As I have been studying Medicare and trying to find help to pay for the gap between the actual bill and the amount allotted, and how I am going to pay for my emergency room visit earlier this month, I have discovered the 3 Ps of healthcare:

Patients

Have you ever wondered why sick people are called patients? Although spelled different, it sounds exactly the same as “patience”. In a rush, some folks will even use one spelling for the other. But, there is nothing patient about being a patient. When I dislocated my finger, I got to the point I didn’t really care what they did, as long as I didn’t have to look at it and they gave me something for the ever-increasing pain. Although I was actually there only 3 hours, it seemed like much longer.

I was even less patient, when one of my kids was sick or hurt. I wanted someone to help them feel better right now.

I have also discovered that hospitals are not very patient about getting paid anymore either. When my son had surgery, it took me the better part of two years to pay my portion of the bill. After my accident, I received a bill about a week later. They had already calculated the amount I HAD to pay. The policy of paying what you can, as long as you pay something every month is gone. Instead, I have to get a loan from the bank to pay the hospital. I don’t think that is very patient. So, again, it begs the question: Why are the sick and injured called patients?? Just saying!

Phones

In an effort to find supplemental insurance for Medicare, I went online to find the financial answer to my needs. I found a handful of providers that might be able to provide what I wanted. As part of the deal, I had to leave my contact information.

Within an hour or two, the phone calls started coming in. One guy was so persistent that I had to hang up on him. He wanted my bank information, so they could start deducted the premium right away. NOT!!!!!

On all the sites, they wanted to know what was the best time to contact me. On every one, I put the evening. The following day, the calls started BEFORE 7am. My son hadn’t even left for school! It got so bad, I have literally turned off the phone! In a two hour period, I missed 14 calls! Normally, my phone almost never rings. My friends and family usually know I will call them.

So, if you even go online to check out insurance, expect to be inundated with phone calls. You can’t actually get any information at all, unless you provide contact info first.

Politics

I know! In polite social situations, politics and religion are supposed to be taboo. But, I am sitting on my bed with my friends’ dog snuggled behind my head and my dog draped across my legs; so, I guess I can get away with it. I have come to some pretty firm conclusion after reading and asking a lot of questions. I doubt you can change my views; but, this is still a free country, if you want to disagree.

Amongst all of the phone calls, I found a Humana representative that actually seemed to be honest and straightforward. I knew this because I had already checked some things out.

Basically, there is NO medigap coverage for persons under the age of 63 years and 10 months. Medicare pays 80% and the “patient” pays 20%. Since I already have a huge bill to contend with, I was VERY concerned that I will not be able to afford the necessary tests and treatments for crohns or if anything major came up – like another dislocated finger. (It may be a small part of the body; but, it hurt worse than either one of my c-sections.)

The gentleman from Humana said that it would not cost me a thing; but, if I signed up with them, I would receive a cap of $6700 in general and smaller caps for individual aspects of treatment. Social Security will still take the premium out of my allotment check; but, it will be given to Humana for handling my insurance needs.

Of course, being the ever-curious sort, I had to ask a very perplexing question: if Social Security didn’t provide caps on how much I had to pay, how could Humana, since they essentially got the same amount to take care of me? While I was glad, you have to admit it doesn’t make any sense.

Well, it seems that Humana gets a subsidy from the government, so they can outsource the work. For relieving themselves of the necessity of taking care of the insurance needs of all Social Security citizens, outside insurance companies get like 6-7 hundred dollars for every person they take over for the government! No wonder they can afford to cap our payouts!!!

But, with a government that is trying to tell us that we need to be more fiscally responsible citizens, to the point of even telling us what kind of light bulbs we can purchase, this is not an economically sound decision for a program that is supposed to be financially stressed already! Just saying . . .

Also, after watching the news, reading, and asking a LOT of questions, the elderly and people on disability are going to be in real trouble, if Obama’s healthcare plan goes into effect. We might not be able to keep our current healthcare providers. In addition, there will be so much red tape and expense to go through, if we have a serious illness, we better make sure we have all of our affairs in order.

Yes, I know you may disagree. But, let me ask you this: if the new healthcare plan is such a good deal, why are presidents and congress exempt and have their own special coverage for life, even though they have lots of money? If it is such a good deal, they should be happy to use it themselves. Just saying . . .

Do you have someone in your life like this:

If you do, be sure to take the time to let them know just how much they mean to you.

Tomorrow . . .

Today, I have been doctoring my slow and lagging computer. However, tomorrow I plan and writing about the 3 Ps of Healthcare.

After being on disability for a year(technically two, since they backdated it) I am about to get on Medicare. Two bad I didn’t wait about six more weeks to hurt myself.

