When finances dictate your health :(

[Draka]

I'm getting more and more on edge about something and I just want to vent it here. It's a sad state when the fact that it costs you to be sick causes you to get sicker.

I am dwelling on this because over the past few months I have found now 3 "moles" I hadn't noticed before. An odd shaped and two toned one on my right breast, an oval rough textured pink one on the front of my right shoulder, and more recently, a small odd feeling one on the back of my right shoulder. Now, I have also suffered migraines for over a decade but now I am having frequent headaches that aren't really migraines and starting to have frequent bloody noses as well. It's all freaking me out. Add on top of that that the world seems to be screaming the word "cancer" to me and I'm going nuts. Everytime I tune into some news, be it on the radio, tv, or click a link on the internet I always seem to come across some story related to cancer in some way. One might think I'm looking for it, but it was actually because of coming across the word so much that I actually started really thinking about these strange health concerns in that light. I otherwise just ignore those types of things.

Now, I don't have health insurance and can't really afford to get checked out without it. Even if I could, and it turned out that I am sick then I couldn't afford the treatments without insurance and I couldn't get any insurance I might get to cover it because then it would be a "pre-existing condition". I'm actually scared to go to a doctor because if I am sick then I can't afford it. I may be just paranoid with all of this, but I can't help it. I don't like going to doctors no matter how bad I feel. It's a double edged sword. Either I'm really sick and I can't afford to be, or I'm not really sick and I'm just acting like a hypochondriac by even going to a doctor and I feel like an idiot.

Anyone else feel like this? Have a health concern but won't get it checked due to finances?

 

[MysticSang'ha]

Please go get it checked out ASAP, Jen. :flower:

 

[Ringer]

I could be mistaken but I believe there are assistance programs that will help cover the costs for examinations and any treatment that may follow. I know it's stressful enough to deal with health issues so adding financial burdens is a double wammy but for your sake, get thee to a doctor. It's amazing how better a prognosis can be when things are caught early. I'm not saying you have anything but it's better to be safe in these situations.

 

[Draka]

Please go get it checked out ASAP, Jen. :flower:

That's just it. Where? I can't go to a regular doctor because I can't afford to without insurance. The only place I can go without insurance would be the ER and they are not going to check me for anything when I present healthy. They will refer me to a doctor that I can't afford to go to anyway.

It's things like this that make me pray for nationalized healthcare.

Now, I have the option of marrying Tim to see about getting on his insurance. However, that would require him to get the family coverage which cost more than four times what he is already paying for just himself...and guess what...we really can't afford to have that much taken out of his paycheck either.

Me getting sick would thus force me into working just in order to cover the additional insurance costs and then we'd be paying for daycare too. We'd be just as strapped, if not more so, and I'd be sick on top of it all.

Let me scream this...NATIONAL HEALTHCARE NOW!

 

[MysticSang'ha]

That's just it. Where? I can't go to a regular doctor because I can't afford to without insurance. The only place I can go without insurance would be the ER and they are not going to check me for anything when I present healthy. They will refer me to a doctor that I can't afford to go to anyway.

It's things like this that make me pray for nationalized healthcare.

Now, I have the option of marrying Tim to see about getting on his insurance. However, that would require him to get the family coverage which cost more than four times what he is already paying for just himself...and guess what...we really can't afford to have that much taken out of his paycheck either.

Me getting sick would thus force me into working just in order to cover the additional insurance costs and then we'd be paying for daycare too. We'd be just as strapped, if not more so, and I'd be sick on top of it all.

Let me scream this...NATIONAL HEALTHCARE NOW!

I understand, beautiful. But I'm thinking only of your health. That's all that matters to me right now.

 

[Draka]

Well, I bit one bullet and decided to look up melanoma on the net and specifically look for pictures of what to look for. The one on my breast looks a lot like one of the pictures that are listed as melanoma. Two-toned and asymmetrical. The one on my back of my shoulder is two toned as well. The one on the front just looks like a normal mole I guess.

I called the clinic in town that works on a sliding scale basis, but when I mentioned melanoma they said they would most likely refer me to a dermatologist anyway. My best bet would be to go straight to a dermatologist. I need to find out how much it would cost for an appointment and about how much biopsies would run us as well. I also need to discuss this all with Tim. If we can swing the insurance payments after all it may just be wiser to get married.

