Yeah - pretty powerful for someone who tries to go with the flow. But, it has to be said. We truly are screwed if something happens to our individual health care.
I have had my own insurance since I was 18 years old. Which was good - because I got pregnant prior to being married and I had insurance - back then, once you were married, you were kicked off your parents insurance. Luckily, I was covered by my own when I got pregnant.
I worked for 32 years for the same governmental entity. I had full insurance for myself and my family. It was pretty damned good insurance. I raised my family on it. I had a daughter that had cancer, twice and was covered on it. I had a husband with multiple health issues and surgeries on it, until he passed away. Ted was covered by it when he spent two weeks in the ICU and the hospital. It covered him. I appreciated my insurance.
When I decided to retire - or when I felt that I had no other choice but to do so, I was able to keep my kind of awesome insurance, sans the city paid monies toward my deductible. I paid my premiums. And then they told us retirees, that don't qualify for Medicare, that we were on our own for insurance. Kicked in the face - sent to the the Healthcare Marketplace. You gave us 32 years - but, hell, we don't owe you crap. Screw you!! Go away!!!
Now - before you think I'm condemning the Marketplace, know that I am not. It is a great asset to those that are low income. I am not - so I don't reap the benefits. My daughter, on the other hand, has an incredible health insurance plan - and I hope that she can maintain it in the future, as she definitely is in need. I am happy to have insurance, even though I am forced to pay more than a car payment monthly to have that benefit.
Now, it's not been a big deal to me in the past. I go to the doctor once a year. I do a small physical and get my medications refilled for the year. I get a yearly mammogram. That is generally the extent of my medical visits. Now, I may have done more if it weren't for my ghastly huge deductible, but I haven't felt the need to go more than that.
That was until about four weeks ago. I somehow injured my knee. I don't know what I did. It was just achy and strange feeling at first. It progressively got worse. Some days it is worse than others. The other day working, I wasn't sure how I was going to make it through my shift. The next day, a little better. Yesterday was not a bad day. Today I can barely walk. I honestly don't know when I wake up what person I am going to be. Productive - or stuck on the couch. I am frustrated, as my sedentary lifestyle is causing me to gain weight.
The insurance plan I purchased has a $7000 deductible. I pay $523 a month for the luxury of just having insurance that I will more than likely pay for all the medical care I receive out of my own pocket. It would have to be pretty catastrophic for me to reach that.
I have avoided calling the doctor, because I knew I have horrible insurance. But, today I felt like I had to do something, I am to the point I don't know what else to do. I found out that I'm pretty much screwed. My three extra visits are not covered if using a specialist. You would think, since they are being paid $523 every month, I could use one of those visits to get my freaking knee checked by someone who knows knees. But, no. So - now, I've got an appointment - because I searched for the very cheapest doctor on the site. They do have that going for them, you can put in a doctor's service and find out how much it will cost you. When I searched arthroscopic knee surgery (worst case), the results were $1800 to over $7000. HA - right there, that tells you we have some really horrible issues in our health care system. Why the disparity?? I chose the cheapest doctor.
So right now - I sit in limbo - waiting for July 3 or a cancellation. I will muddle through, or I won't. But, good hell, what is a regular person supposed to do?? I worked hard all my life. But, it looks like I'll now be bargain shopping to save my life. Open heart surgery?? HMMM - so and so will do it for $150,000 or so and so will do it for $220,000. Who do you choose??
I have had my own insurance since I was 18 years old. Which was good - because I got pregnant prior to being married and I had insurance - back then, once you were married, you were kicked off your parents insurance. Luckily, I was covered by my own when I got pregnant.
I worked for 32 years for the same governmental entity. I had full insurance for myself and my family. It was pretty damned good insurance. I raised my family on it. I had a daughter that had cancer, twice and was covered on it. I had a husband with multiple health issues and surgeries on it, until he passed away. Ted was covered by it when he spent two weeks in the ICU and the hospital. It covered him. I appreciated my insurance.
When I decided to retire - or when I felt that I had no other choice but to do so, I was able to keep my kind of awesome insurance, sans the city paid monies toward my deductible. I paid my premiums. And then they told us retirees, that don't qualify for Medicare, that we were on our own for insurance. Kicked in the face - sent to the the Healthcare Marketplace. You gave us 32 years - but, hell, we don't owe you crap. Screw you!! Go away!!!
Now - before you think I'm condemning the Marketplace, know that I am not. It is a great asset to those that are low income. I am not - so I don't reap the benefits. My daughter, on the other hand, has an incredible health insurance plan - and I hope that she can maintain it in the future, as she definitely is in need. I am happy to have insurance, even though I am forced to pay more than a car payment monthly to have that benefit.
Now, it's not been a big deal to me in the past. I go to the doctor once a year. I do a small physical and get my medications refilled for the year. I get a yearly mammogram. That is generally the extent of my medical visits. Now, I may have done more if it weren't for my ghastly huge deductible, but I haven't felt the need to go more than that.
That was until about four weeks ago. I somehow injured my knee. I don't know what I did. It was just achy and strange feeling at first. It progressively got worse. Some days it is worse than others. The other day working, I wasn't sure how I was going to make it through my shift. The next day, a little better. Yesterday was not a bad day. Today I can barely walk. I honestly don't know when I wake up what person I am going to be. Productive - or stuck on the couch. I am frustrated, as my sedentary lifestyle is causing me to gain weight.
The insurance plan I purchased has a $7000 deductible. I pay $523 a month for the luxury of just having insurance that I will more than likely pay for all the medical care I receive out of my own pocket. It would have to be pretty catastrophic for me to reach that.
I have avoided calling the doctor, because I knew I have horrible insurance. But, today I felt like I had to do something, I am to the point I don't know what else to do. I found out that I'm pretty much screwed. My three extra visits are not covered if using a specialist. You would think, since they are being paid $523 every month, I could use one of those visits to get my freaking knee checked by someone who knows knees. But, no. So - now, I've got an appointment - because I searched for the very cheapest doctor on the site. They do have that going for them, you can put in a doctor's service and find out how much it will cost you. When I searched arthroscopic knee surgery (worst case), the results were $1800 to over $7000. HA - right there, that tells you we have some really horrible issues in our health care system. Why the disparity?? I chose the cheapest doctor.
So right now - I sit in limbo - waiting for July 3 or a cancellation. I will muddle through, or I won't. But, good hell, what is a regular person supposed to do?? I worked hard all my life. But, it looks like I'll now be bargain shopping to save my life. Open heart surgery?? HMMM - so and so will do it for $150,000 or so and so will do it for $220,000. Who do you choose??
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