Re: Digest Number 1844

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the encouragement Bozena and Joanna. I'm

going to try to put myself first, but you know women

just don't do that. I think is one of those " women "

things. Unfortunately, when we have chronic illnesses

though, it's hard to continue taking care of everything

and ignoring yourself. I must get in the right frame of

mind. The only time I don't feel alone with this is

when I'm talking to you guys. So, thanks.......take

care, in LA AIH 99

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/10/2003 5:06:30 AM Mountain Standard Time,

writes:

> I think there are blood tests that can be done

> > instead of the sticking with pins. I am considering

> > have Nic tested too, I was holding off because I

> > heard they stick them with 100 different pins to see

> > what they react to. Someone told me about blood

> > testing.

> >

> > Di

> >

>

the skin testing is more accurate than the blood testing. Blood testing can

help in a small child who can't tolerate the skin testing because it gives you

some idea if there are allergies or not, but it doesn't give as accurate an

answer as the skin testing.

Janis MD MPH FAAP

[Guest guest]

The needles are on a " block " and they just press them into the skin at once,

it is not 100 times with a needle. Then you wait and watch to see any

reactions. My daughter had one spot right away that bothered her immediately,

turns

out that was the control substance that should have caused reaction. She

tolerated everything very well.

Cheryl in VA

People with disabilities are here today to remind us that equal justice under

the law is not a privilege but a fundamental birthright in America.

                            Senator Ted Kennedy, during the Senate's passage

of ADA-July 13, 1990

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure that it's universally done with the multiple needles on the

block. According to the allergist that tested one of our kids about 15

years ago, he invented the block with multiple needles. (He was Dr. Joe

Inglefield in Falls Church, VA. He seemed to be approaching retirement age

then, so he's probably no longer working.)

Several years later, we went to a different allergist, who tested her (for

fewer allergens) using individual needles.The second doctor cited studies

indicating that skin testing was not reliable for food allergens.

Bev

Re: Digest Number 1844

The needles are on a " block " and they just press them into the skin at

once,

it is not 100 times with a needle. Then you wait and watch to see any

reactions. My daughter had one spot right away that bothered her

immediately, turns

out that was the control substance that should have caused reaction. She

tolerated everything very well.

Cheryl in VA

People with disabilities are here today to remind us that equal justice

under

the law is not a privilege but a fundamental birthright in America.

Senator Ted Kennedy, during the Senate's

passage

of ADA-July 13, 1990

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/10/2003 9:48:35 AM Central Standard Time,

wildwards@... writes:

> The needles are on a " block " and they just press them into the skin at

> once,

> it is not 100 times with a needle. Then you wait and watch to see any

> reactions. My daughter had one spot right away that bothered her

> immediately, turns

> out that was the control substance that should have caused reaction. She

> tolerated everything very well.

> Cheryl in VA

HI Cheryl

Back when I was in ahhhhhh 1st grade or 2nd grade ..... at least 36 yrs ago,

the " block " wasn't used lol if I remember right (Id have to ask my Mom) I had

the needle test, now I did not forget the number of pricks, 84 on my back and

60 something on my arm.

I had GIGANTIC hives way back when and the test only showed I was allergic to

goats ... live goats, no where in my suburb. It also showed I had an allergy

to weeds (this was a good thing back then, I got out of all lawn work lol),

but not bad enough to make me break out. It reads in my health book " allergies

undiagnosed "

Anyway we left Omaha and my hives disappeared, I think it must have been some

chemical in the air. Only one return of the GIGANTIC hive and that was when I

lived in KC and I was pregnant with Sara.

Kathy mom to Sara 11

(^) (^) (^) (^) (^)

,,,\)/,,,\)/,,,\)/,,,\)/,,,\)/,,

[Guest guest]

CML SUPPORT AND INFORMATIONDear ,

Yes, I had to have my blood replaced, you have a good memory. Medicare allows

you to have some blood, but our hospital has a rule that if you replace it, you

don't have to pay for it. If you are on Medicare, by law you do not have to

pay for more than 3 units. I spoke to the clerk in that department and told her

someone was coming in to give blood in my name. When I told her the names of the

persons she said that blood went to someone else. I guess she felt sorry for

me, so the next people who came in were regular donors and didn't care who the

blood went to, so she gave my account the credit. I am set for the rest of the

year.

