Best of Times & Worst of Times
Mar. 8th, 2019 10:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mlerulesWW and AquaFit and regaining energy and losing pant sizes and heading to Kauai on Monday for 8 days are all good things. Battling for health insurance coverage again/s'more, however, remains a mighty drag. I've not actually torn my hair out, but I have been in tears more than once during this process. Stress-level's actually decent currently, but it's been touch and go at times the past three (3) months plus. RANT BELOW. I'd cut, but cannot remember how and don't have the bandwidth to figure it out again now.
I'd thought all was fine after the initial long conversation following many hours on hold back on 12/13/18. Learned when I followed up a month later, when something I'd been expecting hadn't arrived, that all was NOT fine. Jumped through another hoop, paid another chunk o change, and again assumed all was fine until I followed up again another month later, as instructed, only to learn that they'd f'd up royally the previous month, which lead to dotting more i's crossing more t's, as well as an escalation (essentially an appeal). Followed up a week later, only to find out that the request was denied. Have been awaiting the 02/28/19 letter the supervisor (yes, I went up the food chain this time) told me had been mailed along with appeal info. Called yesterday to find out whassup since I'd not rec'd the letter.
Turns out the supe had given me the wrong info, and the decision CANNOT be appealed, even though it was entirely their FAULT. (Still haven't gotten any written notification of any of this!) Also yesterday got a worrisome email and letter from another of the various entities which contained conflicting info. (I'm dealing with 4 different entities, 2 of which are governmental (1 state & 1 fed'l).) Delving deeper into one issue, I discovered an odd but ultimately acceptable situation for one small portion (apparently failure to pay premiums does not go to collections). Finally eventually found someone (in another entity) who seemed to know what I needed to do for real this time. Called another entity this AM to move the process along, only to get someone on the phone (after another on-hold session) who wasn't very helpful. She'll send along my info to a division within that entity who'll research whether what I've said is true. I offered to send along the letter which confirms what they need to know, but that's not good enough apparently, despite being told by t'other entity that I MUST GET that letter to them. *eye-rolling mightily now*
Nada to do now but hurry up and wait, and check back next week, then again the following week, and hope that nothing medically bad happens in the meantime, because now my Kaiser's been terminated, because actually having insurance w/Kaiser (Marketplace) is a chunk of what's held up my getting Kaiser (OHP) insurance... Meanwhile, my Rx meds are running quite low, SINCE THIS WAS ALL SUPPOSED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF LAST YEAR! ALL SO FREAKIN' F*CKED UP! *rant over*
I'd thought all was fine after the initial long conversation following many hours on hold back on 12/13/18. Learned when I followed up a month later, when something I'd been expecting hadn't arrived, that all was NOT fine. Jumped through another hoop, paid another chunk o change, and again assumed all was fine until I followed up again another month later, as instructed, only to learn that they'd f'd up royally the previous month, which lead to dotting more i's crossing more t's, as well as an escalation (essentially an appeal). Followed up a week later, only to find out that the request was denied. Have been awaiting the 02/28/19 letter the supervisor (yes, I went up the food chain this time) told me had been mailed along with appeal info. Called yesterday to find out whassup since I'd not rec'd the letter.
Turns out the supe had given me the wrong info, and the decision CANNOT be appealed, even though it was entirely their FAULT. (Still haven't gotten any written notification of any of this!) Also yesterday got a worrisome email and letter from another of the various entities which contained conflicting info. (I'm dealing with 4 different entities, 2 of which are governmental (1 state & 1 fed'l).) Delving deeper into one issue, I discovered an odd but ultimately acceptable situation for one small portion (apparently failure to pay premiums does not go to collections). Finally eventually found someone (in another entity) who seemed to know what I needed to do for real this time. Called another entity this AM to move the process along, only to get someone on the phone (after another on-hold session) who wasn't very helpful. She'll send along my info to a division within that entity who'll research whether what I've said is true. I offered to send along the letter which confirms what they need to know, but that's not good enough apparently, despite being told by t'other entity that I MUST GET that letter to them. *eye-rolling mightily now*
Nada to do now but hurry up and wait, and check back next week, then again the following week, and hope that nothing medically bad happens in the meantime, because now my Kaiser's been terminated, because actually having insurance w/Kaiser (Marketplace) is a chunk of what's held up my getting Kaiser (OHP) insurance... Meanwhile, my Rx meds are running quite low, SINCE THIS WAS ALL SUPPOSED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF LAST YEAR! ALL SO FREAKIN' F*CKED UP! *rant over*
no subject
Date: 2019-03-09 05:20 pm (UTC)That said, once it FINALLY gets settled, it works pretty well, especially with autopay. Except for the PPO aspect of the damn coverage on the Silver plan....
no subject
Date: 2019-03-11 04:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-03-11 06:48 am (UTC)Good luck!
(Edit, I'm gonna actually describe some of these ways in case anyone else here needs to know:
- the last doctor to prescribe a drug will often gladly write a continuation if you (a) get the pharmacy to fax them requesting a refill and (b) (if you were gonna need a visit to refill) call the office explaining that you're not currently covered for a visit but trying to sort it out. This almost always works unless the drug is heavily restricted or your doctor is a jerk.
Then http://goodrx.com will tell you the cheapest out-of-pocket price for the medication in your vicinity.
If for some reason this strategy is not feasible (the out-of-pocket price is too expensive or the doctor is a jerk) then online pharmacies will often avail you, though that requires some time for shipping, and knowing which ones are good and don't check papers. I have several that I've used periodically, usually located in India or Vanuatu; they have cheaper prices on some medications than are available in the States. This won't get you controlled substances, but just about any blood pressure med or asthma med and many antidepressants are available this way, for instance.)