Change can be hard.
It can also be also be a chance to reflect on what is important.
This sweeping statement sounds somewhat romantic until you learn that I am talking about health insurance.
Up until recently, M was covered on her father's PPO coverage at his place of employment. This worked out pretty well on the day she was diagnosed. We paid about $38 each time we visited a specialist, and about $84 per month on insulin, and $87 per month on test strips. Also, we paid about $50 every six months for lancers, since M only changes them about once per day. Infusion sets cost us about $240 every quarter, so about $800-$1,000 per year.
All of this totals roughly $3100 per year in maintenance.
All very interesting, I'm sure.
But then Daddy got a new job. And insurance doesn't kick in for 90 days.
Okay then, let's get on Mommy's insurance plan: an HMO.
The insurance itself costs less, for sure. And prescriptions are a lot cheaper: $15 for test strips and insulin. Doctor's visits are $10. But M's current endocrinologist is not on the plan. In HMO speak, this means that the insurance will not pay anything toward M's care if we see her current doctor. At least on the PPO, if M's specialist was not on the plan, we would still get some coverage, but not as much as those "participating" in the plan.
So now what?
We have to change doctors.
We have been thinking about this for a while, anyhow.
After all, M's diabetes nurse educator would frequently give us conflicting advice, and although we asked repeatedly to be part of trials, we were never even told if any were going on. I assume that we were put toward the bottom of the list due to the fact that we live over one and a half hours from the hospital.
Fortunately, we have heard many great things about the hospital just 40 minutes away.
Searching the web, I learn which doctors are on our plan, which is somewhat helpful, but I can't find any information about the doctors themselves. So I turn to my new resource: the STAR parents.
I send an e-mail to the group explaining our situation, and within two days I have the names of the two favorite pediatric endocrinologists in the Dartmouth area, as well as the name of a favorite Diabetes Nurse Educator.
I contact our PCP (Primary Care Physician) and request that we be referred to the new doctor. (For all of you Russians out there who are mysteriously reading my blog, we in the States cannot refer ourselves to our own specialists: another doctor must "officially" make the request in order for our insurance to approve and pay for the visits.)
Service was excellent, and within a week I received a phone call from the new hospital confirming an appointment with our new DNE. The copay for the visit was $10.
So an HMO doesn't sound too bad, does it? Lower prescription prices (even if they do give us 100 fewer test strips per month), lower copay prices, a specialist nearby....
Except that if the diabetic stuff hits the fan, and we need to see someone "outside of the plan", the expenses may very well not be covered.
Which is why, after 90 days, we will be switching back to a PPO through Bill's new job. I will continue to remind myself: change can be good. But hopefully after the 90 days, we won't have to make another one for a while.
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Monday, January 21, 2013
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Sick kittens and other things that piss me off
Not long ago, I saw this article in my local newspaper (yeah, I read the paper, and not on line either).
Campaign for a kitten
The article is about a woman who adopted a 9 week old kitten, only to learn that it has a birth defect. Its ribs are growing the wrong way so that they will not protect his heart. In fact they will eventually pierce his heart an kill him.
The woman is heartbroken and decides to raise money for the surgery, which will need to be performed twice, because he will grow and change, and they will need a special casts that will need to accommodate his growing body, etc. (For Seinfeld fans, I am reminded of this quote from George Costanza: "So they're flying in special tiny instruments from El Paso") The estimated cost for all of the kitten's needs is about $1500. Donations could be made to the "Misty the Kitten" fund.
So how did that work out, you might wonder? After all, that is a ridiculous amount of money to raise in a short period of time.
But when Misty reached 11 weeks, the campaign had raised $2046 with 12 days left in the campaign.
WHAT!??!
Not to sound bitter, but I can't even get my coworkers to give me $5 for diabetes research. Diabetes, which kills thousands upon thousands of people every year.
But wait, there's more. This happens: Misty the Kitten Dies Post-Surgery.
Super.
Stupid kitten.