This little tidbit is for you and Bobby in explanation. When you see those high

prices on your explanation of benefits, they are not paid that much. I will

give you an example, The doctor's fee was $125 , but only $17.95 was approved.

After the discount Medicare took out, they were paid only $14.37. The secondary

insurance was billed for $3.59. Another doctors visit was $420.00, but Medicare

approved only $100.38 and the doctor was only paid $80.22 and the secondary

kicked in with $20.26, so in the end, the doctor only got $100.18. For a tissue

exam by pathologist, the charge was $274, but Medicare approved $37.83 and paid

$30.26 and secondary paid 7.57. Bone marrow aspiration was $582.00, Medicare

approved only $50.00 and paid them $40.65, with $10.16 paid by Blue Cross.

I can't vouch for anyone but myself, but I worked for 32 years and paid into SS,

and Medicare taxes, too. I had private insurance and paid out of pocket for all

of our drugs. I was lucky, I was diagnosed 2 years after I was eligible for

Medicare. We also pay for Medicare. Jimmy goes to VA and pays for Medicare and

has secondary insurance. When VA does not pay for brand name drugs like Advair

and Spiriva, Flonase and Combivent, we pay 100% for it. If it is Generic, VA

sends us a bill for co-payments, but he also has to see a nurse practioner

before they will accept his Rx and he has to wait for it because of all the

beauracacy the Vets have to go through. If he needs it immediately, we have to

dig in and pay full price, again. He also has a co-pay when he sees a nurse

practioner at the VA office, they don't have a hospital here, so he goes to the

local government hospital. It is not for profit.

We also have a large charity hospital with the finest doctors and surgeons, all

trained at the best medical schools and teaching hospitals in the state. The

oncologists that I know of were also trained at MDACC, but none specialize in

CML. So you see, the doctors are not well compensated, so they have to see as

many patients as they can to come out ahead. They have families and children

who want to go to college, so they can't work for nothing. He lives in the

country and he was a city boy. He wanted his children to learn to do things, so

he had a large garden and farm animals that the children had to take care of.

He now has 5 children in college with triplets in the middle. My doctor here

profits only $2 on a Procrit shot. I don't think that is a lot, and they have a

lot of personnel with a lot of administrative costs. I am sure you can all

sleep better knowing all that. LOL

Hands and hearts,

Lottie

---- Original Message -----

From:

Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 9:37 AM

Subject: [ ] Digest Number 1844

CML SUPPORT AND INFORMATION

Messages In This Digest (25 Messages)

1a. Re: Health care From: Sharon Teichera

1b. Re: Health care From: Malseed

1c. Re: Health care From: anita

2. Re: Health Care From: suzzienovember

3a. Re: Fw: Obamacare...bend over! From: Orenstein

3b. Re: Fw: Obamacare...bend over! From: ROBERTA DOYLE

3c. Re: Fw: Obamacare...bend over! From: Armour

3d. Re: Fw: Obamacare...bend over! From: Malseed

4. Chat Reminder - Tuesday at 9 Eastern From: Zavie

5. Marathon From: Lottie Duthu

6a. Tremendous Hospital Bill From: Lottie Duthu

6b. Re: Tremendous Hospital Bill From:

6c. Re: Tremendous Hospital Bill From: wendyphillips54@...

6d. Re: Tremendous Hospital Bill From: wendyphillips54@...

7a. Kentwood From: Lottie Duthu

7b. Re: Kentwood From:

8a. Exploring the unknows From: Lottie Duthu

8b. Re: Exploring the unknows From: bethgalliart@...

9a. Dilemma From: Barbara Meunier

9b. Re: Dilemma From: Shipley

9c. Re: Dilemma From: ROBERTA DOYLE

9d. Re: Dilemma From: Rosen Lum

9e. Re: Dilemma From: Rosen Lum

9f. Re: Dilemma From: Malseed

9g. Re: Dilemma From: suzzienovember

View All Topics | Create New Topic Messages

1a. Re: Health care

Posted by: " Sharon Teichera " onthewtr@... sharonteichera

Mon Jun 15, 2009 4:35 pm (PDT)

Dear

My heart goes out to you. I have a question. How do you pay for your

medication and what are you on??? I know Gleevec, sprycel and Tasigna are

vry very very expensive.

