Multiple Sclerosis can be an expensive disorder.

[U]Here is the dilemma: to keep insurance or live off of the public dollar?


Below is a graph from, people I know, showing the average annual cost for all MS-related medications and treatments:
Blue Line on Graph = 25 of the people with MS who have health insurance.
Red Line on Graph = 12 people with MS who do not have insurance and are below the legal poverty level (on paper).

Note that these are REAL NUMBERS and these data are based on three years of payments by each of the individuals evaluated, including me.

If you get hit by a bus, then your insurance will be a huge help, and it can prevent financial devestation to the family. However, this is not an issue if (on paper) you have nothing in terms of assets.

So, the question is this: Do you keep the insurance because of ethical reasons (i.e. you do not warrant public assistance), or do you dump the insurance and live off of the public dollar even though you can make the payments since it makes obvious financial sense?

This has been an on-going topic of discussioin amongst the 37 of us who have participated in the assessment.

FYI - We have not drawn any conclusions yet.

I thought that it would be a good topic for discussion here.

-Vic

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I want to dump the insurance but I have an inner fight going on between the ethics and the financials.

Paying so much each year is just idiotic....isn't it?

Just something to chew on...

Well Victor, I have to say, coming from a home who lived off of the public without warrant at times, I would have to say stick with the insurance. I know what you mean and understand about the paying for insurance, however my parents "played" the system for their selfish gain. I know that you wouldn't be doing that, but for everyone who is legit there is probably 20 times more not legit. (I don't know the # for sure)

Again, this is only my point of view and I am probably biased b/c of the intentional lying on my parents part.

I would like to hear more views as well.

Take care Victor...

Missy

Victor,
My thoughts are dump the insurance and live off the assistance. BUT, I haven't done that myself. I think I may be better off if I did, but it's a hard decision. If I dumped my insurance then we'd have to dump some jobs also to qualify for assistance and because I have two teenagers, I don't want to do that to them. DH and I can live off of little, but I grew up with very little and not much opportunity and want better for them. I want to be able to give them all the opportunity that they would like to pursue. I don't want to give them a free ride when they are not working but I want to be able to help them get a start in life and have it be a little easier than I had it. I worked full time plus while in college and really had some tough times putting myself through college(affording basics like food and clothing). once my kids are not depending on me anymore, we probably will 'retire' then.

Kathy

Vic, clarify for me, are you talking about getting on medicaid and medicare?

Vic - My situation was a little different. As a single mom with sporadic child support it makes it a little different and it makes the answer almost a no brainer.

During my 1st major flare, I was unable to walk, had no balance, spasticity that looked as if I was having a seizure, etc. This went on for a couple of weeks and I would not go to the dr as I did not have health insurance, it was not offered by my employer and could not afford insurance on my own.

To shorten the story, I sucked up my pride and went in to apply for assistance. I completely looked out of place sitting there waiting for my interview, dressed casually but nice, hair done, make up on, etc. It was really tough but I knew it was in the best interest for my DDs and myself.

However, if my situation was different and I could afford to pay for insurance myself, I would opt to do that instead. There are so many others that need the help I would feel terrible and guilty of taking advantage of public assistance.

If I didn't do this, I would be in the red line group - below poverty level on paper as well as my assets and bank account. Even with the SSDI we are below poverty level on paper and in my account.

I now have Medicare and Medicaid and DDs are still on the public health system. Medicaid pays for my Medicare premium.

I have Medicare A + B and my wife has me covered on her health insurance. We use hers as a primary and Medicare back up.

If she lost her job and had to find another, chances are, my MS would be a pre existing condition and not be covered. I would then use Medicare as my sole insurance.

I feel I paid many years into the system and my wife still does. I don't feel bad about using my medicare. If I had to be on medicaid I would also not feel bad.

If you CAN'T work, its a legitimate option, if you CAN work and are too Lazy to work, I don't think you should. my opinion, that's all.

It might be because I just came inside from being outside. (95 degrees..over 100 in the shade...if we had any shade). I just couldnt see the red line. I saw one line, couldnt tell if it was red or blue, going diagonally across the chart. I saw the horizontal lines going across, but couldnt tell if any of them were red or blue. (stupid optic neuritis and uhthoff's phenomenon!)

Where was the red line?

Victor,
This is such a complex issue...those of us with chronic pre-existing conditions are walking a very thin line. At any time, our insurance rug can be pulled out from under our feet with the loss or change in a job, which would require changing insurance.
I believe that if you feel that it is necessary to go on public assistance to get coverage, it is your right to do so.
I live in an affluent community, and used to work as a server in a restaurant before I quit due to my sxs. I would often hear people sit and discuss health insurance. One time a man said, "Why do people think they have the right to insurance coverage?" Boy, did I have to bite my tongue. He didn't realize how lucky he was to have health insurance. There are so many who have lost (or are close to losing) health insurance, and it's only a job loss away from any of us. I'm fortunate to be covered by my DH's insurance. Even though I'm not dxd with MS, I can't even get long term health care.

Our country was based upon principles of "the greatest good for the greatest number of people". It's no longer the case...just look at the disparity between the CEOs and the regular people who scrimp and claw to try to survive.
I think, if you can get it, you should take whatever insurance you can get. It won't be there for the taking forever...not the way this country's going.

Hmmmm ....

We don't pay very much for health insurance, but then again, I don't think we have cadillac service either. Our doctors are top notch, and we certainly get adequate care . . . but we don't snap our fingers and get what we want, when we want.

From what I've heard of the subsidized medical system there, the service can be not so good at all. Are you willing to take the stress that goes along with that?

Even with low premiums for most Canadians (about $120 per month for a family), people who are unable to make a reasonable ANNUAL INCOME are subsidized or fully covered. It doesn't matter how much money we have in assets (on paper, or not), if our income is insufficient, we may pay less then the standard, or nothing. I am disabled and on LTD, with very little "taxable" (on paper ) income, so my family is fully subsidized.

I guess my ethical response would be that I don't think a person should go broke by selling off their assets in order to pay for medical insurance costs every year. However, if they can work and have an annual income to make the payments, they 'should' carry their own insurance.

I don't like the system there though, so I might just want to stick it to them out of spite (and hope that everyone else doesn't catch on to the program).

Cherie