Need Advice....No Insurance as of 12/31/08!!
 

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...:rolleyes:

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! :)

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.

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

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

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!! :rolleyes:

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. :rolleyes:

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.

:hug: 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.

Oh Oh, one more thing. You started a thread about noise. I know it may be minor but you may want to go ahead and get your hearing checked to be sure all is OK. If you need any kind of hearing aid or testing you want to do that while the insurance is still there.

Good suggestion....I've gotten a prescription for 90 days of my thyroid meds. They are only $10 for a 90 day supply. My BP med isn't on the list of discounted drugs. I'm going to ask my PCP is there is something different I can take that is on the list. If not, I suppose I'll check the mfg and see if they have a discount for people who have no insurance. Or maybe my doctor can give me samples.

Luckily I'm only taking 3 things right now...the thyroid med, the BP med and the LDN.

Good idea! I hadn't thought of that. Thanks! :hug:

If you got a part time job with benefits would that screw up your disability income etc.? Around here most jobs will give benefits with only 20 hours a week work. It just terrifies me to think of being without benefits because everything is so expensive. No other advice just wishing you the best. Hugs, Jules

I'd love to be able to work even part time. Physically....I can't. Mentally....I can't. It would mess up my disability but it really doesn't matter 'cause I can't do it anyway.

Yeah, it's not a good feeling to know that I'm pretty much on my own for the next two years. :(

You have got some good advice already. :grouphug:

Do you know if there are any programs that will cover meds (diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, any kind) for people who don't have insurance? I've heard of them in the US, but maybe others know more. I would look into the application process by getting the forms sent out to you now, and reviewing them, even if you don't end up every needing to sign up.

If LDN isn't sufficient (which I personally think it will be, but if it's not...), maybe check into whether you could get Teva (or another program) to pay for you to add on Copaxone. Alternatively, what other DMD might you consider, and do they have a drug program? Look into those things while you are feeling well . . .

I think it will be a stressful time for you Kelly, because as you know ANYTHING could go wrong with our health at any time. I think you are wise to investigate every option now, when the pressure is not on to do so.

Cherie

Just want to wish you the best of luck with all your doctor appointments.
The only other doctor I could think of was a skin doctor. Any moles you are concerned about?

Good luck Kitty! I agree with Karousel, dermatologist. I have always had moles that were benign but once I had MS I had a melanoma. You have fair skin so double check with that too. Other than that I can't think of anything.

Seems like you have it under control. I never had to look into Medicare...can't believe you have to wait 2 years!!!! Holy carp!

i was going to say everything everyone else suggested.

i'd suggest you go onto the medicare.gov site.
they have LOTS of good info and phone #'s to call.
the representatives that answer the phones are very knowledgeable people.
if you happen to get a dud and the person isn't trying to help you just hang up and call again. you'll get someone else.

for me. i researched for several months and tried to weight the different plans and costs. it's mind boggling all the info. if i took a yr i couldn't have figured it all out.

but, with being on so few meds you will have an easier time than i did.
ask your dr and/or her office manager what plans they are on and what they suggest. my pcp was not on many plans at all. her office mgr was a big help to me and answered lots of my Q's.

i ended up taking regular medicare so i could go to any hospital and see any dr i wanted. also, i just didn't want to sign up for an HMO plan altho some are very good, or so i've heard. if you don't have much $$ then it's better than nothing.

i also took a supplemental plan. but everything costs money. start early is what i'd recommend. hope this helps some. pm me if you want.

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 :yikes: just funnin, good idea to get what you can while you can:hug:

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 !!

:grouphug:

Kelly you got approved for ssi ? right, generally 29 months after applying you should qualify for health protection too, after insurance ends maybe you can talk about them perhaps working on a slide scale? they may help at least till you get medicare or aid or whatever its called this week

I don't know about where you are, but in Virginia, the only supplemental insurance I could have gotten cost just as much as the Cobra because I am not 65. I believe someone else wrote that they had the same problem in NC.

I think this is a crock. If you are disabled and unable to work, you shouldn't be penalized because you are not 65. IMO. Good luck finding something.

I've only been approved for SSDI...not SSI. I should be eligible for Medicare in September of 2010. I've asked my former employer if they would consider letting me keep my insurance until then (I'd pay whatever premium they are now paying...just not COBRA cause that's too much) but I don't think they are going to allow it. :( I can't complain, though. They let me have it until the end of this year at no cost to me. I thought that was pretty generous.

I'll be fine....I just want to squeeze all I can out of it while I've got it!! :p The next two years should be fun....not!!! :D

COBRA is what your employer is paying for your health insurance, that is where they get the number.

I agree. They penalize you for anything they can think of. I wonder what they'll penalize us for once we reach 65??!! :eek:

Hi Kell~ I'm of no help on this topic, but just wanted to say good luck and I hope you can get something worked out.

{{{{Kell}}}