Thursday, April 30, 2009

Ten thousand bitter, bitter dollars

Last night I had a heinous headache. It was really awful and the only thing that made it even a little better was pressing my head against Torsten's side and pushing until he thought he'd crack a rib. Nothing else helped. Not the couch, not a pillow. It had to be his side.

Yeah, I don't know either.

I still feel fragile today like I'm recovering from it, and maybe that's why I'm noticing all these other things that are wrong, but hey, some of them are big enough to be noticed whether or not you're recovering from a massive headache.

Like oh, even though my insurance initially said they would pay for my surgery? Well, now they're saying they won't. There's a slim chance they'll change their minds and really, this topic needs a whole separate post, which I do not have the energy to write right now, so let's just say that the insurance company can screw themselves and the ten thousand dollars they're going to cost me.

And my mom is leaving today and I'm not thrilled about that either. I mean, not that I want her to move in with me but it feels like she just got here. And plus, now that she's leaving I don't have any more distractions/excuses not to unpack.

And the car is doing this weird thing sometimes right after we turn it on where when we brake for the first time, the brake doesn't really work and you have to push really hard like you're breaking past some kind of barrier before it works. As soon as you've done that once the brake starts working fine and it also doesn't do it every time, but we need to get it looked at and I do not have the energy to deal with that right now. And it's 400 miles past due for an oil change.

God damn it. Ten thousand dollars for medically necessary surgery that my insurance SHOULD COVER. Believe me when I say that I will fight this through the appeals process as hard as I can. But even if I win and someday get reimbursed, we still have to pony up $10k up front. Plus the credit card interest, because as shocking as it might be, we don't HAVE ten thousand dollars just lying around.

29 comments:

  1. I'm sorry there is so much suckiness infecting your space right now.

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  2. I get pissed at my insurance when they don't cover simple, medically necessary procedures. Or when they don't cover the fucking expensive medication that comes along with it. I can only imagine that frustration exacerbated ten thousand times for the $10K you'll need to pay for this surgery. I'm sorry hon.

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  3. Well that's crap! I hope you get them to cover it!

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  4. I dealt with something similar a few years ago. I got my HR dept involved and they fought on my behalf, and it worked! Basically HR said "show me where in the policy that this is excluded" and they couldn't. It helped having someone familiar with reading the policy and making appeals in my corner. I wasn't the "little guy" getting pushed around with my company behind me.

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  5. I hate insurance companies with the strength of one thousand suns. HATE. And health care policies in this country generally. And those who think it's at all remotely helpful to say "But that would be socialized medicine!" any time anyone tries to DO anything about it.

    Erg.

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  6. Sometimes, when things aren't going my way, I just like to shout "BALLS!!!!" and it makes me feel better. Try it.

    Crossing my fingers that the insurance company gets its head out of its a$$.

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  7. Sorry to hear that the surgery is costing you so much. Hope all goes well though.

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  8. Definitely, definitely keep fighting it. We went all the way to the very last appeal for my Mirena and they actually (finally) approved it on that last try.

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  9. Ugh, sorry. Insurance can be a real bitch.

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  10. I'm so sorry to hear about your insurance drama. Honestly, I'm not sure why we have to pay so much money for something that won't cover any medically necessary procedures. Good luck! I hope you end up getting them to pay, as they should.

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  11. We could dedicate an entire blog to the problems with the U.S. health care system...

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  12. Damn insurance. I hope they pay up Jess.

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  13. Don't let the insurance company bully you. Call when you need support!

    My car used to do the exact same thing! It is a Known Issue. So, Honda may cover it regardless if it is still under warranty or not. Let me look at my records to see what they did that finally got rid of the weir brake thing. I will e-mail you tonight.

    Also, at 9:30 p.m. last night OUT OF FREAKIN' NOWHERE I got a screaming headache. Hurt. So. Bad. WTF? I still have a residual headache today. Boo.

    Feel better.

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  14. When my husband gets a headache he has to either a) smash his eyeballs into my shoulder, or b) have me kiss across his forehead repeatedly.

    You gotta do what works, ya know?

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  15. Did your insurance say why they wouldn't cover it, like they don't consider it medically necessary? Or are they just doing that thing where they deny everything and hope you'll just go away?

    Random car issues drive me insane (pun intended). Hopefully Artemisia can help you out.

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  16. I hope things are improving! I also hope that you can get the insurance thing straightened out before you have to pay up front.

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  17. Oh honey I know how you feel. Word from one who is experienced, EVERY time you talk to someone on the phone get their name (or employee id #) and extension. And kill them with kindness. Good luck!

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  18. Oh I hear you on the money front. After the LG's hospital bill from Feb which we still haven't paid and then the cost of this move.....oh the debt. I HATE it! So I hope you can get things sorted out.

    I've had headaches like that before too - the only thing that makes them feel better is if my husband uses his hands like a vise grip around my head.

    Sorry your Mom had to leave so soon. :(

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  19. Some insurance companies will cover it if you complete a doctor monitored diet program for 6 months. There is a law firm that handles these sort of insurance appeals - go to the Lapband Message Board on obesityhelp.com and ask the question. One woman in particular appealed and won by inundating her insurance company with statistics about how much her obesity would cost them in the long run. Also, some companies say No to everything as a matter of course, and you might be able to do a simple appeal and get it covered - especially if you have any other health issues that your weight exacerbates.

    I feel your pain - I was self-pay and I now have 5 scars that cost $15000. Good Luck!

    Also - I have a TON of Band Friendly recipes that I can email you, if you want.

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  20. Oh! That is just awful! I am anxious to hear what their reasoning is. I would be super frustrated right now.

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  21. What? You just bought a house and don't have $10,000 extra dollars lying around? Weird.

    So sorry.

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  22. That sucks. I hope it gets worked out and you don't have to spend too much energy fighting with the insurance company! Sounds like you need to save it for unpacking... ;)

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  23. Oh, I hate your insurance. I hate it.

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  24. Oh no that sucks!!! You will SAVE your insurance company money in the long run by getting this procedure. What crap.

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  25. I don't know if Torsten just got a new job, but could you put aside money into a Health Savings Account? I know with my husband's job, it was available to us right away and it got taken out in small chunks form his paychecks throughout the year. Just somethign else to check.

    My doctor's office also had information on health loans that had lower interest rates than credit cards do. Second thing to look into.

    Do you get migraines? That's what it sound slike. When I am hit with one, I can't stand any noise, light or movement. I just ahve to take my meds and lie in a dark room doing nothing. My mother used to get them and she didn't get diagnosed till I did, a few years ago.

    Just remember, "into each life, some rain must fall." Just keep thinking of what comes after and the rain will feel like it was worth it, even though right now it's just a pain in the behind.

    Good luck with everything!

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  26. What I'm wondering is how you figured out that ramming your head into Torsten's side made your headache feel better?? :-)

    Sorry things are feeling craptacular right now. Doesn't it suck when one thing that's wrong makes it feel like everything is wrong?

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  27. I'm so sorry about this. Damn insurance companies. I hope it works out and you don't have to wade through too much crap. And hoping your head feels better by now!

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  28. I'm really sorry to hear about the insurance company. That's awful that they lead you on and now did the bait/switch

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