insurance comment

[Guest guest]

Yes, about that receptionist's comment!

[

I have

> been trying to find a new doctor that is taking new patients here. I

> was told twice this past week that a particular doctor would not

> accept fibro patients. When I asked why that was, one receptionist

> told me because it was too time consuming.]

It reminded me of when I was denied insurance coverage by Blue Cross a

few years ago. I asked if they could at least do a " fibromyalgia

exclusion " policy. The lady at Blue Cross said, " Because fibromyalgia

is a head to toe illness, we would have to exclude your whole body! "

(Sounds funny in retrospect.)

I was able to get a self-employed " hospitalization only " policy (no

doctors visits, no lab tests, no x-rays, etc.) To get a policy with

all the benefits would be much more than I can afford. I have not been

in the hospital for 20 years (hysterectomy), so I don't know what good

this policy is and I'm tempted to cancel it (costs over $300 per

month), but my husband says you never know when you might need it, even

though it doesn't cover anything I need so far. It does have a

prescription card, and that helps a lot. Also, I always get the

generic of any med, if it's available. Walmart has a lot of meds for

just $4, which helps, and our local grocery store pharmacy that I use

regularly has followed suit.

To get on my husband's company's group insurance plan would cost me

$500-$600 per month - nearly my entire income from piano teaching, plus

there's a 2 year hold on " pre-existing " conditions. I'm just thankful

I've got a good doc (internal medicine). I only see him only once or

twice a year, and we review my prescriptions then.

A few years ago after working in toxic mold,

http://www.fms-help.com/mold.htm

I developed a severe lung infection. Had to get a chest x-ray ($200

self pay - yipes!!) plus bloodwork ($$$). Then last year I developed

osteoarthritis in my right hand from nearly 50 years of piano playing,

not to mention more recent computer activities. My doc ran a bunch of

blood tests then - a small fortune, but he had to rule out some things.

I tried to file for disability last year, but was told by the attorney

that since I AM working part-time, it shows that I CAN work, so I would

be denied. A catch-22 situation.

I do have some disability tips sent in by newsletter readers at

http://www.fms-help.com/disability.htm

Well, I just keep plugging along and have been doing MUCH better these

past few months thanks to meds my doc prescribed, faithfulness with

supplements that make a difference for me, and saying NO to excessive

pressure and stress in my life (as defined by me). I have virtually no

social life anymore (boo hoo), can't travel, and must spend the

functional hours I have each day working for a living and keeping up

with my responsibilities at home, even though my husband is wonderful

about doing so much of the heavy work for me.

Dom

[Guest guest]

In 2001, when I was loosing cobra insurance, tried to get a bcbs policy,since that is what the group was. They would not write me as I had fibro and the agent showed me in their manual from corporation level that they can not write a policy for anyone with diagnosis of fibro. The reason they gave me was the cost involved in care. Many Drs won't treat fibro patients, for several reasons, the main ones being that treating the pain, is hard , many won't return for follow up care, or be compliant with treatment plan, or all they want is narcotic pain medication. I got this information from several different Drs of various specialties during my nursing career. Sandie -- insurance comment Yes, about that receptionist's comment! [ I have > been trying to find a new doctor that is taking new patients here. I > was told twice this past week that a particular doctor would not > accept fibro patients. When I asked why that was, one receptionist > told me because it was too time consuming.] It reminded me of when I was denied insurance coverage by Blue Cross a few years ago. I asked if they could at least do a "fibromyalgia

exclusion" policy. The lady at Blue Cross said, "Because fibromyalgia

is a head to toe illness, we would have to exclude your whole body!"

(Sounds funny in retrospect.)

I was able to get a self-employed "hospitalization only" policy (no

doctors visits, no lab tests, no x-rays, etc.) To get a policy with

all the benefits would be much more than I can afford. I have not been

in the hospital for 20 years (hysterectomy), so I don't know what good

this policy is and I'm tempted to cancel it (costs over $300 per

month), but my husband says you never know when you might need it, even

though it doesn't cover anything I need so far. It does have a

prescription card, and that helps a lot. Also, I always get the

generic of any med, if it's available. Walmart has a lot of meds for

just $4, which helps, and our local grocery store pharmacy that I use

regularly has followed suit.

To get on my husband's company's group insurance plan would cost me

$500-$600 per month - nearly my entire income from piano teaching, plus

there's a 2 year hold on "pre-existing" conditions. I'm just thankful

I've got a good doc (internal medicine). I only see him only once or

twice a year, and we review my prescriptions then.

A few years ago after working in toxic mold,

http://www.fms-help.com/mold.htm

I developed a severe lung infection. Had to get a chest x-ray ($200

self pay - yipes!!) plus bloodwork ($$$). Then last year I developed

osteoarthritis in my right hand from nearly 50 years of piano playing,

not to mention more recent computer activities. My doc ran a bunch of

blood tests then - a small fortune, but he had to rule out some things.

I tried to file for disability last year, but was told by the attorney

that since I AM working part-time, it shows that I CAN work, so I would

be denied. A catch-22 situation.

I do have some disability tips sent in by newsletter readers at

http://www.fms-help.com/disability.htm

Well, I just keep plugging along and have been doing MUCH better these

past few months thanks to meds my doc prescribed, faithfulness with

supplements that make a difference for me, and saying NO to excessive

pressure and stress in my life (as defined by me). I have virtually no

social life anymore (boo hoo), can't travel, and must spend the

functional hours I have each day working for a living and keeping up

with my responsibilities at home, even though my husband is wonderful

about doing so much of the heavy work for me.

Dom

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