 

[3.14]

paid healthcare is a way of saying survival of the richest

 

[Phasmid]

I wish you all the best, Draka, and hope all works out for you... that's crackers, I can't believe you'd have to go through all this in America.

Isn't Obama going to set up a National Health Service for you guys? I certainly hope so.

 

[Draka]

I wish you all the best, Draka, and hope all works out for you... that's crackers, I can't believe you'd have to go through all this in America.

Isn't Obama going to set up a National Health Service for you guys? I certainly hope so.

I hope so too. Then there wouldn't be the decision of "sick or broke/in debt". It really does become an issue of whether to pay your gas bill or go to the doctor sometimes.

 

[Watchmen]

Why no medicare?

 

[Draka]

We fall in that lovely bracket where we make just enough for the children to qualify for it, but I don't. The only way I qualify for Medicaid (title XIX) is if I'm pregnant. 60 days after I give birth...I'm dropped.

The state is all about healthy children. It's like "you don't make enough money to pay for doctors and we want to make sure your kids get to the doctor so we'll help with that, we'll even help pay for you bringing in another mouth to feed, but you're an adult, we could care less if you can't afford to see the doctor and you rot to death"

If the state wants healthy and well provided for children then perhaps they should look into having healthy parents as well.

 

[Draka]

Oh goodness, get this! There is only one dermatology clinic left in town here and they aren't taking anymore patients. They said I would probably have to go to Des Moines or Iowa City. Well, that'll triple any medical bill right there...let's not even consider transportation costs! :sarcastic

 

[Watchmen]

What about visiting the ER?

 

[Watchmen]

What about free clinics in the area?

 

[Draka]

There is no free clinic around here. There is one that works on a sliding scale arrangement, but I already contacted them and they would refer me out. An ER visit, just to be seen, not to get any tests done is close to $400 alone. Plus they would probably refer me out as well as I wouldn't be presenting as "sick or injured".

The dermatology clinic that isn't taking anyore patients told me to contact my usual doctor and see if he will refer me elsewhere. I contacted his office and, as it turns out, he will do the exam and biopsy and removal of melonomas all himself. Now I just need to figure out how to pay him. (I never have before because Medicaid always covered my visits before this) I have to call back to speak with his wife (she helps run their little family practice office) maybe tomorrow to see if I can work out payment arrangements or a sliding fee (which I guess they do on a case to case basis - I'm loving them more and more). Once that is figured out I just need to make an appointment and cross my fingers. )(

 

[Charity]

Draka, please go to the clinic and get this checked out. Just tell them up front that you will have to pay them small amounts in payments. Most doctors will accept a small $10 monthly payment just as long as you are willing to show them that you will pay.
My neighbor had a similar situation, make an appt with them and explain your situation to them. Hopefully you will find them willing to work with you.
Please don't wait around, you really need to be seen quickly. I will keep you in my thoughts.

 

[Draka]

I've had the mole on my breast for several months now. The one on the back of my shoulder I just noticed. I think a few days aren't about to make that much of a difference now. I am trying to work something out with my family doctor.

I've already said the clinic won't see me, just refer me, the derm office won't take me, and the ER will just refer me as well. I'm just best off trying to work something out with my own doctor. It's the only way I'll get anything seen or tested.

 

[Reverend Rick]

Go to the sliding scale clinic. Most will bill you. Send them a dollar or two each month. As long as you make an attempt to pay, most are understandable. I have been paying on a cancer operation for 5 years now. Cancer is not a death sentence. Early detection is the key to survival however.

 

[Draka]

Go to the sliding scale clinic. Most will bill you. Send them a dollar or two each month. As long as you make an attempt to pay, most are understandable. I have been paying on a cancer operation for 5 years now. Cancer is not a death sentence. Early detection is the key to survival however.

I already called and spoke with them about my concern. They already said they would refer me out to a specialist. I'm going with my own doctor.

 

[Reverend Rick]

I already called and spoke with them about my concern. They already said they would refer me out to a specialist. I'm going with my own doctor.

Good for you Draka! Get well and worry about the bills later.