melt down

[Guest guest]

The last two days I have been doing battle with the insurance company over

not having coverage any longer for my Effexor. They said they had a

" glitch " in their system and they found it and now will no longer cover ANY

anti-depressants. There are going to be a lot of irate people because many

are on anti-depressants not only for depression but for many, many medical

conditions. I dislike insurance companies. I spoke to so many people at

the company in the last two days and seemed to get a different answer from

each one. Almost like the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing.

It finally came down to no coverage any longer for any anti-depressants.

And this is a major insurance company. Even had my doctor try to do a

pre-authorization. Denied.

So I'm screwed - I take a fairly high dose of Effexor and to pay for it

myself would run me almost $500 a month - I cannot afford that. Isn't that

what I'm paying the insurance policy for which is an individual plan in

itself? Lowering the dose right now isn't an option because the doctor just

increased it as my depression was getting worse.

So as I said - I had a melt down and cried like mad - my eyes are so swollen

this morning.

My doctor said they could switch me to Cymbalta and supply me with samples -

but how long can they keep giving me free samples?

I've searched around for other insurance and found out I am uninsurable by

any other insurance company because of all the medical conditions and

medications I am on - don't qualify for Medicare or Medicaid - so those are

out. Wisconsin has a high risk pool insurance that I might be eligible for

- but there is a six month waiting period before anything is covered - so

basically I would have to pay the premium and for all my meds not to mention

any other medical costs - which I might as well just shoot myself because I

can't afford that.

I give up. I just don't know what to do anymore. I keep praying an answer

will come because I can't deal with this anymore and keep crying.

Teri (central WI)