update on Edna and rant about costs to her

[Guest guest]

Edna is progressing, a bit more slowly than I did when I

had my last of four joints replaced, but her diabetes is

more severe than mine, and her MS is more severe as well.

They may send her to inpatient rehabilitation tomorrow.

Her son got a bit nervous about the prices being charged by

Kaiser HMO, which is a bargain. So I sent him a summary of

what she would pay on regular Medicare.

I have her and his permission to post this.

On Kaiser's Senior Advantage plan, she pays $278.00 per

day of hospitalization, and nothing for the time spent in rehab.

She pays $30.00 for each physician consultation, lab work,

and about 12.00 for each generic prescription, 30.00 for each

brand name prescription. Now, here is the kicker:

Edna has a total income from teacher retireme and SSA

of $1549.89 per month. That is IT. And the above are her

costs.

Because I was forced to retire at the age of 52.5, due to

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, MS, CF, arthritis, etc.,

I receive $850.00 from SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance),

$135.00 from SSI (Supplemental Security Income due to both

low income and special needs due to my having CF).

Obviously, I have both Medicare and Medicaid (Medi-Cal here).

I pay $3.20 for brand name prescriptions, and 1.10 for generic

prescriptions and 13.10 for my monthly premium for Part D of

Medicare through CignaMedicareRx, which is excellent, and one

of my prescriptions is still No Charge to Medi-Cal as it is not co

vered under Medicare Part D--the Phenobarbital for epilepsy.

I pay nothing for hospital days, nothing for ER visits, nothing

for lab visits, nothing for Part B meds, and nothing for anything.

It is hard for me to imagine that an income of $1549.89 for one

senior citizen who is disabled should be regarded as an income

which can demand that this person pay all of the above that I listed

and a $96.00 premium deducted from her check from SSA in the

first place. Edna retired at the age of 62, largely due to her MS.

At least she will not have to pay cash for rehab, nor, so far as we

can determine for any physical or occupational therapists who

visit her home, which her son has prepared beautifully for her

return. The eldest son's brother is coming back on Saturday to finish

the ramp for her wheelchair.

I visited the dogs (mine today), bought their food as usual and sympa

thized with them as they are very annoyed at being re-trained to live

primarily outside for the time that it takes Edna to become more nor

mally mobile. About the time the poor dogs are allowed back in, she

will be returning to have her right knee replaced. The left leg has

alread had its joints replaced and causes her no pain.

The dogs made it very clear to me that they want their own prime

time television series: Desperate Housedogs!Love to you all,

n