offer any type of medical coverage insurance?
Posted by Sef on February 10, 2000, at 20:41:20
In reply to Re: INSURANCE CUT ME OFF, posted by PattyG on February 10, 2000, at 20:18:37
Are you on federal or state disability? Medicaid is State, I'm confused. Anyway, your husbands income does not factor into the federal social security disability. The only Income they look at is your past...that is how much money you have earned total at all the jobs you have had during your life. They use that figure to determine how much your disability check will be each month. The only Social Security that a spouses income is figured into is retirement. If you have federal Social Security Disability, and they dropped you, you are supposed to have a grace period before you loose your benefits entirely. Also, if you go down to the SS office and fill out some papers asking for a hearing with in 10 days of being notified, your benefits will continue until your hearing and the final determination. If you can't afford a representative for your hearing, SS will provide one for you. They explain all this in their letter when they notify you that they may discontinue your benefits... that is why I think you may be on State assistance and not SSD because the state can just drop you because of your household income level. Please let me know which one you are on. I hope this helps!
Posted by Sef on February 10, 2000, at 20:58:30
In reply to Re: INSURANCE CUT ME OFF, posted by Sef on February 10, 2000, at 20:41:20
Oh ya, I forgot to tell you...Medicaid is State, Medicare is federal. They sound alot alike and it is easy to get the two cinfused. Also, 9 times out of 10, if a person fills out the paper work requesting a hearing, they will just review your case and reinstate you and you will not have to go to a hearing.
Posted by jamie on February 11, 2000, at 3:04:36
In reply to INSURANCE CUT ME OFF, posted by kelly on February 10, 2000, at 18:49:39
I make about $22,000 a year for my household of four. I pay cash for pdocs and medicines. It is damn pricey. But I can't put a price tag on mental health. With or without insurance benefits, I intend to keep my mental health a high priority. Nothing else works without it. If you are making over $40,000 and cannot afford a few hundred dollars for your mental health, there are some priorities drastically out of place. Surely there is something in the possessions or the budget to let go in order to afford needed care. For me it means I eat peanut butter jelly for lunch while my coworkers are going out for juicy hamburgers. But that's alright. What's more important to you? With or without insurance, you have plenty of money to afford your care if priorities are right. Sorry for the lecture. Compared to me, you are very wealthy. Yet somehow I can afford cash payments for mental health while you can't? Something's wrong with this picture.
Posted by Noa on February 11, 2000, at 5:30:38
In reply to Re: INSURANCE CUT ME OFF, posted by jamie on February 11, 2000, at 3:04:36
I don't know if this is applicable, but I think it depends where you live, too. Cost of living in some parts is way steeper than in others.
Still, I cannot imagine how you do it, Jamie! My mental health costs add up to something like $12,000 a year for therapy and pdoc, and who knows how much for all my meds!! My share of that is about $8000, with copayments and the cost of insurance premiums, which I pay in full myself.
Posted by jamie on February 11, 2000, at 8:10:00
In reply to Re: INSURANCE CUT ME OFF, posted by Noa on February 11, 2000, at 5:30:38
> I don't know if this is applicable, but I think it depends where you live, too. Cost of living in some parts is way steeper than in others.
>
> Still, I cannot imagine how you do it, Jamie! My mental health costs add up to something like $12,000 a year for therapy and pdoc, and who knows how much for all my meds!! My share of that is about $8000, with copayments and the cost of insurance premiums, which I pay in full myself.
I didn't even consider the cost of living differences around the country. That is a big concern I didn't think about. Anway I can't think of a higher priority than mental health. Absolutely nothing else can work without it. Marriages fail. Relationships fail. Finances fail. Families fail. And even life itself is at serious risk. Maybe it means selling the second or third car. Maybe it means downsizing to a cheaper house. Maybe the adjustments are minor and maybe they are drastic. But without making every possible adjustment to assure good mental health, everything else will fail. That's the way it is with me at least. I can't even put the monthly rent as the highest priority until I have first put my mental health on top to make the monthly rent responsibility even possible. I have to admit, it is depressing to not have insurance. I just do the best I can with the rules of the game that have been dealt my way.I found that seeing my family doctor instead of the psychiatrist every other visit or so saves a lot of money. They have each other's numbers and can collaborate if they need to. He can prescribe anything the pdoc can. If it's something like adding a tricyclic to an existing ssri, or trying pindolol or buspar, or something of that nature, the family doctor has no problem at all with that. I only go to the pdoc when there's a problem requiring a real change in medication. Both of them usually have samples of free antidepressants too. My family doctor gets bombarded from pharmaceutical salesmen. As a result he has plenty of free samples on hand and can keep me going for months without spending any more than $50 once every two months or so for a visit. Obviously though costs go up dramatically when we are having troubles that require more frequent psychiatrist visits. Insurance is nice. But without it there are always creative ways to cut costs.
jamie
Posted by kelly on February 11, 2000, at 15:44:38
In reply to Re: INSURANCE CUT ME OFF, posted by jamie on February 11, 2000, at 3:04:36
> I make about $22,000 a year for my household of four. I pay cash for pdocs and medicines. It is damn pricey. But I can't put a price tag on mental health. With or without insurance benefits, I intend to keep my mental health a high priority. Nothing else works without it. If you are making over $40,000 and cannot afford a few hundred dollars for your mental health, there are some priorities drastically out of place. Surely there is something in the possessions or the budget to let go in order to afford needed care. For me it means I eat peanut butter jelly for lunch while my coworkers are going out for juicy hamburgers. But that's alright. What's more important to you? With or without insurance, you have plenty of money to afford your care if priorities are right. Sorry for the lecture. Compared to me, you are very wealthy. Yet somehow I can afford cash payments for mental health while you can't? Something's wrong with this picture.
I'm a family of 5, my husband just started to make good money we were living pay check to pay check,An i just went back to work this week after be out a couple of months,so the bills are all backed up.And i don't know where you live but New jersey is'nt cheep,Our house payments $810month,water bill $220 every three months,car insurance $705 every six months,gas bill $125month,phone bill $70month,my car payment $253month,electric bill $50month,childcare $200week,his pdoc $100month plus $90 month in meds,food $100 every two weeks,we have lawyer bills,& the kids come first in my house.
Posted by PattyG on February 11, 2000, at 19:45:39
In reply to Re: INSURANCE CUT ME OFF, posted by kelly on February 11, 2000, at 15:44:38
Our house payments $810month,water bill $220 every three
months,car insurance $705 every six months,gas bill $125month,phone bill $70month,my car payment
$253month,electric bill $50month,childcare $200week,his pdoc $100month plus $90 month in meds,food $100
every two weeks,we have lawyer bills,& the kids come first in my house./////Wow! you only pay $50 a month for electricity? That's about our highest bill on the utilities! And if you can hold down the food expenses to $100 every two weeks for a family of 5, then you're either doing something very right or y'all are very hungry! I'm sure it tough. I guess we could all give up some things, but let's face it, healthcare is darned expensive, with or without insurance!
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.