Health Insurance Rant #3,642
Aug. 10th, 2011 10:54 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
next_to_normalUGH. The organization that I work for decided to switch insurance plans, undoubtedly because it's cheaper for them. They didn't give us any choice of plans, but our HR lady's all, "Our premiums have been reduced, isn't that nice for everyone!"
Well, sure, as long as you don't actually use your insurance.
Because while the premiums have been reduced, all the co-pays have gone up, and some of them have DOUBLED. But hey, as long as you don't go to the doctor, you're saving money! Isn't that NICE?
On the other hand, if you're someone like me, who uses a lot of health care services, the savings from the lower premiums is wiped out pretty quickly. Sure, I'm saving $20 a month on premiums, but it's now $50 every time I see a specialist (which I generally do once a month because of the Crohn's), instead of $25. $50 every time I see my therapist or psychiatrist (also previously $25), which I had been doing twice a month, but now I think we'll be cutting back. $70 for chemotherapy (aka my Remicade treatments), which used to be $25. If I have to go to the hospital again, it's $500 per day instead of $100. Prescription drugs now $10 for generic and $35 for brand name, and by the way, I take five of them (and at least one I can't get as a generic). This shit adds up.
I have multiple preexisting conditions, which means that I almost certainly couldn't do any better if I tried to get health insurance on my own. Premiums would be through the roof - assuming I could even find someone to insure me. So I'm stuck until 2017 when the health care reforms kick in (assumingthe country hasn't descended into anarchy they haven't been repealed by then).
And I know, I should be thankful I have insurance at all. And I am, because otherwise I'd be paying my entire salary toward medical costs. But, seriously, it is pretty ridiculous when you have insurance and still can't afford care.
This all comes after a scare with my therapist, where the insurance just decided to stop paying for my visits and I was looking at a pretty steep bill. We managed to get that straightened out, and the insurance will (theoretically) provide back payments, but it's been quite a week for health care.
Well, sure, as long as you don't actually use your insurance.
Because while the premiums have been reduced, all the co-pays have gone up, and some of them have DOUBLED. But hey, as long as you don't go to the doctor, you're saving money! Isn't that NICE?
On the other hand, if you're someone like me, who uses a lot of health care services, the savings from the lower premiums is wiped out pretty quickly. Sure, I'm saving $20 a month on premiums, but it's now $50 every time I see a specialist (which I generally do once a month because of the Crohn's), instead of $25. $50 every time I see my therapist or psychiatrist (also previously $25), which I had been doing twice a month, but now I think we'll be cutting back. $70 for chemotherapy (aka my Remicade treatments), which used to be $25. If I have to go to the hospital again, it's $500 per day instead of $100. Prescription drugs now $10 for generic and $35 for brand name, and by the way, I take five of them (and at least one I can't get as a generic). This shit adds up.
I have multiple preexisting conditions, which means that I almost certainly couldn't do any better if I tried to get health insurance on my own. Premiums would be through the roof - assuming I could even find someone to insure me. So I'm stuck until 2017 when the health care reforms kick in (assuming
And I know, I should be thankful I have insurance at all. And I am, because otherwise I'd be paying my entire salary toward medical costs. But, seriously, it is pretty ridiculous when you have insurance and still can't afford care.
This all comes after a scare with my therapist, where the insurance just decided to stop paying for my visits and I was looking at a pretty steep bill. We managed to get that straightened out, and the insurance will (theoretically) provide back payments, but it's been quite a week for health care.
no subject
Date: Aug. 11th, 2011 12:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Aug. 11th, 2011 12:51 am (UTC)I'm doing pretty well, though, so I think it's okay to cut back to once a month. It's more the physical health expenses that will be a bitch. My doctor needs to get me off some of these meds!
no subject
Date: Aug. 11th, 2011 01:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Aug. 11th, 2011 04:34 am (UTC)*shakes fist*