Vent about health insurance and going to the doctor (or not), long, crabby updated
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graygables · 10-13-2004, 12:17 AM

You've been warned!!! DH is self-employed and we finally had to drop our "company policy" 18 mos ago b/c it went to $900 PER MONTH for just our family (plus various fees for the "privilege" of being able to "offer" it). There was no way we could afford that, so we had to go to a "private" policy with a very high ($2000 per person) deductible. It runs us "only" $385/month. That said, I am terrified to go to the doctor for fear that they are going to find something and I'm going to be uninsurable and drive my family to ruin.

I've been feeling lousy the last few days, my heart has been pounding (not racing, just thumping) and I woke up this morning with a monstrous headache and what feels like a charley horse in the right side of my neck (base of my skull). I delivered a 9 1/2 pound baby with very little anesthesia, so my pain threshold is pretty darned high

, but I have this sense that I should go to the doctor. BUT, I know that if I do, not only will we have all the $$$ for the tests he'll order (and his bill), but then my insurance rates will climb steadily again and we simply can't afford for that to happen. I'm thinking I'm going to pop a muscle relaxer and some tylenol and see how I feel in the AM, but I hate feeling like I can't seek medical care that I may need because of the insurance industry (and their "underwriting practices") and the medical industry being out of control financially. My gyn was just complaining about the cost of malpractice insurance and how it may drive him out of his practice or out of the state. That is just wrong. *Then*, I got an EOB from my 16yo DDs insurance (she has CHAMPUS, the military coverage) for an MRI they had to do. They billed nearly $800 for the procedure, but the government only "allowed" $70 or so, and then paid 80% of it. While that is great for me, that means some uninsured soul is out there hocking her wedding rings to pay for an MRI that *her* DD needed, only she didn't have the benefit of the government telling the hospital they couldn't charge her $800.

I'm sorry this is long and rambly, but I'm ticked and my dadgum head hurts! I just want to go to bed and

. Thanks for listening and please write your congressman about the terrible state of health insurance in this country!!!

goofy4goofy · 10-13-2004, 12:39 AM

Gosh, I'm so sorry Dawn. I hope you start feeling better soon! I'm sending a ton of pixie dust your way that you'll wake up tomorrow feeling a whole lot better.

I don't know what the answer is with the health insurance issue, but the costs are skyrocketing and getting out of control. What a happier world this would be if every man, woman and child had health insurance. Sometimes I wonder how I am so blessed to have health insurance and my baby gets his immunizations, checkups and medical needs taken care of..yet there are millions who have to suffer because they don't have health insurance. It just doesn't seem fair.

While I completely understand you not wanting to go to the doctor, try to think of it this way though: Being healthy and alive is worth any cost. Your children need their mommy to be happy and healthy.

Again, I"m so sorry you are in pain. Sending a ton of pixie dust....

Kelly

Teresa · 10-13-2004, 12:53 AM

Dawn, I know how you feel. I have found that if I go to the Dr. and say that I don't want to pay for unneccesary tests, he or she will usually help out by ording the easiest and cheapest tests first.

Go to the Dr..
I know that you are afraid of the cost. and, it is probably nothing, but if it is something, how much will it cost your family for you to wait?

(I know what you mean about CHAMPUS. Samantha had it from her bio. father, but begged DH to adopt her. That was a very hard benefit to give up)

stretch2864 · 10-13-2004, 04:46 AM

Dawn--here's some

that you will be feeling better soon! Chances are it is nothing, but if it continues I would definitely go get your symptoms checked out. I always feel it is better to be safe than sorry.

Dee161 · 10-13-2004, 05:05 AM

Dawn,

I hope you feel better soon.

This may or may not help. The past year I have been having serious headaches, sometimes so bad I could not get out of bed. IB Profine would not help. The base of my head would go numb and my neck would get a major cramp in it. I just knew something was seriously wrong with me. It turned out that they were tension headaches brought on by stress.

I would take it easy for a few days and if you are not feeling better SOON, I would go see a Dr. If you are honest with them up front about your insurance they will probably work with you, some Dr's even let you pay monthly payments.

I understand completely about the insurance. We own our own business too (Just about 5 hours a day) and my husband works another full time job so we can have insurance.

Here's some Pixie Dust for you.

Dawn

**LizardCop** · 10-13-2004, 06:45 AM

Here's some "get well " dust...

Go get it checked, hopefully it's just stress related, which shouldn't cost that much. But if it's more than that, the longer you wait the more it will cost.

GATechGal · 10-13-2004, 08:12 AM

Sweetie,
It totally sounds like stress. And it may be something as simple as a sinus infection (you have sinus cavities in the back of your head too). If it doesn't get better soon, go to the DR. It would be so much worse for your family if something catistrophic (sp?) happened to you that maybe might have been provented if treated early (do I sound like a commercial?

