[Kitty]

I have employer paid medical insurance...it was part of my severence package when I had to leave my job. I'd been there for over 15 years and my employer wanted to do this for me, which I appreciate. However, it ends on 12/31/08.

I have appointments scheduled for an MRI and to see the Neuro in December. I have also gone to see the Gyn and I have a mammogram scheduled for October. I've gone to my PCP and had a full blood workup done and gotten prescriptions for my BP and thyroid meds. I plan to do the full blood workup again in late December.

Can anyone think of anything else that I need to do or have done before my insurance terminates? I won't have any insurance coverage until 9/2010 when Medicare begins. I need to investigate Medicare because I'm not sure what it covers and how much out of pocket expenses I need to expect.

I cannot afford COBRA and private policies just laugh when I apply...

I'm just trying to get all my ducks in a row before the end of the year.

Thanks to anyone who can give me any suggestions!

[Blessings2You]

Are you eligible for any kind of state insurance program?

The trouble with ducks in a row is, you get them all lined up, and suddenly a couple of geese fly in from nowhere, and there you are, ducks scattered all over the place and no way to pay for the geese.

[PolarExpress]

Yep..Like trying to herd cats..

[Kitty]

Ya'll are right!! I like your analogy's, though!!

There will always be just one more thing that I shoulda done...story of my life...

I'm not going to get stressed over it...it is what it is. I've looked into State programs, B2, and there are none. Just Medicaid and Medicare but I don't qualify for either, yet.

If all else fails I'll just do what 90% of my county's residents do....use the ER as my PCP!!

[Jodylee]

Do you have dental and vision coverage, Kelly? If you do you can add those checkups to your to do list. Also, you can see an opthamologist with your regular medical coverage. I wish they'd fix the SSDI system so medical coverage would kick in immediately. It all seems so ridiculous.

[Kitty]

Originally Posted by joellelee2000

Do you have dental and vision coverage, Kelly? If you do you can add those checkups to your to do list. Also, you can see an opthamologist with your regular medical coverage. I wish they'd fix the SSDI system so medical coverage would kick in immediately. It all seems so ridiculous.

Ooooh.....the eye doctor! How could I have forgotten that one?? Thanks for reminding me. I'll call them today.

I got something in the mail from SS telling me that they were conducting a study to see how many people would benefit from medical coverage before the two-year mandatory wait time for Medicare...and how many people would like to have Medicare coverage before the two years. Ummmm....they need to do a study for this????? How much tax $$$ is tied up in this ridiculous study? Of course we'd like medical coverage before the 2-year mandatory wait for Medicare! What kind of question is that??? It's like asking someone with a broken leg if they want a cast now or do they want to wait two years and hope for the best! Unbelievable!

Well, to add insult to injury I called the number they listed on the letter and was interviewed by some lady whom I could not understand (India or somewhere over there) and who couldn't answer my most basic questions.

Once I told her I had medical coverage until the end of the year that was it....she was done with me. I told her that after December I wouldn't have insurance but that didn't matter. I could tell she was reading from a script....so I just told her to have a nice day.

Our government never ceases to amaze me.

[SandyC]

Kitty, my mom faced the same thing. Only she had to take Cobra and thank goodness she was bale to get into income based housing that took that into consideration. Tennessee has a strict policy regarding state assistance. You have to exhaust all other options before they will give you medical assistance. One such policy said you must exhaust your Cobra in order to then move to the next level which is private insurance through their recommendations. What in the world do people do who aren't retirement age or can't afford Cobra? No way a private insurance company would cover her after cancer, heart and brain surgery! BUT, they require three denials before they even consider you.

Sounds like you are getting the things you need. Maybe ask your doc if he/she is willing to change your dose or script so you can get as much meds as you can so they last. Maybe a 90 day supply rather than a 30?

I thank God everyday that Jim has insurance through the military and VA. I don't know where we would be if he didn't.

If you haven't had any of the age required testing, now may be the time to schedule those as well. Things like colonoscopy, heart check, etc.

[weegot5kiz]

Blood Work? liked Joelle suggestion too, good point sandy wouldnt hurt to double check even though we all are annoyed by noise


get that harley tattoo removed just funnin, good idea to get what you can while you can

[CayoKay]

maybe a mammogram?

**************

my mistake was to get a "possible MS" dx in 1988.

and I was just divorcing, so, I lost my Blue Shield insurance a month later.

I tried to get private insurance, but NOBODY would touch me with a ten foot pole... (they called it a "pre-existing condition" but I didn't even have a real diagnosis yet, how unfair!)

and I made too much $$ at my job to qualify for any state aid.

luckily, all three of my kids were fully covered...

anyway, I got *really* good at using the county health fair's yearly screenings, and paid the rest out of pocket, until I retired due to MS, in '93.

finally, my Medicare kicked in in 1995.

YAY !!!

so, I was without any health insurance for about seven years...

********************************

I made it okay, and you can do it too, Kelly !!