Sharon T

_____

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 3:29 PM

Subject: Re: [ ] Health care

Anita,

I have spent all day on the phone and the internet trying to find a Dr who

specializes in CML around where I live and although there are some that even

practice at the same hospital that I worked at when I became disabled, so

far I have not found even ONE that is willing to take me as a patient

because I have NO health insurance. I think it's a crying shame that some

Drs can't be more compassionate and are in this field just for the money.

What happened to the times when all you had to do is let someone know that

you needed something and people were lined up with a willing hand and

compassionate heart. I absolutely loved my job as a CNA and would give

anything if I could go back to work but unfortunaltely I can't. Some days I

can't even get out of the bed because I can't walk from pain in my right

side and back.. I still have no idea what is causing that. It's like they

just gave up on trying to find out what it was. One Dr even said that is was

in my

head....well excuse me, but when I can't walk, I don't think that is in my

head. When I am walking and I fall for no reason, I don't think that is in

my head. Then I go to the ER with what I thought was a gall bladder attack

and ended up staying a week in the hospital with no insurance and then find

out that I have CML and gastritis. So I am paying a little each month on the

$35,000 bill that I incurred during that stay. Thank God I have a good Dr in

SC and can get the care that I need there because he is willing to give one

day a month to the ones of us who can't get care any other way. It just

sickens me to think about the people out there that are just too blame lazy

to work so they live off welfare and with Mommy or Daddy or both and expect

handouts from other people. I can say this with a clear conscious because I

had to work for everything I had. I raised 4 kids pretty much on my own

because I had a husband that would rather have his liquor and

cigarettes than to make sure his kids had food to eat. If it wouldn't have

been for my Mom helping us, there are lots of times me and my kids would

have gone without things and there were times that we did because I was too

embarassed to ask her for help. She is no longer able to help me since she

passed away a year ago. Now I have a son in law that won't hit a lick at a

snake and he depends on his Mommy to support his wife and kids. Sometimes I

just want to blow up at him but I try to be a good mother in law and keep my

mouth shut and stay out of their business. Gosh, how did I get off on this

subject. It just really ticks me off for people to be so lazy they won't

even get off the couch long enough to do things that need to be done.

Instead he expects his wife and kids to wait on him like he is some kind of

king!!!!

I think I need to stop before I get my blood pressure boiling! Thanks for

letting me vent though.

Best wishes to all,

>

> From: Lottie Duthu <lotajamcomcast (DOT) net>

> Subject: [ ] Health care

> " CML " <groups (DOT) com>

> Date: Monday, June 15, 2009, 12:47 AM

>

> Dear Group,

> I was asked my opinion on the health plans in a private email. So far I

> haven't seen anything comprehensive that I would be comfortable with.

Maybe

> our Canadian, English, French, Isralei and Australian members could post

> what kind of health care they have and voice their own opinion to give us

a

> better grip on what we think is the most equitable plan.

>

> Whoever said our healthcare system is a train wreck is correct and

bankrupt

> to boot. We just received a notice that my husband's secondary policy will

> be over $200. We are drowning ourselves in medical bills. Some say that we

> run to doctors for everything. I don't, I hate going to doctors. While I

> think everyone should pay something for health care, I get very upset when

I

> have to go to ER and the waiting room is filled with families. They can't

or

> don't have someone to take care of the younger children, so they bring the

> whole family and it is chaos; their cell phones ring constantly. The

> children run around with wheel chairs and no one corrects them. The

vending

> machines are being emptied of everything. Where does the money come from

to

> buy junk food?

>

> I would like to see them all replaced with bottles of water and tofu. What

> about people who don't take care of their bodies by taking drugs and are

> brought in on a stretcher because they have O.D. Do I have to pay for

that,

> too? Yes, I do, but where do we draw the line? People come to the food

banks

> with cell phones and demand certain foods and disposible diapers, am I

> supposed to pay for that, too? I am tired of paying for goods and services

> for people who do not want to help themselves. They expect the government

to

> take care of them from the womb to the grave.

>

> When I had my babies, there was no insurance and I paid the doctor by the

> month. I expected to pay it, it was my duty, I never expected my neighbors

> to pay for it any more than they expected me to pay for theirs. Personally

I

> think that is what is wrong with our health care, there are too many free

> loaders who could be working and contributing by paying taxes. Why doesn't

> the government track down the fathers of these babies and make them pay

for

> their insurance and upkeep?

