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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on July 15, 2001, at 2:46:05
Urgh!
I'm uninsured. Have been for years now. This isn't pleasant. For one thing, I've had an ingrown toenail for about eighteen months now, and it hurts, but there's also the expense of medications, etc.
So, towards the end of May, I applied for health insurance. The first company denied me outright based on the fact that I take anti-depressants. That, for any of you who want to blow raspberries at them, was Healthnet.
Blue Cross turned out to be the only company willing to consider me at all. It's been six weeks now, and they are still writing for more and more medical records from doctors who've seen me maybe once. Mind you, I was hospitalized a few years ago for mononucleosis. I was also hospitalized for depression, involuntarily. And I've had shingles, and have arthritis, and am partially disabled by carpal tunnel syndrome. Oh, and did I mention I smoke cigarettes?
The only alternative right now is a temporary policy which I can only get if I've never been declined by another insurance company. Of course, that temporary policy won't cover the cost of drugs. That's $300 per month, about. Am I working? You're joking, right? My job doesn't come with insurance. Or a living wage, for that matter.
With all the debate about health care and the uninsured in this country, wouldn't you think someone would look into whether people who need some sort of medical care could get medical care? Whether the insurance companies were willing to cover people who need coverage?
Just to put this in perspective, I don't qualify for Medi-cal, Medi-care, or any of those programs. No doctor in the area where I live was willing to see me without coverage. The local clinic is well meaning, but not particularly helpful. The last time I went there, not only did they screw up my billing, the doctor saw me for the usual three and a half minutes and decided that it was shingles. I told them that part when I made the appointment. Besides that, the doctor prescribed medication for it which has not been the favored treatment for several years now. I'd rather see a doctor who has a little more up to date information, and time to discuss things like the frequency of outbreaks and how to avoid recurrence.
Thanks for listening. I'm frustrated beyond belief, and I'm frightened that I'm going to die unnecessarily soon because some asshole in underwriting decides they might actually have to pay out for me to see a doctor now and again! Or worse, that I'll die the way my father did: because a doctor decided my life wasn't worth vigorous treatment and it was just as well to go through the motions without actually doing anything.
Posted by Shar on July 15, 2001, at 8:10:37
In reply to Insurance and mental illness and psychoactive meds, posted by Racer on July 15, 2001, at 2:46:05
R -
We seem to have a bit in common these days. I lost my insurance recently, and I am scared to death about how I will afford my meds. I am applying right now to the special meds programs run by the pharmaceutical companies that make my meds; where if you are low income you can get the meds free.And, I can relate to working for a non-living wage! I have been unemployed for a year, tho had lots of interviews. I think being 49 definitely was a drawback. And, in my professional field, my salary had gotten high enough to scare people off--even tho I stressed in interviews that I would be happy with the entry level salary.
If I have a health problem, I am SOL. My job offers health insurance after 6 months, but I would have to pay for it, which would make it a choice between buying food/paying bills or getting insurance. I don't make enough to do both.
Good luck to you. I hope BCross comes up with an affordable rate for you.
Shar
> Urgh!
>
> I'm uninsured. Have been for years now. This isn't pleasant. For one thing, I've had an ingrown toenail for about eighteen months now, and it hurts, but there's also the expense of medications, etc.
>
> So, towards the end of May, I applied for health insurance. The first company denied me outright based on the fact that I take anti-depressants. That, for any of you who want to blow raspberries at them, was Healthnet.
>
> Blue Cross turned out to be the only company willing to consider me at all. It's been six weeks now, and they are still writing for more and more medical records from doctors who've seen me maybe once. Mind you, I was hospitalized a few years ago for mononucleosis. I was also hospitalized for depression, involuntarily. And I've had shingles, and have arthritis, and am partially disabled by carpal tunnel syndrome. Oh, and did I mention I smoke cigarettes?
>
> The only alternative right now is a temporary policy which I can only get if I've never been declined by another insurance company. Of course, that temporary policy won't cover the cost of drugs. That's $300 per month, about. Am I working? You're joking, right? My job doesn't come with insurance. Or a living wage, for that matter.