However, there is a shortfall with Medicare, and I need to find supplemental insurance to cover 20%, prescriptions, and overcharges. It seemed like it should be simple enough. But, then again, when is anything ever just easy. I aught to be used to that by now, right?

The place I wanted to get insurance won’t insure me until I am 63 + 10 months. Other places have similar rules. It seems that no one wants to insure someone on disability. From a business standpoint, I guess that makes sense. Obviously, there are major preexisting conditions, if you have Medicare at an early age. So, it stands to reason that they would have to potential pay out more. It wouldn’t be a good idea to take on such a client. After all, insurance companies are in the business to make money, even though the altruistic motivation should be to help those in need.

So . . .

I called my insurance company for automobiles and houses, to see if they also provided supplemental insurance. She took my number and told me that she would call back. Now, I wait.

In addition, the forms for reduction of my emergency room costs came through. According to the cover page, I am now not poverty stricken enough to qualify. However, they also want copies of all my bills; so, does that mean they will also take that into consideration, and at least reduce the almost $200/mo payments that they want? I don’t know. Tried to get hold of the head of hospital financial aid, and all I got was voice-mail. So, I shall try again tomorrow.

HELP??

Since I am pretty sure that some of you reading my blog are also on disability and have to deal with the same issues, do you have an insurance company you would recommend? Do you have any medical-financial advice for me, and maybe other readers that are going through the Medicare system?

I am beginning to wonder if I should buy stock in medical tape.

I have been trying to go without taping my fingers together all of the time. My skin was beginning to suffer; and, I would like to be able to wash my hands, cook, and craft without having to change the tape.

I went the better part of the weekend without tape, because the kind I had purchased didn’t support very well anyway. However, today I bought 2 more rolls of tape, when we shopped for groceries.

It has been almost 3 weeks since my finger looked very much like this:

Since it wasn’t broken, I thought it would heal faster – 2 weeks max. No such luck! In fact, I went online to see how long I could expect my finger to continue swelling, with the knuckle turning purple, and hurting, if I even bumped it slightly or bend it too much. I found this:

“I dislocated mine at footie at the lower knuckle, was almost at a 90 degree angle, a few years back. Got it popped back into place and was riding the bike at the weekend and playing footie again the following week. Only had to keep it strapped to another finger for week or so to give it a bit support. Just felt fat and stiff for a good few weeks. Still have a fat knuckle mind you.” (singletrackworld.com)

Maybe I am just old, and that is why it seems to be healing slow. I must admit, I am not so fond of the fat knuckle for the rest of my life thing either. At least they didn’t have to cut a ring off, and I rarely wear jewelry.

I can handle bleeding, if it is me, and other ailments. But, I think this is the one thing that makes me weak. I confess, I found my whimpishness.

Sorry for my silence this weekend. I went to see my daughter’s college concert. I actually took my computer, so I could blog Saturday night. But, the free Internet access was just short of a lie, at the motel where I was staying. Most of the time I couldn’t even get on; and, if I did it was short-term.

Nevertheless, it was a trip worth taking!

When we got there, I was absolutely exhausted! It is a 5 hour highway trip. I was so grateful for cruise; but, I hadn’t gotten sunglasses for my newer glasses yet. So, it was very taxing on my eyes as well.

When we got there, I got checked into the motel, because where my daughter rents is not accessible. Her brother got to stay with her, and I got cable and a king-sized bed all to myself. I did discover two things: I don’t miss cable, and 4 of me could have slept in that bed!

My daughter was on the verge of a migraine, when we got there; so, she and her brother didn’t get to do some of the things they planned; but, it was still a good trip.

When we got to the church Sunday morning, it also was not handicapped accessible. So, I made them go without me, while I sat in the car with a CD of hymns and my Bible.

We went to a sit-down restaurant and all had breakfast. It was very pleasant. But, then we had time to kill before the concert, so I had my daughter drive us to Wal-Mart, so I could get some clip-on sunglasses. (It made the trip home much easier and safer.)

Of course, I have saved the best part for last. The concert was AMAZING! I have never been to a live concert, except for junior high and high school. It was wonderful! She was wonderful! She was also part of a 9-piece ensemble that played to showcase student conductors. They were commended for being the very talented.

Unfortunately, no pictures were allowed, and I couldn’t bring a bit of the concert home to show you. But, it was great! I can’t believe that such a talented woman is my daughter! It also appears her brother is following in her footsteps to a degree. Amazing!

Despite a few challenges, it was definitely a trip worth taking! I just wish I could truly share it with you today.

Her main instrument is the bassoon. But, she also is the contrabassoonist for symphony orchestra, and she plays other instruments as well for marching band. But, if you want an idea of what a my petite young woman has decided to master, here is a sample of a bassoon. You don’t have to listen to the whole thing. But, it will give you a good idea at how hard she works (taking 22 credit hours and member of 5 ensembles)