Now the woman who created the fund has a bunch of money left over and she wants to use it to support other hopeless sick kitten cases.
So once in a while I read another article about some other hopeless case of a cat that would probably prefer sweet death to another pointless and painful surgery using the LEFTOVER FUNDS from the "Misty the Kitten" fund.
Fine world, have it your way.
Campaign for a kitten
The article is about a woman who adopted a 9 week old kitten, only to learn that it has a birth defect. Its ribs are growing the wrong way so that they will not protect his heart. In fact they will eventually pierce his heart an kill him.
The woman is heartbroken and decides to raise money for the surgery, which will need to be performed twice, because he will grow and change, and they will need a special casts that will need to accommodate his growing body, etc. (For Seinfeld fans, I am reminded of this quote from George Costanza: "So they're flying in special tiny instruments from El Paso") The estimated cost for all of the kitten's needs is about $1500. Donations could be made to the "Misty the Kitten" fund.
So how did that work out, you might wonder? After all, that is a ridiculous amount of money to raise in a short period of time.
But when Misty reached 11 weeks, the campaign had raised $2046 with 12 days left in the campaign.
WHAT!??!
Not to sound bitter, but I can't even get my coworkers to give me $5 for diabetes research. Diabetes, which kills thousands upon thousands of people every year.
But wait, there's more. This happens: Misty the Kitten Dies Post-Surgery.
Super.
Stupid kitten.
Now the woman who created the fund has a bunch of money left over and she wants to use it to support other hopeless sick kitten cases.
So once in a while I read another article about some other hopeless case of a cat that would probably prefer sweet death to another pointless and painful surgery using the LEFTOVER FUNDS from the "Misty the Kitten" fund.
Fine world, have it your way.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Lions and Angels
After M was diagnosed, several people told me that I simply must send her to diabetes camp, that it did wonders for their child, niece, grandson, the neighbor's kid.
The fact of the matter was that M was diagnosed at a very inconvenient time. Inconvenient because a) I was broke, and b) camp sign-ups were already done for the year.
A buddy of mine from church also asked if I was planning to send M to diabetes camp. I told her that I would like to the following year, but I wasn't sure if I would or not. She was wise enough to read between the lines, and told me that she was part of the Lion's Club. These are the same people that collect old pairs of glasses to help people who can't otherwise afford them. She said that they usually have scholarships for kids going to diabetes camp. I told her I would keep it in mind for the following year.
The following year, my buddy reminded me to apply for a scholarship for M. I didn't think we'd qualify, and I was afraid that even if we did, we would not be able to pay the balance. We were getting by, but things were really tight. I thought we might have to pass up camp again this year.
Then Auntie Jeanne stepped in.
Auntie Jeanne is M's godmother, guardian angel, and fantastic human being. In fact, when I discuss her with people outside our shared social circle, I refer to her as "Auntie Jeanne" so that she will not be mixed up with any of the other, less important, Jeannes in my life.
Auntie Jeanne offered to pay for a large chunk of M's diabetes camp.
I cried.
Then I applied for the scholarship.
The Lion's club paid $900 of M's camper fees, leaving only $300. Jeanne paid the balance.
I am so grateful for groups like the Lion's club, who make it possible for kids like mine to attend a camp that would otherwise be out of their reach.
I wept again after dropping M off at camp, so grateful that my daughter would have this opportunity to be with other kids who had to watch what they eat and inject themselves with insulin. I am not glad that there were so many of them, but I was glad that they weren't alone: that they had to explain nothing to anyone. Although the focus of camp is diabetes, in some ways it is like a diabetic vacation.
M was a big hit at diabetes camp. She went bass fishing, wrote at the camp newspaper, made videos, went swimming, and generally had a ball. People hugged her like mad when she left.
And she can't wait to go back.
The fact of the matter was that M was diagnosed at a very inconvenient time. Inconvenient because a) I was broke, and b) camp sign-ups were already done for the year.
