Medicare---Should I take it?

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone,

Happy Valentines Day. I want to share with you, my friends, that

for the last 3 days, I am so much more clear in my head. I have been so

sick for so long that I was losing hope. What I find so hard about this

thing is being sent crashing to the bottom, writhing in bed, helpless

and terrified and in a thick fog and full of terrible pain (in my case)

Then comes the very slow climb back to some sense of function, crying so

many times along the way even with major pain meds and anti-depressants,

etc, etc. I marvel at how I (and most of you) have had to relapse and

endure this cycle over and over, never really getting back to a " symptom

free state " . Our " good times " would horrify most healthy people yet we

celebrate it with joy! Just had to vent. I'm on week 9 of 400mg Doxy IV.

I am almost one year now under the care of " the best " . That alone gives

me hope. I was approved for SSD rather quickly through a lawyer because

I could not do it myself (as you said--Reid) I miss working at times as

an RN but know I cannot work now and accept that. I received a Medicare

card in the mail yesterday. I have until May 1999 to decide whether to

accept the " medical part " . The hospitalization part is automatic and

nothing is deducted from your check. Could those of you who have been

through this advise me? Yes, I have read the book but you know how hard

it is to " process " information. My husband is about to change jobs. He

will be in a group health plan--BC/BS--but NOT an HMO. It is BC/BS of

Michigan. Also, the drug plan is " Merck-Medco " . Any insight here? Right

now the only way I am being covered somewhat for IV tx is through our

present drug plan--the medical plan paid for a few previous IV tx (6

weeks tops) but now have decided that I " do not need any more IV tx " .

What a travasty this is. I have more solid evidence than anyone I've

seen yet I am denied by people who never EXAMINED me. I could just

scream for hours. You can relate. I hope I can get the meds and some

supplies with my LLMDs Rx through my " new " drug plan when the switch is

made since I am in the MIDDLE of IV tx which is turning my life

around--AGAIN. When will they get it??????????????????????

OK, if I am covered under my husbands group plan, I understand that THAT

is the primary insurance that pays, NOT medicare. How would it help me

to accept Medicare and have $40+ taken out of a small monthly amount

that I receive to begin with?? I DO NOT want anything to comprimise my

group health insurance. Tell me why it COULD be a good idea to accept

Medicare. Or, tell me STAY AWAY. I trust all of you much more than the

bureaucracy. IF medicare can pick up and cover any extra costs in

ADDITION to my group plan, let me know. I doubt it. Thank you all so

much for taking the time to read this. I will be active in our group

again since some of my brain is back. I call relapsing and then somehow

coming back the " death and the resurrection " . Can you relate??

Your friend Helen in NJ--once again out of the coffin--somewhat!