>

> I know there are people who have lost their jobs and their insurance. They

> deserve to have free health care, as do children through no fault of their

> own have parents who can't afford to pay for the high costs of medical

> insurance, but go to work every day. These are the exceptions. Also the

> elderly who never made enough money to save up for the medical expenses

they

> are incurring today. Waiters and waitresses are paid below minimum wage,

how

> can they be expected to pay for expensive health insurance?

>

> Who knew 40 years ago we would be in this quagmire. I'll be darned if I

want

> to continue to have money taken from my fixed income or my taxes raised to

> support people who never worked. I know wealthy people who have 6 figure

> incomes whose children are on welfare while they continue to live at home

in

> the lap of luxury because they are drug addicts. It makes me sick to think

> of our taxes being wasted on people who don't want to help themselves. I

> would like to see someone who is really minding the store take care of

> health care, people already in the business of health care. I don't want

> some bean counter to tell me what treatment I can have, when he doesn't

have

> a clue. A health care think tank is sorely needed.

> That's my 2 cents.

> Blessings,

> Lottie

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Lottie, I understand that .  But please explain why they will bill an

insurance co. or medicare such exorbitant amounts and then accept so little in

payments.  My invoice from U. of Mich : 

bal:       8125.00

ins;       4472.00 (this says ins.pymts/adjmts)

This is my point.  If I didn't have Medicare and AARP, would that 8125 be coming

to me to pay????  And adjtms ? does this mean, never mind the 4472, just pay

what you want?? 

I get these statememts from U of Mich.  Weeks later I get a bunch of crap from

medicare stating what they billed, and what they received, and I never can match

them up.  it would take an accountant to understand this billing system.  If it

does not cost 3700 for a transfusion, why not bill

what it does cost?

I am really not complaining, I never pay out a dime with the coverage i have,

but if I did not have another source of income, I would have died years ago from

starvation, or lack of funds to pay the medical bills.

My SS is $840.00  My ins. including medicare and drugs is about 550.00. (this

does not include traveling to MI 4-6 X a month)

This leaves me less than 300/month for everything else.  My point being this

system really sucks, big time!!  And I am one of the lucky ones that can still

keep my head above water.  I for one am all for mandatory healthcare. 

                                                                                \

        

a (Bobby) Doyle Brecksville, Ohio, USA DX 05/1995 02/2000 - Gleevec

Trial/OHSU 06/2002 - Gleevec/Trisenox Trial/OHSU 06/2003 - Gleevec/Zarnestra

Trial/OHSU 04/2004 - Sprycel Trial/MDACC, CCR in 10 months #840  -   Zavie's

Zero Club

09/2006 -  out of CCR 04/29/08 - XL228 Trial/ U.of Michigan 06/02/08 - CCR (

in 4 weeks)

02/13/09 - XL trial ended due to side effects

04/13/09 - New Trial, Ariad / U. of Mich./ Dr. Talpaz

 

>

> From: Lottie Duthu <lotajamcomcast (DOT) net>

> Subject: [ ] Health care

> " CML " <groups (DOT) com>

> Date: Monday, June 15, 2009, 12:47 AM

>

> Dear Group,

> I was asked my opinion on the health plans in a private email. So far I

> haven't seen anything comprehensive that I would be comfortable with.

Maybe

> our Canadian, English, French, Isralei and Australian members could post

> what kind of health care they have and voice their own opinion to give us

a

> better grip on what we think is the most equitable plan.

>

> Whoever said our healthcare system is a train wreck is correct and

bankrupt

> to boot. We just received a notice that my husband's secondary policy will

> be over $200. We are drowning ourselves in medical bills. Some say that we

> run to doctors for everything. I don't, I hate going to doctors. While I

> think everyone should pay something for health care, I get very upset when

I

> have to go to ER and the waiting room is filled with families. They can't

or

> don't have someone to take care of the younger children, so they bring the

> whole family and it is chaos; their cell phones ring constantly. The

> children run around with wheel chairs and no one corrects them. The

vending

> machines are being emptied of everything. Where does the money come from

to

> buy junk food?

