Guest guest Posted January 30, 2008 Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 Zena, I LOVE your posts. Keep up the good attitude. I think that helps us through our situations. I know from time to time you have to have a pity party but then it's on with the task of living. Know that I'm thinking about and praying for you and your lung transplant situation. I just hate the fact that you are so young and that this is the only option. But, on the other hand, your being young will bode better for you after transplant. Good luck with all your testing. We are here for you, Zena!! Take care of YOU. LeanneZena wrote: I have treated myself to some new PJ's today All ready for me to take with me! I'm also doing a tapestry at home and I'm going to take it off of the large frame that it's on and put it on a much smaller frame so I've got something to do between tests. I know I'm only going to be in for a little while, but Rob might not be able to get over to see me as he'll be looking after Lili and she'll be at school. Love Ze xx > >> >> > I saw my Chest Physician yesterday. My pft's are pretty much the same> > as last time. We were talking about transplant and as you may know> it's> > a route that I have decided is right for me if I can.> >> > Here what will happen is I go to my docs hospital for some basic> tests,> > bloods, pfts, ct scan, bone scan, xrays, that sort of thing, nothing> > invasive at the moment. Then the results are sent to the hospital> that> > will be performing the transplant, (The Harefield Hospital in Middx)> > They will decide if I'm viable to go further and if they think so I> will> > go to that hospital for more tests, some of which will be more> invasive.> > I know they'll will do a heart cath but I can't remember what other> ones> > she said. They then collate all the information and the entire> > transplant team will make a decision. If they say yes then I will go> > straight on the list and be told to go home and pack.> >> > I'm now waiting for a bed! My doc is trying to get me in next week.> > Eeeeeeeeeeeeeek!> >> > With the way the NHS works I was expecting to be waiting somewhat> longer> > than that!> >> > At least this time I'll be prepared for a hospital stay and can> organise> > things to do. I'm also going to treat myself to some new pj's and> work> > out how to make the hospital food palatable! I'll take some> seasonings> > and salads with me []> >> > So I'm a bit excited and a bit daunted at the mo. I'm still> struggling> > with getting to grips with the fact that my pf has nose dived to this> > extent and it's all happening faster than I expected. I do realise> that> > the quicker I'm on the list the better, but I could do with some time> > out to gather my thoughts if you get what I mean.> >> > Anyway, that's where I am right now, I don't know how much notice I'll> > get for this hospital stay, so if I'm not on line for a few days> that's> > probably why.> >> > Love Ze xx> >> Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2008 Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 Makes perfect sense. Ok, most are insured under one of three ways. 1-Group Health Insurance from Employer. Most employers offer one plan but some offer more. The employer generally covers part of the cost and the employee part. As long as you sign up when first eligible then you qualify for coverage. However, there may be an exclusion for pre-existing conditions. This exclusion is waived if you have verifiable coverage from another employer for the two years before with a break of no more than 60 days through the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act(HIPAA). If you don't sign up when first eligible then you are not covered for pre-existing conditions and can add only during annual open enrollment periods. If a company offers more than one policy you normally, but not always, can easily change during open enrollment. To further complicate, HIPAA does not apply to state or local government employees such as even school teachers. Now, some states have laws to protect them but many don't. 2-Individual Policies. Buying insurance as an individual is easy only when you're healthy. Otherwise you will find yourself often unable to get a policy of any sort. If you have a policy, then switching to another once you have conditions will be difficult. This is where the US has the severe problem in that there is no universal guaranteed health coverage for individuals. Furthermore, while some states such as Texas do offer guaranteed health insurance for those who get turned down, it is generally quite expensive and is poor coverage. Whether or not it covers pre-existing conditions varies by state. 3-When you turn 65 or are disabled for two years you are eligible for Medicare. It is moderately priced and many companies have supplemental plans to add to it. If you get it when first eligible then pre-existing conditions are covered. Supplemental plans normally cover pre-existing conditions only if you have verifiable previous coverage under other insurance. While the medical portion is actually good, the prescription drug plan of medicare isn't. After the first $2450 of total costs (paid by you or insurer), then there is a gap or black hole. You have an extended period that the insurer either doesn't pay for prescriptions or pays only for generics. So the key issue is the US does not guarantee affordable insurance for all citizens. Now, on the other hand there are many programs. No one in the US is turned away completely from medical care because of lack of insurance or money. Much of the billings of hospitals is written off to charity and covered by local governments. There are multiple programs to help with prescriptions. Also, each state has medicaid, with requirements different in each state. However, if your income is low enough to make you eligible, then medicaid will cover you. But, getting all this medical care when uninsured can be quite difficult to figure out and actually accomplish and to a lot of people a rather demeaning process, although none should ever be ashamed of using it. One other point about medical insurance. Every policy (except medicare and medicare supplements which are uniform) is different and may or may not cover different things or allow very limited or very wide choices in providers. So, yes, the US system sucks. In some ways worse than others and in some ways not as bad. The one thing where the US is far ahead of most countries with Public Health Services is that in the US your waits for doctors and especially for surgeries are significantly less. I would say, as does the Canadian governement and most province governments, the surgical waits are their most documented problem. The same appears true in the U.K. A simple surgery such as cataracts is an example. Here you would typically have the surgery as soon as you desired but no more than 2 weeks to a month after suggested. Hip replacements and knee replacements are another measuring stick. Here from referral to the surgeon until surgery would be just as quick. When I was given a colonoscopy and told I needed a colon resection my surgery was scheduled less than a week forward. When I was told I needed a VATS, I saw the surgeon within a week and could have had the surgery a week later, but waited a couple to get some affairs in order. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Oh No, Are you in contact by phone? That scares me silly to > > > > think > > > > > > how > > > > > > > many germs are on the floor. There is just > > > > > > > so much WRONG with her situation. Please keep us posted on > > what > > > > > you > > > > > > > hear. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Love and Prayers, Peggy > > > > > > > ipf 6/04 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Worry looks around. > > > > > > > Sorry looks back, > > > > > > > Faith looks up. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! > > > > > > > > > > > > http://www.flickr. com/gift/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving > > > > junk email the boot with the All-new Yahoo! Mail. Click on Options > > > > in Mail and switch to New Mail today or register for free at > > > > http://mail.yahoo.ca > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! > > Mobile. Try > > > it now. > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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