Hi everyone,
I know I haven't been around much lately. Lots of excuses but they are all boring. No one really cares how many hours I sleep each day or how slowly I move when I can move. Plus my voice has gotten very hoarse so Dragon is not doing as good of a job as it was.
Anyway, I am scheduled to have the intrathecal morphine pump put in tomorrow morning at 7 am.
I got an authorization letter from my insurance.

Today, my doctor's office called and said that I am no longer eligible with my Private insurance company! We had just paid the May thru October premiums. They said Cobra was only 3 years, I'm not on Cobra and it's been 5 years. Then, they said, well, disabiity is only covered for 5 years. But I said it has been 5 years and 3 months and I am on work comp, not short term disability.

Worker's comp denied the surgery & my lawyer wouldn't go to court to do an expedited appeal for me, SO my Private Insurance sent me a letter of approval with a disclaimer that I must be elibible at the time of surgery.
Suddenly they made me ineligible right after that authorization letter & surgery was scheduled without ever letting me know and my surgery is tomorrow !!

Well, suddenly after approval for this $100,000. ++ procedure I am no longer eligible .
Does that make sense? I wasn't on Cobra, that is why my insurance lasted over 5 years and NOT at Cobra rates ($350./month), it was $64/month because I am an employee of the insurance company. So then a supervisor tells me I am on disability and that ends in 5 years...still this is 5 years and 3 months, not 5 years.
Up until I got the OK to cover my surgery I was covered.
Human Resources said in a week they'll send out a cobra package and retro me back to June 1 and I'll be covered.

Also I can go on my husbands insurance July 1st. They don't have any pre-existing clause.

So I told the doctors office to cancel it. They had checked with Medicare and my cost would be $992. deductible and 80% coverage. But they don't cover the $3000. worth of medications I'll need every month, since I don't have medicare Part D for medicines.
I hope you can all follow this mess.
Right now it looks like I'll have this done under medicare and hope Cobra comes through for me.
What a thing to have to deal with the day before surgery.

I'm not sure what will happen with this nightmare. It never stops, it is one thing after another. I understand more and more how people who have RSD (&TOS) can commit suicide (not that I'd think of it). But it sure would end this nightmare .
My lawyer never goes to court for me and I can't change lawyers since this is my second onei. I have $100,000's of dollars on liens. Unpaid pharmacies, doctors, outpatient surgicenters, botox injections, MRI's. I can't get ANY care for my TOS even though surgery is put into my doctors list of future medical needs. Thanks for letting me vent. I really needed to do that.
((hugs)) Hope

Hope
I went on my husbands insurance last Fall, he also didn't have a pre-existing clause and thankfully they've covered everything. Some of my co-pays are high on meds but at least it's not full price.
I hope you can get your pump ASAP and it gives you wonderful relief
Jeanne

Maybe it will take them the entire month of June to bill the insurance and then you can just have it billed to your new insurance under your husband and not have to pay.

Good luck.

I am going to trust it will work out and go ahead with the surgery anyway. The insurance only pays for the dates of service that you are covered. They'll see I was cancelled 5/31.

I am one who can't live this way any longer. My doctors document "my life
is indeed miserable." I am pretty much homebound and can't do anything in the house either. I sleep 12-16 hrs each day.

Insurance said they'd send me papers on Cobra in a few days.
I'll take that for the month of June, until July 1st when I go on my husband policy, which is better than mine anyway ! Hope

Hope,

I just thought of this, I changed jobs in September and I asked my new employer about coverage for preexisiting conditions and she said that insurance companies did away with that.

i had just sent you an email and an instant messege with big hugs for your surgery tomorrow, then i read this...........................WHAT A BUNCH OF BULL**** to make you go through the day before your scheduled surgery.................you have been through so much crap, that SOMETHING has to go right for you soon......................

so you ARE still going through with the surgery tomorrow right? just try to put all this worry behind you and think of nothing but PAIN RELIEF.............. i know that is easier said than done, but i am rooting for you ...........

big huge gigantic hugs for success tomorrow..............and one big swft kick in the butt for your lazy, good for nothin' lawyer...................

Hey Hope,

I cannot believe what the US makes its citizens go through just to keep alive, it's inhuman...

But anyway, I think you're very wise to get the surgery done now. You'll be much better able to cope with these problems when you are in less pain, no doubt of that. Very wise.

Good luck with everything, I really hope it all goes well and you're feeling much better very soon,
all the best

((Huge hugs)) Hope(I love your name!!) You are in my prayers dear! I too think your lawyer is full of crap. tell him to take a hike.. get a new one. Gosh, reading your post made me so mad. like Artist said; "the way they trat us US citizens is unhumane. I am praying for a very successful surgery for you tomorrow. Love and hugs, Hope. Love Desi

Hope you are a wonderful person and a great friend. My prayers are with you. Try and leave the worries behind and I wish for a sucessful surgery and peace of mind and body. Check in when you are able.

Hey Hope,

That is so bad babe - I really really hope this surgery helps you big time! I will be keeping you in my thoughts all of tomorrow and I really hope it will give you some relief!!

Love and Hugs and Best of Luck

Frogga xxxxxxxxxxxxx