- K
- C
- J
Hi, where to begin...
My name is Sarah. If you know me, you have probably heard me mention more times than you have cared to that I have some medical issues. A little over 3 years ago I got sick, seemingly out of the blue. Many specialists and even more tests later, I had a diagnosis: Systemic Scleroderma (an autoimmune disease that attacks the connective tissue causing hardening and thickening of the skin and major organs), Rheumatoid Arthritis (an autoimmune disease that attacks the joints), and a pain syndrome that my doctor explains this way. My brain’s response to the pain and inflammation that I experience is to produce more pain. Thanks brain, you’re kind of an idiot!
My husband is self-employed and therefore, we were both uninsured. Getting me insurance in the beginning proved difficult. I have a congenital heart defect and so was uninsurable. Enter Obama Care. (I know, I know don’t stop reading…) He did make one change to our health care system that I believe desperately needed to be made. Insurance companies were no longer allowed to penalize anyone based on pre-existing conditions. So after a bit of a mess and a lot of research on my husband’s part, I had insurance. We have managed to come up with the premium payments for the past three years. However, even with insurance, between deductibles and the many tests being run (MRI’s, Muscle Studies, Nerve Studies, Pulmonary Function Tests, Endoscopies, my annual EKG and Echo Cardiogram, regular blood tests, a surgery, etc.) we are drowning in medical debt. Twenty percent of a whole lot of money is still a whole lot of money. Disappointing too as we had just become completely debt free! Grrrr!
It has been a great comfort knowing that with co-pays to my rheumatologist (I see her every 2-3 months), basic prescription coverage, and a low deductible before the standard 80/20 split, my healthcare situation was at least somewhat manageable.
Having said all of this, we are facing a problem that thousands of others are as well. At the beginning of 2016 my insurance company will no longer be offering a PPO option. They are happy to provide me with an HMO, which will not allow me to see any of my current doctors, including my Family doctor who has been my doctor for over 12 years and knows my medical history like no one else. It will no longer cover the cost of many of my necessary medications. It basically provides very little coverage for nearly the same cost as my current premium payment.
The best option we have found, after having discussed it with an insurance broker and, once again, a lot of research on my husband’s part (he is quite dreamy, the whole package really), is an individual policy with a premium of a little over $130 more than our current premium. This though, will not cover any medical expenses until we have met a $4000.00 deductible. We feel like we can stretch things enough to make the premium payment but feel overwhelmed with the task of meeting the deductible.
We have weighed many options and discussed these with my family doctor. We even joked about starting a Go Fund Me Page. It came back around to this option today and we both took it a little more seriously. I have never done anything like this before. I do not ask for help well or often. I have to admit, this is completely humbling! But if it takes even a little pressure off of my husband… (Remember how I told you he is the whole package? This guy works long hours in construction and then comes home and takes care of so many things around the house that I just cannot keep up with as well as I used to.) If it relieves a fraction of his stress load, then I can humble myself and ask for help. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I know times are hard for many of us! We are truly grateful for anything!
My name is Sarah. If you know me, you have probably heard me mention more times than you have cared to that I have some medical issues. A little over 3 years ago I got sick, seemingly out of the blue. Many specialists and even more tests later, I had a diagnosis: Systemic Scleroderma (an autoimmune disease that attacks the connective tissue causing hardening and thickening of the skin and major organs), Rheumatoid Arthritis (an autoimmune disease that attacks the joints), and a pain syndrome that my doctor explains this way. My brain’s response to the pain and inflammation that I experience is to produce more pain. Thanks brain, you’re kind of an idiot!
My husband is self-employed and therefore, we were both uninsured. Getting me insurance in the beginning proved difficult. I have a congenital heart defect and so was uninsurable. Enter Obama Care. (I know, I know don’t stop reading…) He did make one change to our health care system that I believe desperately needed to be made. Insurance companies were no longer allowed to penalize anyone based on pre-existing conditions. So after a bit of a mess and a lot of research on my husband’s part, I had insurance. We have managed to come up with the premium payments for the past three years. However, even with insurance, between deductibles and the many tests being run (MRI’s, Muscle Studies, Nerve Studies, Pulmonary Function Tests, Endoscopies, my annual EKG and Echo Cardiogram, regular blood tests, a surgery, etc.) we are drowning in medical debt. Twenty percent of a whole lot of money is still a whole lot of money. Disappointing too as we had just become completely debt free! Grrrr!
It has been a great comfort knowing that with co-pays to my rheumatologist (I see her every 2-3 months), basic prescription coverage, and a low deductible before the standard 80/20 split, my healthcare situation was at least somewhat manageable.
Having said all of this, we are facing a problem that thousands of others are as well. At the beginning of 2016 my insurance company will no longer be offering a PPO option. They are happy to provide me with an HMO, which will not allow me to see any of my current doctors, including my Family doctor who has been my doctor for over 12 years and knows my medical history like no one else. It will no longer cover the cost of many of my necessary medications. It basically provides very little coverage for nearly the same cost as my current premium payment.
The best option we have found, after having discussed it with an insurance broker and, once again, a lot of research on my husband’s part (he is quite dreamy, the whole package really), is an individual policy with a premium of a little over $130 more than our current premium. This though, will not cover any medical expenses until we have met a $4000.00 deductible. We feel like we can stretch things enough to make the premium payment but feel overwhelmed with the task of meeting the deductible.
We have weighed many options and discussed these with my family doctor. We even joked about starting a Go Fund Me Page. It came back around to this option today and we both took it a little more seriously. I have never done anything like this before. I do not ask for help well or often. I have to admit, this is completely humbling! But if it takes even a little pressure off of my husband… (Remember how I told you he is the whole package? This guy works long hours in construction and then comes home and takes care of so many things around the house that I just cannot keep up with as well as I used to.) If it relieves a fraction of his stress load, then I can humble myself and ask for help. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I know times are hard for many of us! We are truly grateful for anything!