DEAR MASSACHUSETTS, YOU SUCK
Oct. 26th, 2009 10:24 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cindylouwho I have been unemployed since mid June. It took until sometime in July to get coverage. I had medical care through the summer, ending at the end of August. At the end of August I began to apply for Mass Health/Commonwealth Care. My paperwork was lost TWICE and after multiple phone calls I got a letter dated 10/16 that I was eligible for Commonwealth Care, as well as a phone call.
SO when I can FINALLY GET THROUGH TO A HUMAN BEING,and give them all of my information, they tell me I will not have coverage UNTIL DECEMBER. DECEMBER. So I ask what I am supposed to do between now and then, which I was told to contact Health Safety Net. I checked their site for info and it takes FORTY-FIVE days to get approved. That will be some time in December. Now I can wait on my primary care doctor visit, but I can't wait to see the neuro.
I need to get a flu shot. I still need to have meds filled. The ativan is fine, it's only 15 dollars out of pocket. But my antidepressant is over $200. I can't afford that. And I can't afford to go off of it either. Then there are the pain pills. I have 4 left. I do not think he will refill anything over the phone. Maybe I can get them to give me T3's until I have coverage to tide me over. I don't know. I am going to be doing a lot of begging in the mean time. Or I am going to be in pain until December, making it pretty much impossible to hold new job down.
Not to mention they hit you with a tax penalty here in MA if you do not have insurance. If I am taxed I will fight it with every fiber in my body.
Not to mention my hospital visit and the one neuro visit I will have to pay out of pocket b/c nothing is RETROACTIVE.
AUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now I have started a new job but I do not know if benefits are included as it is only a 3 day position. Also I haven't done my paperwork yet. So this could all end up being a moot point. Or not. All I know is that there needs to be a change in the way health care is managed in this country. If I were to God forbid, get in an accident right now, I'd be fucked. There is no way I'd ever recover financially. My parents can't help in that kind of situation.
SO when I can FINALLY GET THROUGH TO A HUMAN BEING,and give them all of my information, they tell me I will not have coverage UNTIL DECEMBER. DECEMBER. So I ask what I am supposed to do between now and then, which I was told to contact Health Safety Net. I checked their site for info and it takes FORTY-FIVE days to get approved. That will be some time in December. Now I can wait on my primary care doctor visit, but I can't wait to see the neuro.
I need to get a flu shot. I still need to have meds filled. The ativan is fine, it's only 15 dollars out of pocket. But my antidepressant is over $200. I can't afford that. And I can't afford to go off of it either. Then there are the pain pills. I have 4 left. I do not think he will refill anything over the phone. Maybe I can get them to give me T3's until I have coverage to tide me over. I don't know. I am going to be doing a lot of begging in the mean time. Or I am going to be in pain until December, making it pretty much impossible to hold new job down.
Not to mention they hit you with a tax penalty here in MA if you do not have insurance. If I am taxed I will fight it with every fiber in my body.
Not to mention my hospital visit and the one neuro visit I will have to pay out of pocket b/c nothing is RETROACTIVE.
AUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now I have started a new job but I do not know if benefits are included as it is only a 3 day position. Also I haven't done my paperwork yet. So this could all end up being a moot point. Or not. All I know is that there needs to be a change in the way health care is managed in this country. If I were to God forbid, get in an accident right now, I'd be fucked. There is no way I'd ever recover financially. My parents can't help in that kind of situation.
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no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 03:23 pm (UTC)The whole system is so corrupt, it's fucking ridiculous. They're in the business of taking care of people, yet push comes to shove, they care more about their bottom line. I find it absolutely ridiculous that the process takes weeks and weeks and weeks. What's so difficult about filing paperwork?!
On a personal note: I can certainly commiserate to some degree. The state of NJ has yet to inform me whether my kids are covered. As it stands, our benefits may be terminated on the 31st of this month. They're scheduled for flu shots on November 4th.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 10:22 pm (UTC)That is why I started doing paperwork in August. I thought this would have been resolved by now. PAPERWORK FAIL!
no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 05:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 10:20 pm (UTC)and thanks for the postcard!
It brightened my day!
no subject
Date: 2009-10-27 08:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 06:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 10:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 09:18 pm (UTC)I know at the Doctor's Office I used to work for, a lady there was very ill and could not afford prescriptions, so hr physician went out of his way to get her samples. Since it would only be until December, maybe you could ask your doctor's to pull a few strings and help you out? Drug companies love giving out samples to doctor's because they make money in the long run from it, when it gets prescribed.
Something to think about. Sorry this whole medical care shit sucks so hard. Its not better for many people here in NY either Im afraid &hearts
no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 10:17 pm (UTC)I will be calling my dr, and she has been really good with all of this; when I was in the other day she didn't charge me for the appt.
I still need to see if she or the neuro will refill my pain pills as well. *sigh*
I started this in August thinking I wouldn't have this kind of issue. I mean seriously, December?
no subject
Date: 2009-10-28 03:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-28 01:52 pm (UTC)