A buddy of mine from church also asked if I was planning to send M to diabetes camp. I told her that I would like to the following year, but I wasn't sure if I would or not. She was wise enough to read between the lines, and told me that she was part of the Lion's Club. These are the same people that collect old pairs of glasses to help people who can't otherwise afford them. She said that they usually have scholarships for kids going to diabetes camp. I told her I would keep it in mind for the following year.
The following year, my buddy reminded me to apply for a scholarship for M. I didn't think we'd qualify, and I was afraid that even if we did, we would not be able to pay the balance. We were getting by, but things were really tight. I thought we might have to pass up camp again this year.
Then Auntie Jeanne stepped in.
Auntie Jeanne is M's godmother, guardian angel, and fantastic human being. In fact, when I discuss her with people outside our shared social circle, I refer to her as "Auntie Jeanne" so that she will not be mixed up with any of the other, less important, Jeannes in my life.
Auntie Jeanne offered to pay for a large chunk of M's diabetes camp.
I cried.
Then I applied for the scholarship.
The Lion's club paid $900 of M's camper fees, leaving only $300. Jeanne paid the balance.
I am so grateful for groups like the Lion's club, who make it possible for kids like mine to attend a camp that would otherwise be out of their reach.
I wept again after dropping M off at camp, so grateful that my daughter would have this opportunity to be with other kids who had to watch what they eat and inject themselves with insulin. I am not glad that there were so many of them, but I was glad that they weren't alone: that they had to explain nothing to anyone. Although the focus of camp is diabetes, in some ways it is like a diabetic vacation.
M was a big hit at diabetes camp. She went bass fishing, wrote at the camp newspaper, made videos, went swimming, and generally had a ball. People hugged her like mad when she left.
And she can't wait to go back.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Flexible Spending
I think I have written before about the glories of the Flexible Spending Account.
I love having one. The Flexible Spending Account, or FSA, is not the same as a Health Savings Account, or HSA.
The FSA was first introduced in the 1970s, but being that I was under 12 at that time, I was not aware of it or its benefits. It seems to have increased in popularity lately, because health care costs have been increasing. Or maybe now that I know what it is, I hear a lot more about it. I remember hearing about FSAs for the first time during the Clinton administration on Good Morning America, but at the time my husband was a student, and I worked in a private school, neither of which offered any kind of benefit package.
Basically, an FSA is a benefit that employers can offer employees, along with 401(k)s, disability, and life insurance. You agree to have a preset amount removed from your paycheck, before taxes. This money is then set aside for pre-approved purposes, like health spending or dependent care. You could use this money for any health care items that are not covered by your insurance. Your deductibles, your prescriptions, chiropractor visits, and medical equipment could all be purchased with the money in your account. Since the account is pre-tax dollars, you will not pay taxes on the medical expenses paid out from your account.
What I like best, however, is that for those of us living somewhat close to the bone, when an unexpected expense comes up, you know that you can pay for it, because the money is already set aside.
There are two disadvantages, however.
One is that you must pay your expense out of your own pocket first, then be reimbursed by the company who manages your account. This can be tough when you are, for example, buying durable medical equipment like an insulin pump. Maybe you can't come up with the $1600 up front. In these situations, many people put the equipment on their credit card, then pay off the expense when their reimbursement check arrives. I have heard that some plans offer debit cards with a preset amount on them, but I have yet to meet anyone with one of those. I would LOVE one. It sure would be more convenient.
The second, which infuriates a lot of people, is that you must use all of the money that is set aside in your account by the end of the year. Actually, there is a two month grace period, as long as the EXPENSES occur during the year during which the funds are set aside. If you do no use all of your money, it goes away. In other words, it is forfeited back to your insurance company. Which makes sense, since we know how broke all of our insurance companies are, poor babies. I remember hearing on that Good Morning America episode about how it is important to set aside only the money you know that you will use. In other words, low-ball it.
My first real encounter with the FSA was quite by accident. My husband was working at a company that did offer the plan, but I didn't pay attention to it. Then one year, my husband's paycheck seemed suddenly much larger. When I looked at the previous year's pay stubs, I saw that we were having about $150 per pay period taken out for something I couldn't identify. When I called HR, they explained that we had signed up for the FSA, and that these deductions were going into our account.
