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View Full Version : Doing better and I'm glad but more letters....at least someone likes me.



gimmethesimplelife
5-2-14, 10:41pm
I've been lying low and catching up with school projects and being careful of diet and keeping as calm as I can. I'm glad to be feeling much better than I was two short weeks ago and I'm glad I had the access to the hospital care I did. This all is true.

But there's a but. Received another letter to the effect that my Medicaid was denied - although the HMO says I'm still a current member - and today I received a letter from the Health Care Marketplace telling me that I was denied from Medicaid and inviting me to apply for a policy there. Great, turns out I made just a few dollars short of the income you have to make to apply there so that is barred to me, too.

It is true that I have yet to have my hearing with DES and who knows, maybe things will get cleared up, stranger things have happened, but I have this gnawing feeling that I'm going to be facing medical bankruptcy through no fault of my own and I'll owe $95 at the end of the year to the IRS for not having insurance on top of that.

I'm glad I received the care and am doing better - please don't misunderstand this, but I wish I'd never used the card as this fear is not something I need to be living with. There's a part of me that is very righteously angry at the system and there's a part of me that is like it's my fault for not going to Mexico in the first place before I became too sick to go. I guess what's done is done at this point, I can't go back in time to get on a bus to the border. In retrospect I wish I'd known Medicaid was going to be this fear based for me and I do feel deeply embarrassed that I supported it so......even lost sleep over whether Romney got in as if he had, there might not be any expanded Medicaid to worry about right now. I have seen it do wonders for others, such as my friend Marissa who had an operation to remove a tumor - no letters dogging her every step and she is so grateful. She tells me I have a place to run to in Guadalajara if need be - a true friend.

I think I am understanding other people's politics a little better now though - this what I am going through? This is what you are vulnerable to if you let the government in too far. I can see why people are against this - I think I'm really getting it now. A few people who post here might get a kick out of this change of heart. I gotta say I am learning, too - should my hearing clear this up, something in me has changed - I'm going to think twice before accepting government help in the future. I'd be afraid of similar issues happening once again. This time is enough for me. Rob

PS Latest procedure showed I have an ulcer and this may be what is raising my tumor markers - so I was put on an acid blocker and it really seems to be helping a lot. I'm so hoping that this is it.....I still have the gallbladder but it's looking like Mexicali on that one and maybe a bit of a wait at that. It does feel wonderful to have my ducts unclogged of stones and to be able to keep healthy food down! Next recipe in the slow cooker is going to be curried spinach and chickpeas.

Tradd
5-2-14, 11:42pm
Glad you're.feeling better, Rob.

Have to.admit I'd never expected to see you write you understand others' politics a bit better now.

gimmethesimplelife
5-3-14, 12:03am
Glad you're.feeling better, Rob.

Have to.admit I'd never expected to see you write you understand others' politics a bit better now.Thanks Tradd. This what I am experiencing here - it is making me question many of my beliefs, on all kinds of issues, even far beyond health care. I do believe I can understand views more conservative than mine tend to be - at least at this moment in time. This Medicaid epic fail really puts many issues in a different light. Rob

awakenedsoul
5-3-14, 12:31pm
Hi Rob,

Glad you're feeling better. They mess up records all the time. I would just document EVERYTHING. It sounds like you definitely qualify, and if you have a paper trail to back you up, it's not your mistake. I would keep a log, and all of the letters and your W-2's. It will show the contradictions. Ulcers are very stress related, as I'm sure you know. So, I hope you can try to stay calm and take good care of yourself.

ApatheticNoMore
5-3-14, 1:31pm
I think modern medicine no longer believes ulcers are stress related and believes they are mostly due to bacteria (h pylori). But presumably any competent doctor is ALREADY treating that (with antibiotics) and that part is the treatment needed from western medicine. Although, I don't particularly assume competence of the u.s. medical system at this point but hope you've got a decent doctor. Btw I read overuse of aspirin (and even NSAIDs - like ibuprofen (advil) and naproxin sodium (aleve)!!) can also help ulcers along. Boy do I resemble that remark (it's a long story and none of it misfortune. But I use NSAIDS - so I hope I don't get ulcers).

The Medicaid stuff, I don't know, if you have been entirely honest in your reporting, it's beginning to exceed the run around even I generally presume from bureaucracy (and I do presume incompetence and run around from bureaucracy!). Is Arizona deliberately trying to sabotage the Medicaid expansion or what? I wonder.

rodeosweetheart
5-3-14, 1:32pm
Hey Rob--tried to pm you but your message box full, so if you clear some space, I will try again!

Gardenarian
5-3-14, 3:58pm
Hi Rob - so sorry you are getting this run-around about insurance. It seems like they all try to make it as difficult as possible. My theory is that insurance companies (and the public programs too) use excessive red tape in the hopes that you will just give up and try and pay the bills yourself. I really have a deep detestation for them all.

gimmethesimplelife
5-3-14, 7:11pm
Hey Rob--tried to pm you but your message box full, so if you clear some space, I will try again!I'll clear out some space right now, thanks! Rob

gimmethesimplelife
5-3-14, 7:16pm
Hi Rob - so sorry you are getting this run-around about insurance. It seems like they all try to make it as difficult as possible. My theory is that insurance companies (and the public programs too) use excessive red tape in the hopes that you will just give up and try and pay the bills yourself. I really have a deep detestation for them all.I just ran across and article in USA Today to the effect that more Americans are going south of the border for medical care and that it can be cheaper to get things done in Mexico even if you do have insurance in the US! Talk about crazy.....I'm not giving up. Your post has energized me - this nightmare is not what I signed up for and I'm going to fight this like hell. At least I can look myself in the mirror if I do. Rob

Lainey
5-4-14, 7:23pm
Rob, I read the same article. Described a 64 yr old woman who drove to Tijuana (about 15 miles south of her home in Calif.) and paid only $15 cash to see the doctor. This is definitely a viable alternative even for those with insurance, because of the high deductibles for so many of the insurance plans these days.

And good for you for not giving up on your health insurance. You deserve to have the insurance and care you need.

ToomuchStuff
5-7-14, 5:55am
http://www.cnbc.com/id/101646874?__source=xfinity|mod&par=xfinity

It reads like several are having issues with software and giving up on doing the signups, due to the screwups.