>

> I would like to see them all replaced with bottles of water and tofu. What

> about people who don't take care of their bodies by taking drugs and are

> brought in on a stretcher because they have O.D. Do I have to pay for

that,

> too? Yes, I do, but where do we draw the line? People come to the food

banks

> with cell phones and demand certain foods and disposible diapers, am I

> supposed to pay for that, too? I am tired of paying for goods and services

> for people who do not want to help themselves. They expect the government

to

> take care of them from the womb to the grave.

>

> When I had my babies, there was no insurance and I paid the doctor by the

> month. I expected to pay it, it was my duty, I never expected my neighbors

> to pay for it any more than they expected me to pay for theirs. Personally

I

> think that is what is wrong with our health care, there are too many free

> loaders who could be working and contributing by paying taxes. Why doesn't

> the government track down the fathers of these babies and make them pay

for

> their insurance and upkeep?

>

> I know there are people who have lost their jobs and their insurance. They

> deserve to have free health care, as do children through no fault of their

> own have parents who can't afford to pay for the high costs of medical

> insurance, but go to work every day. These are the exceptions. Also the

> elderly who never made enough money to save up for the medical expenses

they

> are incurring today. Waiters and waitresses are paid below minimum wage,

how

> can they be expected to pay for expensive health insurance?

>

> Who knew 40 years ago we would be in this quagmire. I'll be darned if I

want

> to continue to have money taken from my fixed income or my taxes raised to

> support people who never worked. I know wealthy people who have 6 figure

> incomes whose children are on welfare while they continue to live at home

in

> the lap of luxury because they are drug addicts. It makes me sick to think

> of our taxes being wasted on people who don't want to help themselves. I

> would like to see someone who is really minding the store take care of

> health care, people already in the business of health care. I don't want

> some bean counter to tell me what treatment I can have, when he doesn't

have

> a clue. A health care think tank is sorely needed.

> That's my 2 cents.

> Blessings,

> Lottie

>

>

[Guest guest]

How strange, I never finished writing this email, and I hit  the wrong key and

it disappeareded. It wasnt in draft and it said it wasnt sent.  this computer

not only has a mind of its own, I dropped the phone on two keys, and now they

are broke, the apostrophe and the shift key under it.  can you replace keys? 

" " " I see I can still use it, even without a cover.

Anyway I wasn't even going to send this, I was going to cancel it, so how it got

sent is a mystery, I think my pc is haunted!  Bobby

a (Bobby) Doyle Brecksville, Ohio, USA DX 05/1995 02/2000 - Gleevec

Trial/OHSU 06/2002 - Gleevec/Trisenox Trial/OHSU 06/2003 - Gleevec/Zarnestra

Trial/OHSU 04/2004 - Sprycel Trial/MDACC, CCR in 10 months #840  -   Zavie's

Zero Club 09/2006 -  out of CCR 04/29/08 - XL228 Trial/ U.of Michigan

06/02/08 - CCR ( in 4 weeks)

02/13/09 - XL trial ended due to side effects

04/13/09 - New Trial, Ariad / U. of Mich./ Dr. Talpaz

 

From: rcd1929@... <rcd1929@...>

Subject: Re: [ ] Digest Number 1844

Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 8:28 PM

Hi Lottie, I understand that .  But please explain why they will bill an

insurance co. or medicare such exorbitant amounts and then accept so little in

payments.  My invoice from U. of Mich : 

bal:       8125.00

ins;       4472.00 (this says ins.pymts/adjmts)

This is my point.  If I didn't have Medicare and AARP, would that 8125 be coming

to me to pay????  And adjtms ? does this mean, never mind the 4472, just pay

what you want?? 

I get these statememts from U of Mich.  Weeks later I get a bunch of crap from

medicare stating what they billed, and what they received, and I never can match

them up.  it would take an accountant to understand this billing system.  If it

does not cost 3700 for a transfusion, why not bill

what it does cost?

I am really not complaining, I never pay out a dime with the coverage i have,

but if I did not have another source of income, I would have died years ago from

starvation, or lack of funds to pay the medical bills.

My SS is $840.00  My ins. including medicare and drugs is about 550.00. (this

does not include traveling to MI 4-6 X a month)

This leaves me less than 300/month for everything else.  My point being this

system really sucks, big time!!  And I am one of the lucky ones that can still

keep my head above water.  I for one am all for mandatory healthcare.