Those of you who know we well enough know I was diagnosed with Crohns Disease about nine years ago and it's been an on-going battle with my body each and every day. I constantly fight to stay healthy. I'll save all the Crohns info for another post in the near future like what Crohns is and how it affects peoples lives drastically. In this post, I want to vent about current health care.
Now, when I look for new jobs and such I always have a big issue in mind; how fast will I be eligable for medical insurance? It's such an annoyance. When I was in college I was too old to be on my parents insurance but I didn't have a full time job so I suffered (and I do mean suffered) through trying times. How I graduated with honors i'm not sure. I think over the years I've learned to try and ignore the side affects. Anyways, back to health care. A few years ago, I began a medication called Remicade. It's an IV chemotherapy (don't worry! I didn't lose hair!) infusion I received every two months or so to calm any inflammation going on in my body so that I wouldn't flare up. Each one of these treatments is roughly $6000. So on the positive note, THANK GOD FOR HEALTH INSURANCE. On the negative note, most insurance companies will shell out 80% of the footed bill, leaving patients with the remaining 20%. So 20% of $100 is doable. 20% of $6000? Does it look like I make that kind of money? Oh and don't forget...I get these infusions every two months. Add that all in there and I'm broke as F*CK. Luckily, I was able to get some help from the state but I was still slapped with a $600 bill every two months. Not exactly how I would like to be spending my hard earned, (well, earned) cash.
Last August I received my treatment and two weeks later, I woke up with a flare up. This is not good. $600 for a two week remission? I explained this to my doctor and she nodded and sighed, "This does happen. " "What happens?" I asked. "You're body is becoming allergic to the Remicade. You need to stop." Well, alright. Once I was able to get my body on a schedule again, I went into a long remission, just until recently. Thats when my doctor told me about another treatment that would subside my symptoms. It's called Cimzia and it's a self medicated drug. Meaning I would actually have to inject myself. BUT only if my insurance approves it of course.
I got that call today.
"Hello Miss Shellman? Yeah we called your insurance and basically for each shot which you'll give yourself once a month, it will cost you $289 each month."
$289 a month. For one shot. If I had an extra $289 lying around I would sure be doing a lot more in my life than I am now! $50 I can do. $289 is a plane ticket. 12 plane tickets for a whole year. Ridiculous.
I wish I lived in Canada. You give birth and its like, "ok good luck!" you give birth here and it's like "ok good luck with that massive medical bill you'll be receiving in the next month!"
So all in all with my whole ranting about healthy care, it sucks. And it especially sucks if you live with an uncontrolled condition that makes you feel helpless at times. So Obama, kick this healthcare plan into gear so I can start feeling healthy and start buying plane tickets!
