Going Broke

[jennyb]

I'm frustrated and mad and need to vent. I was diagnosed w/Crohn's three years ago. I'm getting used to the symptoms but I don't think I'll ever get used to the cost! I swear this stupid disease is breaking me. I don't know what to do. Between monthly medications and blood work not to mention yearly colonoscopies and regular dr visits, I'm going broke. Of course I'm too high income for any kind of assistance but I'm in my first job out of college so trust me, I'm not doing too well for myself. I think I get even more mad about it b/c I'm only 27 and the thought of paying all these bills for YEARS just makes me sick to my stomach. Aren't other people my age blowing money on fun stuff, not medical bills? I also find it very strange that out of all the message boards I've seen no one ever mentions the price for all this. Am I doing something wrong? I don't think I'd be this upset over it if the treatments I was paying for actually worked. I had a small bowel resection in Sept '05 and I think I actually felt better before I had that done. I'm just frustrated and angry and TIRED of dealing with this.......

 

[Jeff D.]

Welcome to the forums. We have discussed this a few times but the more questions the better. I don't know much about the financial portion of this as I am only 18 but I can tell you that my parents pay for me and seem to struggle a bit with it. First off, what country do you live in because depending on where you live depends on the amount of aid you can get. Also ask your doctor next time you visit. What types of food do you eat now and right after surgery? Do you take probiotics?

I hope you feel better soon, vent all you want. I know I vent a lot on here.

Best of luck

 

[carolinajak]

the only advice i can give is to make sure you are getting any tax write offs you might be eligible. i think 10% of your income has to go toward medical expenses to qualify. that doesn't just have to be medicine or doctors though. if you can get your doctor to suggest things like supplements, bicycle riding, etc. those have been eligible as well. im no expert though, so research it or talk to an expert if you are interested.

 

[ruthymg]

I'm sorry, I empathise with your situation, but over here in the UK the system works differently. We don't actually pay for treatment (only a small prescription charge) because we have a national health service. We pay for things like this through our taxes which are taken from our wages. I too would worry sick if we had to pay what you guys have to pay, so vent away.


Ruth

 

[Moonlightmile21]

Its such a flaw in the US health care system. If you make under a certain amount then the government takes care of you, if you make over a certain amount then you likely have good health insurance (and can afford costly medical procedures). I think its crazy that some people have to decide whether to eat or buy their medicine. What country do we live in?

I had an appointment with my GI yesterday and my deductible is super high so I asked if I could pay cash. They said it would actually be cheaper if it went through my insurance (very complicated explanation), but you could see if your doctor would be willing to do that.

You said you are having a colonoscopy once a year... that will break you. My doctor wants me to have one once a year, but I can't afford it. I had one last year and might have one next year. Its not going to kill you if you can't get your Go-Litely fix for a year .

Try explaining your financial situation to your doctor. If they know you are having a hard time paying they will work with you. How often do you see your doctor? I think my appointment is going to cost me $100 plus blood work so I'm guessing $350 total. That is a lot of money, I can afford that twice a year max, and my doctor knows this, so I see her once a year.

Another idea, if there is a generic avaliable then have the doctor prescribe you that over the name brand. I just got prescribed Sulfalazine instead of the more common 5-ASA drugs (pentasa, colozal, others..) Sulfalzine was one of the earliest Crohns drugs and has been generic for a while, but she (and others I have talked to) think it might work better then the new 5-ASA's because it has the Sulfa component which acts as an anti-biotic (and that the newer ones are missing).

Hope that gave you some ideas. I really empathize with what you are going through. When one is sick they should not have to have the added stressor of figuring out how they are going to afford to get well.

 

[carolinajak]

really makes you want to vote for a president that will work towards a national healthcare system.

 

[Brando]

or at least make insurance companies non-profit organizations where the CEO isn't making 300 million dollars per year

 

[Ilysha]

Jenny,
I totally empathesize with you. I just finished a 3 days hospital stay and although my insurance will pay 80%, I'm looking at a good $4000 plusbill. My husband had shoulder surgery in the summer that we are still paying off as well. I'm 32 and we're trying to save for a house and manage to do fun trips and adventures as well, and yes, shelling out so much money to deal with chronic disease is a royal pain in the, well you know where...

The state of healthcare in the U.S. is really deplorable. Hopefully we can elect a pres. who will finally be able to make universal healthcare work.

 

[KCMike]

Universal Health Care

I wouldn't get your hopes up about the healthcare system in the US improving no matter who the next president is. They all say they are going to fix our healthcare sytems when they are on the campaign trail. But that's as far as it goes. If the government were to provide healthcare for all of its citizens the cost would be astronomical. Where does the government get its money-from the taxpayers. While your medical costs will decrease you will still be paying for it in substantially higher taxes. If the drug companies, hospitals and insurance companies weren't so damn greedy, we wouldn't have to pay so much for healthcare. I had surgery last October and I'm still trying to pay off my medical bills. Just to have health insurance costs me $500 per month which is $6000 per year + $2000 deductible and $6000 maximum out of pocket. I work for a small company and they don't have the leverage that a large corporation has to get reduced rates. I don't see any light in the tunnel. That's the same thing my doctor said to me after my colonoscopy.:ymad:

 

[carolinajak]

The only way it will change is if people speak out. I agree its unlikely the next president will be able to help change the system, but its less likely if no one tries.

There are some good models out there to follow in UK/Canada, but they would not work completely in the US because we are used to getting things a lot faster. having to get referrals for everything and going to many more doctors would be the result. I am will to make that trade off. Also, you don't provide it for everyone, just those in need without any coverage, and those with it get tax breaks, which they then go and spend and pay taxes on, filling the void. Its not entirely that simple of course, but there are solutions out there that work is my point.

 

[marcia]

I can completely empathize with you. I do not work and to make up for a lot of the medical bills and prescriptions, we have to rely on credit cards which are getting maxed since more is charged than is paid off. We write off what we can on taxes, but my husband makes too much to qualify for any assistance of course. I actually had someone at a public assistance agency recently tell me that I should get divorced and I would qualify - she said I could stay with my husband but being legally divorced would allow me to qualify for several types of benefits. What kind of system are we living in???? Healthcare is definately a priority in electing our governmental officials now.