Well, no we hadn't. The HR department at his employer made the Keystone Cops look like the Navy Seals. I am sure some incompetent boob put our money aside and left the next person in the alphabet alone, wondering why he had no FSA.
I know when not to pick a fight, however. Instead of railing against incompetence, I asked the nice lady on the phone if there was any way to get our money from last year back. The woman sighed loudly in anticipation of actual work. Then she explained, through what sounded like gritted teeth, that we couldn't, unless we could a) find receipts for $3600 worth of medical expenses that we paid AND b) that those expenses had occurred during the previous year. If, and ONLY if, we could do that, could we c) submit the expenses, using the proper forms, before March 1st.
$3600 is a great motivator. And besides, Older Brother had recently gotten braces. I needed only to ask the orthodontist to print out a receipt to get my money back. Which I did. So HA! In your face HR people!
After that, we began actively using FSAs whenever they were offered. Back then eyeglasses were covered (they are not now, thanks to the new health care legislation), so we set aside about $1000 per year.
The year M was diagnosed, we had set aside $3500 for braces. We were a little bummed when the orthodontist told us that she wouldn't be ready for braces for another 18 months. We thought we wouldn't be able to use up all of our money and would lose it.
But she was diagnosed. And we used it, and thousands of dollars beyond. Her second year of diagnosis, we set aside $4000. We used it easily. Now we are setting aside the limit that is allowed starting in 2013, $2500.
So paying for M's pump will be a little easier than it would be otherwise. Which means that she can have a pump sooner. And she can control her bg even better. And she can be healthier.
Which is why, even though it is not perfect, I love my FSA.
I love having one. The Flexible Spending Account, or FSA, is not the same as a Health Savings Account, or HSA.
The FSA was first introduced in the 1970s, but being that I was under 12 at that time, I was not aware of it or its benefits. It seems to have increased in popularity lately, because health care costs have been increasing. Or maybe now that I know what it is, I hear a lot more about it. I remember hearing about FSAs for the first time during the Clinton administration on Good Morning America, but at the time my husband was a student, and I worked in a private school, neither of which offered any kind of benefit package.
Basically, an FSA is a benefit that employers can offer employees, along with 401(k)s, disability, and life insurance. You agree to have a preset amount removed from your paycheck, before taxes. This money is then set aside for pre-approved purposes, like health spending or dependent care. You could use this money for any health care items that are not covered by your insurance. Your deductibles, your prescriptions, chiropractor visits, and medical equipment could all be purchased with the money in your account. Since the account is pre-tax dollars, you will not pay taxes on the medical expenses paid out from your account.
What I like best, however, is that for those of us living somewhat close to the bone, when an unexpected expense comes up, you know that you can pay for it, because the money is already set aside.
There are two disadvantages, however.
One is that you must pay your expense out of your own pocket first, then be reimbursed by the company who manages your account. This can be tough when you are, for example, buying durable medical equipment like an insulin pump. Maybe you can't come up with the $1600 up front. In these situations, many people put the equipment on their credit card, then pay off the expense when their reimbursement check arrives. I have heard that some plans offer debit cards with a preset amount on them, but I have yet to meet anyone with one of those. I would LOVE one. It sure would be more convenient.
The second, which infuriates a lot of people, is that you must use all of the money that is set aside in your account by the end of the year. Actually, there is a two month grace period, as long as the EXPENSES occur during the year during which the funds are set aside. If you do no use all of your money, it goes away. In other words, it is forfeited back to your insurance company. Which makes sense, since we know how broke all of our insurance companies are, poor babies. I remember hearing on that Good Morning America episode about how it is important to set aside only the money you know that you will use. In other words, low-ball it.
