Darn Medical Expenses!!!!

[13inOR]

I have been suffering with a terrible sore throat, virus,sinus infection, bronchial thing for over a week now, and today I went back to the doctor
a second time, since Friday, since I am actually worse and not better.

Anyhow, it occurred to me as I was driving home from the pharmacy afterward, that this little fiasco cost me $50 in copays, $80 at the pharmacy just today for copays for several prescriptions, plus about $30 in over the counter remedies, just in a few days time.
And that was just copays, WITH good health coverage--even so, thats just one person adding up to $150 in just a few days time,
not to mention that I have missed a week of work that fortunately I have sick time for, but if I did not, would have cost me another $600 bucks or so.

It just made me realize even more so, how that so many of us are in our financial states because of things just like this. That $150 alone is enough to foul up your monthly budget in a chapter 13, and that was only for me. What if everyone else caught it? And, furthermore, think what it would have cost if I didnt have good health insurance and sick time saved up? The nose spray alone was almost $100 retail!! And this is just a minor illness, think of the long-term, chronic things?? YIKES

Anyhow, not to rant, but it sure does make sense how easy it is to get behind when unforeeen things happen. We have all been there, I know.

[SinkingFast]

I know how you feel, 13inOR. Been sick last week myself as well.

Running a fever. Feeling like I'd been hit by a truck. But no other symptoms. I waited 3 days to go to the doctor cause they always ask you with kids, "How long with the fever?"

Thank Goodness for a $15 office copay. I went to an Urgent Care. They charge a tad more than a doctor, but not like the Emergency Room at the hospital does. They drew blood to check for mono and a couple other things, due to my lack of symptoms. And, of course, I had to pee in the cup. WooHoo!! Turns out, nothing in the blood work, but I did have a rather significant bladder infection. Yuck!

So a trip to the pharmacy and $40 for the antibiotic. We have to pay in full for the drugs, up front, and then get reimbursed at 80% by the insurance after we meet our deductible.

I still have a routine doctor's visit for my blood pressure scheduled for next week. And I pay out $150/month for BP meds.

Oh and here's the fun one. In 12-15 months, we had to meet deductibles 3 times. Last year, we were on Hubby's COBRA to start the year. Need I mention $900/mo COBRA payments??!! Then he went on the new company's plan in May of 05. And then we had a new medical plan year begin in January of 06. That's $500/$1000 each time for a total of $3K in deductibles in a tad over a year.

[debtisbad]

13,

This is exactly what I am worried about in my future. We should all be worried about it. Lets fast forward 10, maybe 20 years. We are older and have more medical expenses. What will our lives be like then. Will all of everyones retirement savings go to buy medicines?? I have actually been researching this. Many of our elder Americans are retiring south of the border due to the fact that healthcare is so much cheaper (right now) than here. There is a community at Lake Chapala that consists of almost entirely retired Americans. My husband has ordered his meds from pharmacies down there. You do not need a script. So lets say that you know you need zithromax for your sore throat that you get every year. You can get zithro for (last time I checked) about 35 USD. My copay is 40!!!! Oh, and I did not have to pay the copay to see the dr because I did not need a script. If you are ever interested in an American retirement in Mexico check out their webpage at Chapala.com very interesting!

[jane taylor]

I hate this!!! We are sick, too. Last week my son went to the doctor with a sinus infection complete with antibiotics and name brand cough syrup (OTC didn't work), my daughter went yesterday, got her a script for antibiotics, and I'm sick, too. Trying to hang in there with OTC stuff, but it just isn't working too well. My husband's diverticulosis is acting up as well. We supposedly have "good insurance", but then, why did we have to put so many medical bills in our Ch. 13? Guess it's because a lot of the medical expenses "weren't really necessary" according to my aunt who is a nurse (BTW she's never managed her money well either!).

Sorry, being sleep deprived makes me REALLY crabby!!! Slept maybe 4 hours last night as I was so uncomfortable and worried about my husband.

Maybe I just need another dose of Vitamin C (caffeine!)!

Hope y'all feel better soon!!!

jane

[debtisbad]

Jane,

Hope you get to feeling better. I am on my way to the dr. here in a few minutes. My co pay is 25.00 and who knows what they will prescribe. I am going for muscular soreness. When I get sore throats or know what I need, we just order the meds from Mexico. Don't need a script and I like to keep a supply of zithromax on hand (it is so EXPENSIVE in the states!).

I hate to sound vain, but there is a face cream that I like to use, which, of course, is not covered by ins. I well understand that. However, it is about 175.00 at cvs. YIKES!!!! I order from Mexico. Last time I got it (which has been a while--it was 10 dollars.) I think I need a little more of this face cream these days-as this BK thing is aging me to death!!!!!!!

[SinkingFast]

I hate this!!! We are sick, too. Last week my son went to the doctor with a sinus infection complete with antibiotics and name brand cough syrup (OTC didn't work), my daughter went yesterday, got her a script for antibiotics, and I'm sick, too. Trying to hang in there with OTC stuff, but it just isn't working too well. My husband's diverticulosis is acting up as well. We supposedly have "good insurance", but then, why did we have to put so many medical bills in our Ch. 13? Guess it's because a lot of the medical expenses "weren't really necessary" according to my aunt who is a nurse (BTW she's never managed her money well either!).

