It is not the cancer that will get you as much as the cost and the confusing which accompany the disease. The cost is a worry because what the insurances company does not pick up you will have to pay and the confusing comes from the doctor’s office, the Insurances Company, hospitals, and testing and treatment center. It gets MADDING.
Let my share a little story of the experiences I have had so far. In a way it is funny if you knew me personal and how an approach things in my life. Guess, I need to back up and explain that too. See I am a business person who works freelance. Time is money and completed project is money. Simple way to understand how a make my money. I cannot help that every time I am confronted with an issue in my life, that a face it as a project. This is where the problem lies.
I told that I have cancer. OK, my question how are we going to fix it and how will it completed. And oh yes how much will it cost. My questions are pretty to the point and I want to know all the opposition that I may have.
The first interaction with madness and confusing came the day I was going to have the Lumpectomy. I presented myself at the check in point at the hospital where I was told by a clerk, that I need to make a 200.00 deposit before the surgery. When I ask her why, she just looked at me like I had many breast dangling from my chest. I told her that I have not been informed of this before hand and that all I had brought to the hospital was my Insurances Card, my Blackberry, and my Breast. She then proceeded to argue the point that a deposit had to be made and that I did not have insurances. I told her to bill my insurances in which I had given the information earlier in the week during post surgical pre-up. She continues to argue. I just turned around and started to walk out. This was stupid. After awhile she saw it my way and I went to have the surgery which was changed to having biopsies as told in an early post.
The next difficulty with madness and confussing was when I was billed 1500.00 by the hospital because they did not bill the insurances company. This placed me on the phone with the hospital billing office requesting that once again they bill the insurances company. They had to argue. HOSPITAL PLEASE!
The next problem was being told by one of my doctor that I must have what they call a PET scan. I did check and this is a nesses thing to have done with cancer treatment. The office had set me up with a company in town which did this scan and I thought everything was set. The day before the scan I called to confirm my appointment. The lady on the phone stated that she was glad that I called because she needs to give me instruction for the scan. It was three o’clock when I call. I was told that I could eat 6-8 hours before the scan and would only have water and that medication which could only be taken with water. I could not where any cloths that have metal such as jeans. Okay all this was fine, but then she hit me with “you will need to pay 450.00 before we can do the scan”. I ask her to bill the insurances company and she stated that they did not do that first and I must pay this up front first. I am out of work like many people in this county and I do not have 450.00 just laying around. And there is no way I can get that type of money now in such short order. I ask if I could pay half on the day of the scan and half on my husband next pay day. She said that could not be done. I started to call around to find other place which did the same work and did find one company about 70 miles from my home. When I went to my doctor office and was ask about the scan and why I did not do it I told him that I could not because I did not have the money. I was told that I was not talking care of my health and not doing what had to be done. This pissed me off. I could not do because I do not have the money. Later I found out that my doctor has interest in that company. You have to love that. I called again the company in town and they were will to work with me. 225.00 On the day of the scan and the pay it out. What bull shit and all of that put treatment and decisions on hold for another week.
The next blow up came after I saw my new doctor who placed me on medication that I must take for the next five years. Does not seem like much of a problems other then the really bad side effects that one will just have to cope with. I had the prescription filled and was off to complete my planned day. I had a call from the doctor office. The lady told me that my insurance company would not pay for the medication. She told me to call the place for medication assistance. Okay what do you think when you hear this. Dam this shit must be “real” expense (this is what I thought). I ask her how much the medication was and she stated that she did not know. I ask her what I could do if they did not accept me for assistance and I could not come up with the money to pay for the medication. The woman from the doctor office began to tell me that I did not care for my health, was not following doctor instruction, and did I want to die. I just hung up the phone. Second time I had been told that I wanted to DIE. If I wanted to DIE I would not be doing everything I can to LIVE. I call and the Pharmacy stated that the medication is $23.00 per month and that my insurance company did not pay for that medication. Okay I am sure even with employment that I can pay $23.00 for a medication that I need to save my life. But I also know that some people $23.00 could break them now.
When I got home I calm down and called the doctor office to once again educate people in business practices and health care. I started by tell the women that the medication was only $23.00 per month, that this be a problem for some people, and that the information that she had given me would important for them. I then proceed to tell her that from this point forward NO ONE in her office or any other office will make statement that I did not care about taking care of my life and that I want to kill myself.
Coping with cancer is one thing and it can be done and done well. But managing these health care people and their daily bull shit is what drags you down. Hell even the insurance company is easier to manage. If you ask a doctor if there is something else that can be done they get crazy on you. It is my life and I want to know what can be done and how. It is my right and all people out there. You are not being combative or unwilling to live. You just want to make the right choice for you.
And in enclosing with this if you do not have the money; you just do not have the money. Cancer cost money and the money issue is what makes it MADDING AND CONFUSING.
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