My first real encounter with the FSA was quite by accident. My husband was working at a company that did offer the plan, but I didn't pay attention to it. Then one year, my husband's paycheck seemed suddenly much larger. When I looked at the previous year's pay stubs, I saw that we were having about $150 per pay period taken out for something I couldn't identify. When I called HR, they explained that we had signed up for the FSA, and that these deductions were going into our account.
Well, no we hadn't. The HR department at his employer made the Keystone Cops look like the Navy Seals. I am sure some incompetent boob put our money aside and left the next person in the alphabet alone, wondering why he had no FSA.
I know when not to pick a fight, however. Instead of railing against incompetence, I asked the nice lady on the phone if there was any way to get our money from last year back. The woman sighed loudly in anticipation of actual work. Then she explained, through what sounded like gritted teeth, that we couldn't, unless we could a) find receipts for $3600 worth of medical expenses that we paid AND b) that those expenses had occurred during the previous year. If, and ONLY if, we could do that, could we c) submit the expenses, using the proper forms, before March 1st.
$3600 is a great motivator. And besides, Older Brother had recently gotten braces. I needed only to ask the orthodontist to print out a receipt to get my money back. Which I did. So HA! In your face HR people!
After that, we began actively using FSAs whenever they were offered. Back then eyeglasses were covered (they are not now, thanks to the new health care legislation), so we set aside about $1000 per year.
The year M was diagnosed, we had set aside $3500 for braces. We were a little bummed when the orthodontist told us that she wouldn't be ready for braces for another 18 months. We thought we wouldn't be able to use up all of our money and would lose it.
But she was diagnosed. And we used it, and thousands of dollars beyond. Her second year of diagnosis, we set aside $4000. We used it easily. Now we are setting aside the limit that is allowed starting in 2013, $2500.
So paying for M's pump will be a little easier than it would be otherwise. Which means that she can have a pump sooner. And she can control her bg even better. And she can be healthier.
Which is why, even though it is not perfect, I love my FSA.
 |
| That's the name of the game! |
Monday, April 4, 2011
Answer to: How much does an insulin pump cost?
The pump costs $6,500
After insurance, it costs us $1,586
There is no discount for paying the full price up front.
There are payment plans that charge you $5 per month to be on them.
The lowest monthly payment is about $55 for 35 months.
I pay the final payment on college tuition for the older child next month.
I will pay the pump people the full amount them.
Thank God for our FSA.
After insurance, it costs us $1,586
There is no discount for paying the full price up front.
There are payment plans that charge you $5 per month to be on them.
The lowest monthly payment is about $55 for 35 months.
I pay the final payment on college tuition for the older child next month.
I will pay the pump people the full amount them.
Thank God for our FSA.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
The phone call
So, I made the call. I contacted our area rep for Medtronic to order M's pump.
I called on a Tuesday. From work. I left a brief message as instructed. No one called back.
M asked me three times that afternoon, "Will you call again tomorrow?"
Yes, of course. Darling.
I call the next day. I leave a brief message. I state that I would not be calling again so soon, except that I have an eager 13-year-old breathing down my neck.
When I get home, the return phone call arrives.
The rep, Lindsay, is very polite, and explains to me that she has had the flu, or else she would have called sooner.
I again explain the 13-year-old neck-breather-downer, and tell her that there are no worries.
Then Lindsay does her job. Questions are asked: age of patient, number of months/years since the diagnosis, height and weight. Then insurance questions: Type, Group number, Subscriber number, Subscriber name, Subscriber's place of employment and birth date. MY birth date, address, phone number, place of employment. The insurance company's phone number and address. M's DNE, endocrinologist, clinic/hospital. Number of units of insulin currently used, what types, how often M checks her bg, how often she receives injections, how many carbs she eats per meal, and what her bg range has been over the last 30 days.
THEN, we get to the good stuff: what color pump, what style, and which infusion set. I am asked what size reservoir she will need.
How should I know?
Apparently, according to her height and weight, M is right on the cusp of needing the larger reservoir, which means a different model than the one with the smaller reservoir. Lindsay and I agree to ask the DNE her opinion on the matter. Lindsay assures me that our DNE is "great" and "very organized", and will be a good resource for the information that Lindsay is seeking.
