I would have updated this blog sooner, but everytime I even think about the bills, hospital and insurance companies i get extremely angry and can feel my blood pressure rising fifty points.
My insurance company, Beechstreet insurance (through McDonald's), will only cover $2,000 for outpatient procedures. Even though I took the highest option and pay approximately $150 a month, the lousy insurance company will only pay $2,000 for outpatient surgery. What surgery do you know of that costs less than that? A patient is lucky if they can even book an operating room for that kind of money.
My hospital bill was $10,000. i got some type of discount which lowered it to around $8,000-- after the minimal payment from Beechstreet, I owe the hospital $6,500. That's in addition to all of the money i owe for the tests, doctors visits, etc.
The hospital sent me a form to fill out to see if they will lower the amount, but since I having been saving most of the money from my paychecks, holidays and birthdays for a car, i am almost positive that the money hungry hospital isn't going to do a thing to lower the bill. Even though I owe over $11,000 in student loans and make less than $15,000 a year.
Before you say anything, yes the limit is in the fine print. And I did sign the papers, but my point is that the limit is extremely low, considering the fact that there is not a hospital in the entire county that would charge less than $2,000 for outpatient surgery. This is one of the reasons that we need health insurance reform. How can anyone get the proper medical treatment, if they know that doing so could cause them to go into bankruptcy. Sometimes I wounder how these insurance company CEO's sleep at night? Do they ever think about all the people who die (or at the very least go hungry or lose there house) because they cannot afford to get necessary medical procedures? Do they even care? Or are they so rapped up in their bonuses that they don't even bother to think about it?
I'm guessing that I can kiss my car goodbye.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
TV cancer
Has everyone else noticed how many tv characters are getting cancer lately? Izzie Stevens on Grey's Anatomy has been battling melanoma for at least 1 1/2 seasons. Lt. Van Buren on Law and Order was recently getting diagnosed and is getting treatment for cervical cancer. Kitty McCallister on Brothers and Sisters was just diagnosed with lymphoma. I'm even tempted to add Dr. Mark Green from ER, to the list, even though that was several years ago. What's up with all the cancers on TV? And I'm probably only named a few. Are the writers so out of ideas that they are just throwing around the cancer diagnosis for their dramatic cliffhangers.
Maybe its just me, but I deal with cancer enough in my everyday life, I don't need to see it on every TV show I watch. My mom recently asked me how I could watch these shows (especially Grey's Anatomy since its melanoma) and I told her I still watch them because I I have been watching most of the shows since before the characters got the disease. I'm invested in these characters. I've watched some of them for so long that they almost seem real, and I want them to be okay, even though I know they they aren't real. I still care.
Maybe its just me, but I deal with cancer enough in my everyday life, I don't need to see it on every TV show I watch. My mom recently asked me how I could watch these shows (especially Grey's Anatomy since its melanoma) and I told her I still watch them because I I have been watching most of the shows since before the characters got the disease. I'm invested in these characters. I've watched some of them for so long that they almost seem real, and I want them to be okay, even though I know they they aren't real. I still care.
Still more drainage
I went to visit my doctor again today because I am still draining and it's already been two, very long, weeks. I really wish my body would stop producing so much of this liquid.
The nurse did say that it's normal. She agrees with me that it looks like my hole is getting bigger but that's probably just because I move my arm. It's not like I can go throughout the day without using my left.
She did tell me that when melanoma is on the back it usually takes longer for the hole to close because the skin isn't as stretchy as it would be on the stomach. it figures, I always have to do things the hard way.
She gave me a prescription for this sterile saline stuff and I'm supposed to wet gauze pads and kind of pack them into the wound. Supposedly it will help it heal faster,,I'll believe it when I see it.
I just can't wait until this heals and I can finally stop putting adhesive tape on my poor, abused, sensitive skin. This constant tape is driving me nuts! At least it doesn't hurt most of the time.
On the plus side, the nuse gave me about 15 gauze pads and several pairs of doctor's gloves. Now I don't have to go the store and buy gauze pads tonight. I was just about to run out.
The nurse did say that it's normal. She agrees with me that it looks like my hole is getting bigger but that's probably just because I move my arm. It's not like I can go throughout the day without using my left.She did tell me that when melanoma is on the back it usually takes longer for the hole to close because the skin isn't as stretchy as it would be on the stomach. it figures, I always have to do things the hard way.
She gave me a prescription for this sterile saline stuff and I'm supposed to wet gauze pads and kind of pack them into the wound. Supposedly it will help it heal faster,,I'll believe it when I see it.
I just can't wait until this heals and I can finally stop putting adhesive tape on my poor, abused, sensitive skin. This constant tape is driving me nuts! At least it doesn't hurt most of the time.
On the plus side, the nuse gave me about 15 gauze pads and several pairs of doctor's gloves. Now I don't have to go the store and buy gauze pads tonight. I was just about to run out.
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