Guest guest Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 Hello all, I'm new to the group and have a question. I recently quit my teaching job to start my own business. I did this for about a year. Then, I was hit very heavily with what I recognized (from previous experience) as RA. Unfortunately, I hadn't given myself health insurance as a small business owner. Under the promptings of my friends, I applied for medicaid but was denied, since the program has been suspended because of financial instability in the state of MI. Does anyone have an idea how I can see a physician? I'm concerned that it may not be RA afterall or that there may be some other problem as well. started in my hips and toes, moved to knees (where i had had a little creek and crack since i was a teen- no injury) then to ankles and fingers, wrists and shoulders and now upper back/neck and elbows i've also been carrying a fever, which sometimes gets hotter, but is always there since the beginning, which is about six months now. I would appreciate any advice and help you can offer. yellow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 Hi Yellow, What city in MI do you live in? I have an idea, but I'd like to look before I write a long email. Thanks, Nita > Hello all, > > I'm new to the group and have a question. > I recently quit my teaching job to start > my own business. I did this for about a year. > Then, I was hit very heavily with what I > recognized (from previous experience) as > RA. > > Unfortunately, I hadn't given myself health > insurance as a small business owner. Under the > promptings of my friends, I applied for medicaid > but was denied, since the program has been > suspended because of financial instability > in the state of MI. > > Does anyone have an idea how I can see a physician? > > I'm concerned that it may not be RA afterall > or that there may be some other problem as well. > > started in my hips and toes, moved to knees (where i had > had a little creek and crack since i was a teen- no injury) > then to ankles and fingers, > wrists and shoulders > and now upper back/neck and elbows > i've also been carrying a fever, which sometimes gets > hotter, but is always there since the beginning, > which is about six months now. > > I would appreciate any advice and help you can offer. > > yellow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 Hi - I'm not familiar with state insurance laws in Michigan (since they vary from state to state), but have some ideas for you to look into regarding insurance. (I've worked with employee benefits for years at a large company) 1. Check with your state insurance division (every state has one). Many states have an insurance plan that is for people who don't qualify for individual health insurance. If Michigan does, then you may need to apply for an individual plan and be turned down in order to qualify, but once you do you'll have insurance. 2. Less likely, but there are a couple of states (Maine is one) where insurance companies have to cover you with individual policies, even with pre-existing conditions. Again, I don't know about Michigan, but it's always worth asking. 3. As a small business owner, do you (or can you) belong to any type of association? A chamber of commerce, or some other type of group? Often they will offer the option of purchasing an insurance policy through them. That may be a way to get 'group coverage' which could cover your RA. The other thought I have is that it would be good to see a doctor and get started on some treatment even without insurance. It sounds like you're having a lot of health problems. There are some docs who will give you a discount if you don't have insurance and pay cash. Best of luck to you. Beth > Hello all, > > I'm new to the group and have a question. > I recently quit my teaching job to start > my own business. I did this for about a year. > Then, I was hit very heavily with what I > recognized (from previous experience) as > RA. > > Unfortunately, I hadn't given myself health > insurance as a small business owner. Under the > promptings of my friends, I applied for medicaid > but was denied, since the program has been > suspended because of financial instability > in the state of MI. > > Does anyone have an idea how I can see a physician? > > I'm concerned that it may not be RA afterall > or that there may be some other problem as well. > > started in my hips and toes, moved to knees (where i had > had a little creek and crack since i was a teen- no injury) > then to ankles and fingers, > wrists and shoulders > and now upper back/neck and elbows > i've also been carrying a fever, which sometimes gets > hotter, but is always there since the beginning, > which is about six months now. > > I would appreciate any advice and help you can offer. > > yellow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 Hi, Yellow, Fever indicates infection. I would suggest trying antibiotic therapy and taking Minocin. It helped me after sticking with it a good six months. I took it every day for first couple of weeks and then spaced out on M-W-F. There is a website if interested at www.rheumatic.org with protocol and info. Kay ----- Original Message ----- From: " Y, Danecier " <yellowplugempress@...> <Rheumatoid Arthritis > Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 12:46 AM Subject: about seeing the doctor > Hello all, > > I'm new to the group and have a question. > I recently quit my teaching job to start > my own business. I did this for about a year. > Then, I was hit very heavily with what I > recognized (from previous experience) as > RA. > > Unfortunately, I hadn't given myself health > insurance as a small business owner. Under the > promptings of my friends, I applied for medicaid > but was denied, since the program has been > suspended because of financial instability > in the state of MI. > > Does anyone have an idea how I can see a physician? > > I'm concerned that it may not be RA afterall > or that there may be some other problem as well. > > started in my hips and toes, moved to knees (where i had > had a little creek and crack since i was a teen- no injury) > then to ankles and fingers, > wrists and shoulders > and now upper back/neck and elbows > i've also been carrying a fever, which sometimes gets > hotter, but is always there since the beginning, > which is about six months now. > > I would appreciate any advice and help you can offer. > > yellow > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 Dear Yellow, Here's an old article I found about the clinic shortage in Detroit: <http://www.freep.com/news/locway/clinic1_20031001.htm>. There's bound to be some political support in Detroit for low-cost health care because the shortage was an election issue. If I were doing this, I would print out this article. I would go through it and contact every agency and individual mentioned that I could find by phone and I would ask if there is someone who could help you in your circumstance. I would also check with the Salvation Army and ask them. Eventually, you will find someone who gives you a good lead. I did a search on non-profit organizations in Detroit, but I did not find any clinics in the list. There were website links there though. I was grateful for the response you got from the list member who is knowledgeable about insurance. I could not have given you that input as I have been out of the insurance industry for 20 years. At least you have some good places to start... You have our best wishes and support. Let us know when you find your answer. Nita > Hi Nita, > I live near Detroit, but am currently staying in St. Louis with a sister. > Yellow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 If you try the antibiotic therapy you may want to read Road Back Foundation http://www.roadback.org for additional information. God bless. ----- Original Message ----- From: Kay Simpson Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 2004 7:14 PM Subject: Re: about seeing the doctor Hi, Yellow, Fever indicates infection. I would suggest trying antibiotic therapyand taking Minocin. It helped me after sticking with it a good six months.I took it every day for first couple of weeks and then spaced out on M-W-F.There is a website if interested at www.rheumatic.org with protocol andinfo. Kay----- Original Message ----- From: "Y, Danecier" <yellowplugempress@...><Rheumatoid Arthritis >Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 12:46 AMSubject: about seeing the doctor> Hello all,>> I'm new to the group and have a question.> I recently quit my teaching job to start> my own business. I did this for about a year.> Then, I was hit very heavily with what I> recognized (from previous experience) as> RA.>> Unfortunately, I hadn't given myself health> insurance as a small business owner. Under the> promptings of my friends, I applied for medicaid> but was denied, since the program has been> suspended because of financial instability> in the state of MI.>> Does anyone have an idea how I can see a physician?>> I'm concerned that it may not be RA afterall> or that there may be some other problem as well.>> started in my hips and toes, moved to knees (where i had> had a little creek and crack since i was a teen- no injury)> then to ankles and fingers,> wrists and shoulders> and now upper back/neck and elbows> i've also been carrying a fever, which sometimes gets> hotter, but is always there since the beginning,> which is about six months now.>> I would appreciate any advice and help you can offer.>> yellow>>>>>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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