Lindsay also murmurs something about a four year commitment to the pump, which upon further reflection is probably something I should ask about. I suspect it has to do with how often insurance will let you upgrade the pump.
I am told that Lindsay will be sending me some forms to fill out. I am to fax them back to her. After she talks with our insurance to learn how much is covered, she will then contact us to tell us when the pump will be shipped.
And by the way, it needs to be shipped somewhere where a person can sign for it. Can she ship it my place of work?
No.
I work in a high school, where over 1,000 people go in and out of the main office every day. No, no, no, not at all.
I decide to have it sent to M's little Montessori school. 80 kids, six adults, all of them responsible. Plus M can lovingly cradle the box when it arrives.
Once it arrives, we will set up an appointment for "pump training."
Lindsay sends me the (redundant) form to be signed. I fax it from a friend's house, and warn M's principal about the package that might be arriving in a couple of weeks. She expresses her excitement for M.
Fingers are crossed. Breath is held. Novenas are being said.
Soon we will know the answer to the burning question: how much is this sucker going to cost us?
I called on a Tuesday. From work. I left a brief message as instructed. No one called back.
M asked me three times that afternoon, "Will you call again tomorrow?"
Yes, of course. Darling.
I call the next day. I leave a brief message. I state that I would not be calling again so soon, except that I have an eager 13-year-old breathing down my neck.
When I get home, the return phone call arrives.
The rep, Lindsay, is very polite, and explains to me that she has had the flu, or else she would have called sooner.
I again explain the 13-year-old neck-breather-downer, and tell her that there are no worries.
Then Lindsay does her job. Questions are asked: age of patient, number of months/years since the diagnosis, height and weight. Then insurance questions: Type, Group number, Subscriber number, Subscriber name, Subscriber's place of employment and birth date. MY birth date, address, phone number, place of employment. The insurance company's phone number and address. M's DNE, endocrinologist, clinic/hospital. Number of units of insulin currently used, what types, how often M checks her bg, how often she receives injections, how many carbs she eats per meal, and what her bg range has been over the last 30 days.
THEN, we get to the good stuff: what color pump, what style, and which infusion set. I am asked what size reservoir she will need.
How should I know?
Apparently, according to her height and weight, M is right on the cusp of needing the larger reservoir, which means a different model than the one with the smaller reservoir. Lindsay and I agree to ask the DNE her opinion on the matter. Lindsay assures me that our DNE is "great" and "very organized", and will be a good resource for the information that Lindsay is seeking.
Lindsay also murmurs something about a four year commitment to the pump, which upon further reflection is probably something I should ask about. I suspect it has to do with how often insurance will let you upgrade the pump.
I am told that Lindsay will be sending me some forms to fill out. I am to fax them back to her. After she talks with our insurance to learn how much is covered, she will then contact us to tell us when the pump will be shipped.
And by the way, it needs to be shipped somewhere where a person can sign for it. Can she ship it my place of work?
No.
I work in a high school, where over 1,000 people go in and out of the main office every day. No, no, no, not at all.
I decide to have it sent to M's little Montessori school. 80 kids, six adults, all of them responsible. Plus M can lovingly cradle the box when it arrives.
Once it arrives, we will set up an appointment for "pump training."
Lindsay sends me the (redundant) form to be signed. I fax it from a friend's house, and warn M's principal about the package that might be arriving in a couple of weeks. She expresses her excitement for M.
Fingers are crossed. Breath is held. Novenas are being said.
Soon we will know the answer to the burning question: how much is this sucker going to cost us?
 |
| Just a few more questions, Mrs. Huber. |
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
How much does an insulin pump cost?
This is one of the great mysteries of life.
It's up there with "How much does a Craftmatic Adjustable Bed cost?" For those of you not of a certain age, the Craftmatic Adjustable Bed would be advertised on television, with "discounts of up to $500" without letting you know what the original price was. Listeners were encouraged to call a phone number on the screen to arrange for a representative to come visit your home to discuss your options, with no obligation to you. Ummm... sounds like predators working over the elderly, doesn't it?