Sorry, being sleep deprived makes me REALLY crabby!!! Slept maybe 4 hours last night as I was so uncomfortable and worried about my husband.

Maybe I just need another dose of Vitamin C (caffeine!)!

Hope y'all feel better soon!!!

jane

I have a couple Girl Friends who are nurses in Doctor's offices. Their families hardly ever go to the Doc for this kind of stuff. Because,.............. They bring samples home from the office.

Antibiotics, antihistimines, decongestants, you name it. They have it on hand at home. If they don't and some one get's sick, they just raid the samples cabinet at work the next day and treat the illness when they get home.

Kinda makes you wanna work in a Doctor's office somehow!!

[13inOR]

My brother dated a girl for a short while that worked for an orthopedic specialist, the best thing that came from that relationship was the huge trash bag sized sack of celebrex samples she fixed us up with! LOL

[DOA]

Ah yes, the medical bills. I await patiently to see how much this round of my heart issue will cost. Hum, lets see.........Ambulance ride, ER room, 2 days inpatient at hospital, ECG, EKG, EP heart cath.....oh yeah, new meds.... I'm sure it won't be more than 13 or $14,000 for last week. The cath is at least $8500 I know for sure. So I'll probably get off with just $2400 best estimate including my deductible.............

[13inOR]

YUCK DOA! Thats what I meant though, people with chronic illnesses really have it rough. Even with insurance, it really adds up.
I hope you are at least feeling better!

[jane taylor]

DOA:

I sure hope you are feeling better. All this talk reminds of when I had my tonsillectomy (in my 30's--ouch!) and I asked the DR. about the pain. He was very funny, said he could give me pain meds for my throat, but the bill-- no meds for that! At least he was honest and he was one of the least expensive!!

Gotta laugh to keep from crying!!

Debtisbad, let me know what kind of cream that is! I very well may need the industrial strength version and/or be dipped in the stuff!!

[arkienurse]

Uggh. In the past 3 months we have spent $628 on just dental expenses. Just regular visits, my insurance is crappy, pays like half( which is better than nothiing, but...) Then hubby got an abscessed tooth. Had to have sedation because of where it is, so that was 300. Then when we were saving for that, he got an abscess on the other side. Luckily they were able to get both at once, and it only added $70 to the bill. Unluckily, on the way home from the dentist, I broke a tooth off at the gum. They are going to try and get it under local only, which will be $70 for my part. But he wasn't very optimistic about getting it under local only( to the point that I am going NPO just in case I have to be sedated)
And all the bills started to arrive from my visit to the ER on Thanksgiving night. My insurance has a $100 copay for ER if you aren't admitted. Then all the little bills for lab, ekg, chest xray- no, I take that back, insurance pays for tests done at the hospital in full, but I still had to pay reading fees for all them. Plus $300 for the physician bill.

[anonymuse]

I pay about $230 a month in copays for meds and then let's just throw in another $20-40 a month for copays for office visits. This is the thing that scares me most in a Ch 13 repayment plan. It's not just whether something happens when you're UNinsured--you're still bitten even if you are insured.

[13inOR]

I know anonymuse, thats what I mean! Its frustrating. Even with insurance it can do you in thats for sure. In a chapter 13 there is a medical expense allowance per month that they figure in but sometimes its more than you expect and you have to take the money from somewhere else, like groceries. Thats no fun!

[edwards2]

Sorry all you guys are not feeling well...let me add my allergies and sinus problems to the list. I dont take a lot of meds every month - in fact only one with a script and the other 2 are OTC but the dental issues I truly can feel your pain. I have a bridge that needs replacing and also need a crown on the other side. We have dental insurance but our share is still $1700 just for the bridge. Insurance will pay 50% on the crown which is really good. Problem is just like you guys...there are several priorities in front of the dental work. I decided to go to the dental school and see if they will accept me as a "teaching case." If they do it should be about 1/2 or even less of what the dentist charges. Downside is the school is in midtown - quite a hike from where we live - and students do take forever because the supervisors have to check and recheck. I know they are learning and that is the price you pay(literally) but sometimes it is really hard to sit still that long. Our dentist is about 10 minutes from our house. He will not allow you to pay monthly. You can pay in 2 payments...that's all they will do.
Neither wonder medical bills drive people to BK; in fact, it was the no. 1 reason we had to. My husband suffered a medical catastrophie and we owed thousands and thousands even with insurance. We tried to pay everything for 3 years...obviously couldnt keep doing it....Hope all you guys feel better soon...It is so hot here(Tennessee) I have to go get another bottle of water...

[jane taylor]

My husband had to have tests in Jan. and we filed the end of Feb. Those tests were included in the BK, the hospital knows that, but when I checked messages last night, the hospital had called. What a pain!!! Guess I'll call the lawyer again today.

These sinuses are driving me crazy!!! I took some meds last night and now I feel like I've got a hangover plus my eyes are still swollen. Yuck!

Thankfully, we have a wonderful family doctor who understands our situation and knows we are trying our best to do something about it. He was willing to call the meds in for my sinus infection and not make me come in for an appt.

Hope everyone is feeling better today.

jane