>
> With all the debate about health care and the uninsured in this country, wouldn't you think someone would look into whether people who need some sort of medical care could get medical care? Whether the insurance companies were willing to cover people who need coverage?
>
> Just to put this in perspective, I don't qualify for Medi-cal, Medi-care, or any of those programs. No doctor in the area where I live was willing to see me without coverage. The local clinic is well meaning, but not particularly helpful. The last time I went there, not only did they screw up my billing, the doctor saw me for the usual three and a half minutes and decided that it was shingles. I told them that part when I made the appointment. Besides that, the doctor prescribed medication for it which has not been the favored treatment for several years now. I'd rather see a doctor who has a little more up to date information, and time to discuss things like the frequency of outbreaks and how to avoid recurrence.
>
> Thanks for listening. I'm frustrated beyond belief, and I'm frightened that I'm going to die unnecessarily soon because some asshole in underwriting decides they might actually have to pay out for me to see a doctor now and again! Or worse, that I'll die the way my father did: because a doctor decided my life wasn't worth vigorous treatment and it was just as well to go through the motions without actually doing anything.
Posted by Marie1 on July 15, 2001, at 9:48:12
In reply to Insurance and mental illness and psychoactive meds, posted by Racer on July 15, 2001, at 2:46:05
My husband, two kids and I are in the position of having to find our own insurance as the Cobra we now have will be terminated mid August. This is scary. Since I've been paying out of pocket anyway for therapy (not for ADs, though; that's a co-pay), do you think we need to be really up front re: my mental illness? My shrink claims he keeps no notes, so there would be no point to mentioning him anyway. Any land mines you can advise us to stay away from?
Marie
Posted by Racer on July 15, 2001, at 13:20:12
In reply to Re: Insurance and mental illness and psychoactive meds » Racer, posted by Marie1 on July 15, 2001, at 9:48:12
One really big landmine: get new insurance BEFORE your current insurance runs out!
The biggest problem I have is that I've been uninsured for so long. If I'd had insurance up to now, it would have been much easier. Once you've been uninsured, it's tough as nails to get insured as an individual.
The good news is that the rates haven't been bad. For about $120, which includes the surcharge for needing expensive psychoactive meds, I can be insured with a reasonable deductible, and NOT an HMO plan. Obviously, that's just me, but that's still not bad at all. My cobra choices were about $250 per month six years ago when I last had insurance.
You know, I think that some patients should get together and form an insurance buying group. Then we could get group insurance just by joining the collective.
Damn, where's that health care reform we keep hearing about? Single Payer, Single Payer, rah rah rah!
Posted by Marie1 on July 23, 2001, at 11:33:01
In reply to YEAH! Here's a BIG hint: » Marie1, posted by Racer on July 15, 2001, at 13:20:12
Racer,
Sorry - I neglected to thank you for your advice. Didn't realize til I talked with my husband - our Cobra coverage costs $700.00/mnth!! We pay 35% of that. Yikes! And these rates don't have anything to do with my mental illness because I developed that after! OK, it also includes dental & prescriptions, but still! Your're so right - what has happened with health care reform??Marie
> One really big landmine: get new insurance BEFORE your current insurance runs out!
>
> The biggest problem I have is that I've been uninsured for so long. If I'd had insurance up to now, it would have been much easier. Once you've been uninsured, it's tough as nails to get insured as an individual.
>
> The good news is that the rates haven't been bad. For about $120, which includes the surcharge for needing expensive psychoactive meds, I can be insured with a reasonable deductible, and NOT an HMO plan. Obviously, that's just me, but that's still not bad at all. My cobra choices were about $250 per month six years ago when I last had insurance.
>
> You know, I think that some patients should get together and form an insurance buying group. Then we could get group insurance just by joining the collective.
>
> Damn, where's that health care reform we keep hearing about? Single Payer, Single Payer, rah rah rah!
This is the end of the thread.
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