Well, I can't help but feel that way about insulin pumps.
When I check websites for pump information, I am greeted with helpful tidbits like , "trade in your old pump and earn a $300 discount."
Hmmm. If they can offer $300 for an old pump, these things must be pretty pricey, right?
Right.
I asked one of my students, who has been on the pump for years, and recommends it. He told me that WITH insurance, his pump cost about $7,000.
$7,000?!
I have just finished paying off M's braces, to the tune of $7,500. I have a child in college, which is costing me $1,600 per month. We can barley afford to drive to work at this rate!
I figured, this kid, he's really nice, but not necessarily the most on top of it. He must be mistaken. So I keep looking. Yahoo answers gives me a range of zero dollars to $8,000. Diabetes blood sugar solutions tells me that in 2008, it probably cost about $6,500. Everyone points out that in addition to the pump, one must pay for supplies. These supplies cost as much as the supplies for using needles, so all things being equal, your only additional cost is the pump, which costs about the same as a decent motorcycle.
With the economy as a convenient excuse, my husband's company is offering less and less coverage in their insurance packages. Even as we pay for the most thorough coverage they offer, I can only assume that Durable Medical Devices will fall under the category of items no longer covered or 20% covered, still leaving me with about $5,600 to come up with.
Long story short, I will need to talk to the social worker at the hospital to see if having a pump is a viable choice for my daughter, which is what all of these online resources tell me to do, anyway.
I had hoped to have a better idea of what I could be in for; I didn't want to talk to anyone official unless I was pretty sure that I could tell my daughter that she had a choice. At this point, I can't say for sure that she has one.
I loved one comment that was made about the insulin pump: "It cost $8,000, but it is worth it!" I am sure that's true.
If you have $8,000.
It's up there with "How much does a Craftmatic Adjustable Bed cost?" For those of you not of a certain age, the Craftmatic Adjustable Bed would be advertised on television, with "discounts of up to $500" without letting you know what the original price was. Listeners were encouraged to call a phone number on the screen to arrange for a representative to come visit your home to discuss your options, with no obligation to you. Ummm... sounds like predators working over the elderly, doesn't it?
Well, I can't help but feel that way about insulin pumps.
When I check websites for pump information, I am greeted with helpful tidbits like , "trade in your old pump and earn a $300 discount."
Hmmm. If they can offer $300 for an old pump, these things must be pretty pricey, right?
Right.
I asked one of my students, who has been on the pump for years, and recommends it. He told me that WITH insurance, his pump cost about $7,000.
$7,000?!
I have just finished paying off M's braces, to the tune of $7,500. I have a child in college, which is costing me $1,600 per month. We can barley afford to drive to work at this rate!
I figured, this kid, he's really nice, but not necessarily the most on top of it. He must be mistaken. So I keep looking. Yahoo answers gives me a range of zero dollars to $8,000. Diabetes blood sugar solutions tells me that in 2008, it probably cost about $6,500. Everyone points out that in addition to the pump, one must pay for supplies. These supplies cost as much as the supplies for using needles, so all things being equal, your only additional cost is the pump, which costs about the same as a decent motorcycle.
With the economy as a convenient excuse, my husband's company is offering less and less coverage in their insurance packages. Even as we pay for the most thorough coverage they offer, I can only assume that Durable Medical Devices will fall under the category of items no longer covered or 20% covered, still leaving me with about $5,600 to come up with.
Long story short, I will need to talk to the social worker at the hospital to see if having a pump is a viable choice for my daughter, which is what all of these online resources tell me to do, anyway.
I had hoped to have a better idea of what I could be in for; I didn't want to talk to anyone official unless I was pretty sure that I could tell my daughter that she had a choice. At this point, I can't say for sure that she has one.
I loved one comment that was made about the insulin pump: "It cost $8,000, but it is worth it!" I am sure that's true.
If you have $8,000.
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