![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by crushedout on January 8, 2005, at 16:36:01
Mine runs out in 3 1/2 months. Then what the &*^%* will I do??????
Posted by Aphrodite on January 8, 2005, at 17:00:29
In reply to I'm freaking out about insurance, posted by crushedout on January 8, 2005, at 16:36:01
What's going on? Why is running out? (Sorry if you've already explained in another post.)
Posted by crushedout on January 8, 2005, at 17:06:47
In reply to Re: I'm freaking out about insurance » crushedout, posted by Aphrodite on January 8, 2005, at 17:00:29
COBRA. It only lasts 18 months. Then I'm screwed. :(
I've known this for a long time and freak out periodically, but as the date approaches it gets more and more scary.
Posted by gardenergirl on January 8, 2005, at 17:19:30
In reply to Re: I'm freaking out about insurance » Aphrodite, posted by crushedout on January 8, 2005, at 17:06:47
ugh, how scary. Will you qualify for any aid then?
gg
Posted by crushedout on January 8, 2005, at 17:26:08
In reply to Re: I'm freaking out about insurance » crushedout, posted by gardenergirl on January 8, 2005, at 17:19:30
you mean like medicaid or something? i doubt it. but i dunno. doesn't medicaid suck anyway?new york (where i live) has some cheap insurance i might be able to qualify for. but i bet it doesn't pay much for therapy. so basically maybe i won't be completely uninsured but i'm looking at paying for all my therapy out of pocket. has anyone ever done this?
i think i may quit therapy if i have to pay that much. or i don't know. get a cheap t. or just marry someone rich? it's really terrifying.
Posted by Frida on January 8, 2005, at 18:02:38
In reply to Re: I'm freaking out about insurance » gardenergirl, posted by crushedout on January 8, 2005, at 17:26:08
Hi!
I am new here, and have been reading for the past months but never posted..
I wanted to reach out and tell you that I am in your situation, and luckily my therapist allows me to pay her less than she usually charges, and she waits for me, sometimes I pay her after 2 months, when I am able. I always pay her, but she is very flexible. I have to pay her from my own pocket too...
Maybe you can work something out with your therapist???
I always tell myself that even though I am spending a lot of money it is worth it and I need it to be able to live...Take care,
Frida
Posted by crushedout on January 8, 2005, at 18:11:34
In reply to Re: I'm freaking out about insurance » crushedout, posted by Frida on January 8, 2005, at 18:02:38
hi frida! thank you for posting. you said exactly what i wanted to hear. i find it very reassuring. yes, it's worth it.welcome! i'm so glad you jumped in.
Posted by fallsfall on January 8, 2005, at 18:44:00
In reply to Re: I'm freaking out about insurance » Frida, posted by crushedout on January 8, 2005, at 18:11:34
Therapy is hard enough without having to worry about how to pay for it.
Are you working now?
I was on COBRA for 29 months because I am on SDDI. That extends the COBRA time limit. Now I'm on my husband's insurance (even though we are separated), but his isn't nearly as good as mine was. It really scares me to think about it, I'm not sure how much this will pay (and I go a lot).
Check with the company who is doing your COBRA and ask what circumstances would allow you to extend it.
And get as much therapy in as you can in the next 3 1/2 months!!!
Posted by annierose on January 8, 2005, at 22:36:05
In reply to Re: I'm freaking out about insurance » gardenergirl, posted by crushedout on January 8, 2005, at 17:26:08
Crushed - I believe most T's will work on a sliding scale, so you'll just have to open that line of discussion with your current T.
All in all, I think that would be cheaper than marrying someone rich. That could cost you more than you think :)
I hope your T is able to make some accomodations for you, or at least, point you in the direction of some options.
Posted by Dinah on January 9, 2005, at 4:25:22
In reply to Re: I'm freaking out about insurance » gardenergirl, posted by crushedout on January 8, 2005, at 17:26:08
I am scared to use insurance!! I am terrified of some faceless bureaucrat deciding my needs. I read the insurance company website guidelines and it sounds like cookbook therapy.
I'm very fortunate. Between my husband and I we have flex spending and med reimbursement accounts. And the rest I pay out of pocket.
My therapist isn't the slightest bit flexible about financing. I wouldn't even dare ask him to wait till my paycheck.
The insurance situation in this country is still far below what it should be. I don't understand the problem with having insurance pools through the states like companies do. If my husband ever loses his insurance, I'm in humongous trouble.
Ok, I'd better quit now before I'm redirected.
I basically have to pay an entire day's after tax wages to get one session that isn't covered by one of the plans. :(
Posted by crushedout on January 9, 2005, at 11:21:44
In reply to Re: I'm freaking out about insurance » crushedout, posted by fallsfall on January 8, 2005, at 18:44:00
I'm working but not in any kind of way that gives you benefits. Why do you ask?Your ideas are really good. I didn't know you could get COBRA extended. I'm pretty sure my insurance company wouldn't be very helpful (they're horrible, although the benefits are amazing: unlimited therapy sessions per year at 80% coverage out of network -- actually this is required by law -- it's not just because they're nice). But maybe I could do some research on my own.
Is SDDI disability?
Posted by fallsfall on January 9, 2005, at 13:53:02
In reply to Re: I'm freaking out about insurance » fallsfall, posted by crushedout on January 9, 2005, at 11:21:44
Yes. SSDI is Social Security Disability Insurance.
I know that COBRA can be (has to be) extended if you qualify for SSDI, also if you get divorced (I belive). It may be that there is something other than SSDI that would count for the "disabled" part (if you are working part time, for instance, because you can't work full time). I'm not sure.
Posted by thewrite1 on January 10, 2005, at 22:39:50
In reply to I'm freaking out about insurance, posted by crushedout on January 8, 2005, at 16:36:01
Going into therapy I was afraid of this. I knew it was going to take me awhile to work through my issues, and I knew my insurance wouldn't cover it for long. I avoided the whole thing by finding a T that works on sliding scale fees. I was working F/T when I started going, so I was paying something like $85 a session. I had to take a 3 month break after having my son and when I called to set things back up with her, I explained that I was only working P/T from now on. She wanted me to pay $60. I thanked her for her time, told her I couldn't pay that much, and figured I'd have to find someone else. She stopped me in my tracks and asked me how much I could pay. I told her $30 and she accepted. About a month later, I got a raise at work. I told her about it and told her that I could now pay her $40 and that's how it's been since. I pretty much gave my whole raise to her, but she's worth it. :-)
Maybe your T will be willing to work something out with you like that.
Posted by crushedout on January 11, 2005, at 15:10:52
In reply to Re: I'm freaking out about insurance » crushedout, posted by thewrite1 on January 10, 2005, at 22:39:50
I hope so. I think she might. I'm going to wait and ask her once we've established more of a connection. Which is scary because then I'll be more vulnerable but she will also be more likely to say yes.
Posted by gardenergirl on January 12, 2005, at 10:40:47
In reply to Re: I'm freaking out about insurance » thewrite1, posted by crushedout on January 11, 2005, at 15:10:52
That's the dilemma about therapy, isn't it? The closer you get the more vulnerable you are. It's a risk. No wonder so many of us defend against it so much. Or jump in and then go "eek! The water's cold!"
gg
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Psychology | 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.