). Here's some pixie dust to help you feel better.

Nick and Ryans Mom · 10-13-2004, 09:51 AM

I agree that our health care policies are terrible. DH pays more and more every year for less and less coverage.

When I went through infertility treatments before DS#1 was born we had wonderful insurance and the doctor was able to get almost everything covered, and there was a lot. When we went back before we had DS#2 no infertility was covered at all. I had to write letters to the hospital, lab, and all of the doctors who work thru the hospital/lab to plead our case. They all gave me 25-30% off the "rack" rate. We still had to pay but it wasn't as bad.

I think it is terrible that any one in this country would have to go without seeing a doctor because of the cost.

Take care of yourself

loobyoxlip · 10-13-2004, 12:40 PM

[ QUOTE ]
DH pays more and more every year for less and less coverage.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hear ya there. When I started here 7 years ago, our plan was 80/20 with a $200 deductible. Now it's 60/40 with a $1000 dedutible and the amount I have to pay a month has increased! It's incredibly frustrating. Just know you're not alone in that area.

I would definitely go to the doctor if you are not feeling better soon, Dawn. Your health is your #1 priority, b/c without your health you wouldn't be such a great mom!

vsonnier · 10-13-2004, 10:20 AM

I so know what you are going through. DH is a teacher in the local district and our insurance is beyond ridiculous. His is paid for by the district, but to add just me it cost 365/a month. We have a 2K deductable EACH before the insurance will pay anything and even then it only pays 75%. The last company he worked for offered amazing benefits so it has been so hard for us to change to this. We checked on independent policies, but we both have existing health problems so we had to jump when the school insurance offered to wave the physical. Now that we are trying to have a baby I am so worried about how we are even going to begin to pay for the hospitol bills. One thing I noticed the other day - there is no anesthesioligist on our network. Our insurance does not pay anything if you see someone off network (EVEN IF THEY DON'T HAVE ANYONE ON THE NETWORK) so if I'm not able to stick it out through natural childbirth thats another thousand out of our pocket. I think its sad that insurance has had to become this.

As much as you may hate to do it Dawn, if you are still feeling poorly tomorrow I think you should go to the doctor. Your body has some idea what is going on and if you just don't feel right about it, don't take any chances.

RobinKay6573 · 10-13-2004, 11:12 AM

I lived without health insurance for 7 years so I TOTALLY know how you feel. When I was in college I would go to the health center to get checked out for minor problems. I once had an ingrown toenail that I had to have surgery on and I had to pay $70 for that. It doesn't sound like much but when you are making less then $500 a month $70 really hurts! When I didn't have health insurance I did stupid things like let a cat bite get infected and fester without getting treatment. I did go to immediate care but they told me it would cost me at $75 just to be looked at. Don't be like I was...yikes...I could have lost my hand from that infection. The sad thing is I was new to the city and had no clue where to find low or no cost healthcare and the receptionist at the immediate care didn't give me any options she just turned me away. Very sad!!

If you really truly feel there is something wrong with you it is best for you to see a doctor, even if it is just for an office visit. We don’t want to see you not feeling well!

luvnwdwgal · 10-13-2004, 02:35 PM

So sorry to hear about your health insurance woes. I don't know what we would do if DH's employer didn't pay for our family coverage. We're only responsible for $100 a month.
I've been waking up with headaches lately too with the pain in the back of my neck, and all I do is pop a couple sinus tabs and they seem to take care of it. I always have sinus problems when the weather changes, and those cold fronts we've been getting are doing a number on me.
Hope you're feeling better soon Dawn!

DISNEYGOOF · 10-13-2004, 03:10 PM

Just thinking about health insurance gives me a headache

I hope your feeling better soon

Figmentlvr427 · 10-13-2004, 08:30 PM

Health insurance is awful!! My DH went to the doctor for the first time last month because he was having chest pains and it cost him $160 because he didn't reach his deductible yet. I go to the doctor so much my deductible was met in February. It only costs me about $6 to go to the doctor now. But our insurance is terrible. We have no co-pay so we have to pay like the first $1000 of our medical bills then they pay 80% of the rest. He just got his new benefits packages in the mail and he has a chance to get better insurance where they pay 90% of everything and it has a $20 co-pay and I think a $5 prescription charge. The only problem is it's $700 more than our insurance we have now and he won't pay it. I don't know what to do with him. He won't even talk to me about it. Men, what are we to do with them?

disneyfan4994 · 10-13-2004, 10:18 PM

Sorry to hear you're not feeling well. You should definately go to the Dr. if you don't feel better soon. Health insurance is such a headache.

I'm lucky to have a decent family plan through my job, but I don't wan't to even think about how expensive it would be if we had to use the plan DH is offered through work. Hope some get well pixie dust helps.