tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post3210811199201786009..comments2023-10-02T04:06:53.185-04:00Comments on Brass and Ivory: Life with MS and RA: Carnival of MS Bloggers #17 - Insurance EditionLisa Emrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10862232056342347990noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-24814449705501399022008-08-19T11:10:00.000-04:002008-08-19T11:10:00.000-04:00I've read through so many blogs posted here and am...I've read through so many blogs posted here and am surprised that most of the conversations I've read so far are about medications and insurance. Has anyone here had results with changing their diets? I was diagnosed 3 years ago December and have completely changed my diet. Anyone?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-26344276672492097602008-08-15T01:18:00.000-04:002008-08-15T01:18:00.000-04:00So far, I am lucky with my insurance coverage. My...So far, I am lucky with my insurance coverage. My husband is retired from the military and THEY have damn good insurance coverage for active duty military. There were some changes to the insurance when he retired, but it is still a good insurance plan. When we had dependents, our premium was $410.00 a year, not that it is just the two of us, and it is $180.00 a year.<BR/><BR/>I was worried when I was forced to pick up Medicare and it became my primary insurance. I have to pay $1176.00 a year for Medicare. When I look at what Medicare pay for my medical bills, I am surprised any doctors or hospitals accept Medicare. I did not have to pick up Medicare Part D, thank God. My secondary insurance pays for my prescriptions and pays the rest of what Medicare do not pay for in my medical bills. My secondary also cover what Medicare will not cover. My Co-pay for Copaxone is $9.00, for generics it is $3.00, and for non-formula brand names $22.00.<BR/><BR/>I would be lying if I said I am not worry each time open enrollment comes up for my secondary insurance. For my medication, alone they pay out $18,000 a year. <BR/><BR/>If the US does go to a Universal HealthCare system, they need to look into the insurance coverage that is provided to military personnel and their families.Blinders Offhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03109286529955936165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-53170553241389627282008-08-14T22:38:00.000-04:002008-08-14T22:38:00.000-04:00Insurance. The Dr. who does the most for me usuall...Insurance. The Dr. who does the most for me usually I pay him $8.50, once I owed him TEN CENTS! I have partner's State Ins., Medicare (several letters) and when I go to appts. I just toss my cards on the counter. I have asked my Dr.s and both Ins. co. which is my primary---NOBODY KNOWS! LOL<BR/>In 1990 my srgery was over $10,000.00; I ended up paying $15.88---I actually told my surgeon I felt sorry for him (the ins. denied most of his cost) and he just laughed and said, "Dear, don't worry about me." I have had Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Blue cross and shield, Aetna, Uniform, Medicare. I took the advice of a boss in my 20s and always bought as much ins. as I could, even when I hadn't seen a Dr, in...20 years. It is the COST---WHO pays it? I did get zonked a few times/deductibles, hospital stays are the worst. That boss died within months of his good advice.Diane J Standifordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11862850657925658079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-25482025628618311262008-08-14T18:37:00.000-04:002008-08-14T18:37:00.000-04:00I am so busy and I never have time to read my mail...I am so busy and I never have time to read my mails from insurance company. <BR/><BR/>I will catch up my reading. :)<BR/><BR/>Glad this is still going.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12636656959074070720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-14900831201181720662008-08-14T17:27:00.000-04:002008-08-14T17:27:00.000-04:00Shauna, I'd love to hear what your personal experi...Shauna, I'd love to hear what your personal experiences are with seeing the doctors, costs, who pays what...those kinds of things.<BR/><BR/>I shudder each time I hear McCain or anyone else talk about encouraging more folks to participate in the Individual Insurance Market here. I'm part of it and it really kinda sucks, especially when it comes to medications. <BR/><BR/>It wouldn't be so bad if McCain were wanting to fix the problems with the Individual Market. But there's an attitude of 'it'll work itself out." (Yes, maybe I've already made up my mind who I'm behind in the elections, and he doesn't currently have lots of gray hair.)<BR/><BR/>I love it. We have a conversation going on here.Lisa Emrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10862232056342347990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-55555335567045618782008-08-14T17:04:00.000-04:002008-08-14T17:04:00.000-04:00Shauna---Yeah, I keep hearing mixed reviews about ...Shauna---<BR/><BR/>Yeah, I keep hearing mixed reviews about Canada's universal health coverage. Not sure what the solution is. Obama is talking about it being one of his biggest priorities here. Let's see if he gets in.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17421022098477662697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-35561511439435927612008-08-14T16:56:00.000-04:002008-08-14T16:56:00.000-04:00Even in Canada we have problems with insurance. We...Even in Canada we have problems with insurance. We can see specialists after having been referred from our family doctor (if we have one) and waiting a long time. Then there's the wait for tests like MRIs, which can take months. Once that is done, then there's the matter of paying for drugs. <BR/>Luckily with recent developments and lobbying, the DMDs are covered by the individual provinces. But we all know of other drugs not necessarily covered by the gov't or insurance companies, if you're even lucky enough to be working enough hours to get insurance through work or you buy your own plan.<BR/>In Canada we do have universal health care, but it doesn't mean we can get what we want or need. <BR/><BR/>I had wanted to write on this topic Lisa, but I know so little about it even in my home and native land, that I felt I couldn't really contribute to this one. And the US of A is quite different to Canada when it comes to this. <BR/><BR/>S.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08793047835261862513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-87450603113119027752008-08-14T16:48:00.000-04:002008-08-14T16:48:00.000-04:00Jen, honestly I can't even imagine trying to figur...Jen, honestly I can't even imagine trying to figure out the disability payments, social security, medicare A/B, and then medicare D on top of it. Just looking at my own stuff gives me the biggest headache and makes me want to bury my head.<BR/><BR/>Nina, I thought that was probably the case, but I wasn't sure. It's kinda funny, before my MRI they checked to see what my insurance allowed so that they could collect my 10% coinsurance. But they still submitted charges higher than the allowed. <BR/><BR/>If you did know, this is a bit of a hot-button topic for me. :pLisa Emrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10862232056342347990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-90591557806270282812008-08-14T16:10:00.000-04:002008-08-14T16:10:00.000-04:00I should have said that those were the original ch...I should have said that those were the original charges and not the negotiated rates. When I get home, i will try and figure that much out. I am glad I am not a doctor because Aetna does not refund much.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-62858454356791889842008-08-14T16:04:00.000-04:002008-08-14T16:04:00.000-04:00Yeah, I'm pretty much fed up with health insurance...Yeah, I'm pretty much fed up with health insurance. I have to count my blessings that I'm still on my husband's plan. My Betaseron doesn't have a copay ($2k/month covered in full), so this is the real reason I stay on it. Otherwise, it's nearly $800/month for the 2 of us to be covered, and we have no dental or vision coverage. I just got my disability coverage and saw how tricky Medicare part D (Rx plan) is. It's easier and a little less expensive to stay where we are than put me on part D. Who knew Medicare, which is generally for older Americans, would be so crummy in its Rx coverage? So my disability payments are almost all going to make up the cost of Bill's expensive, small company health insurance premiums. But paying $800/month is far better than forking over $2k a month, so I'll thank my lucky stars that we have <I>any</I> coverage.<BR/><BR/>PS: England and Canada are looking pretty sweet right now, eh?Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17421022098477662697noreply@blogger.com