Insurance Plans? And semi-rant..

I was just wondering which insurance plans all of you are on and how much it covers with each respective medication?

I emailed my dad a couple of days ago asking for some financial assistance because, even after several scholarships and a job and cutting down greatly on monthly spending, I am struggling.

His response was basically that I am not trying hard enough and that I have ignored all advice anyone has ever given me. I corrected him and said that I have FOLLOWED all advice anyone has ever given me. I still am not doing enough.

So, the reason I am asking about insurance is that he is trying to save a penny (did I mention he's making 300,000 a year now but doesn't want to part with any of it for his kids?) and wants me to find some other insurance program he doesn't have to pay for. I just know that I need something to be able to cover at least my pentasa, humira, and omeprazole...but that this is still a lot to ask for.

I'm just in a bind and a little taken aback. I am trying so hard but am given nothing on his end but censure and platitudes he can't even follow himself.

I'm scared because for the first time in a year I am able to function normally and this all may as well be for nothing if I can't afford the medicine that is keeping me there. I don't even have enough to by probiotics right now. I think there is about 14 bucks left to last for the rest of the month. At least until I get paid from my job which I have against doctor's orders by the way...

Sorry to sound like such a sad sap...I just think parents should help if they have the ability to.

I've already looked into medicaid from the state and one of the conditions is that I not have the insurance I have with my father.
I've also already reduced my monthly payment for humira and I was rejected from pentasa assistance...
I just know I need to stay on my current plan at least until I can get my wisdom teeth cut out because the procedure is a little more serious and the use of antibiotics (as usual) will probably set me back in the Crohn's department so I will definitely need all available medicine. Blah..

I fit below poverty level that is for sure haha...and I don't mean that in a way to complain. It's just how things are. But I'm really worried about having coverage for pentasa and humira..

I can't imagine doing this to a young adult child. I am sorry your dad is so selfish. I spoil my adult kids all the time--I would certainly help them with Medical care!

I will check out that website right now actually...
Yogaprof...I'm glad to hear someone say it. I would help my kids too...I don't know what we're going to do, but I'm going to keep trying at least.
Maybe even have to look into something extreme if I can't find coverage for medication. Who knows? I'm sure something will work out.

Unbelievable. Why is he penalising you for things that aren't your fault? You couldn't help getting ill when you were so young.

Would your father submit to family counselling, LMills? Someone needs to drive it home that Crohn's is a serious and disabling disease and that your life is at stake here.

I'm really, really sorry.

Ivy.

I guess I am the only dissenter here. Having been in your shoes and your dad’s, I would suggest that you step back and do some real soul searching as to your behavior or advice he might have given you in the past that you may have chosen to ignore. Once you have thought that through, try to come up with a plan that might work. Then talk to your dad without a gimme attitude, remembering that you are not entitled to his wealth.

As a 40 year old adult and by the way, a bank president I was really hurt when my dad told me I would never amount to anything and would retire only with social security. I never forgave him for that. So I then tried REALLY hard to succeed. Now that he has been dead for 15 years, I recognize that maybe he was just dealing some tough love because in the end, I out earned him tenfold.  I put all my kids through college and set up trusts for all the grandkid’s college and now I really get discouraged when one of my adult children demands their inheritance now. It’s my money, what’s left of it after last year and at my age there is no way I can make it back before I die. I just hope it lasts that long.

As far as Medicare is concerned, today I had to come up with $4,200 for my Humira startup kit. That put me into and took me out of the gap in one swoop. At least now I’m in the catastrophic category and my drugs hereafter will only be 5%. Then next year I start over. I wish I still had my old health insurance.

Once again, with regard to your dad, step back and take an honest look at yourself to see if maybe you might change a bit in an attempt to get along a little better.

Dave D

Based upon what you say, I see no help from your dad. Do like I did. Move on. Do it yourself. Show him like I did mine even though by that time he was no longer able to recognize it.
Dave D

Dave, I suppose what I am trying to say is 'easier said than done.' I can't just produce money out of nothing when I am doing everything that I can right now and still not making enough. I'm not looking for someone to tell me tough luck when I d*mn well know what it is. I'm looking for people to give me information on current insurance/assistance programs and what those programs cover.

I'm sorry you went through what you did, but it doesn't make it any better for anyone else. I feel like your father should have been there for you just as much as I wonder why mine isn't. You can't simply tell someone to make it on their own and expect it to be 'okay.' If, for example, I am dropped from the insurance because he does not want to pay anymore and, as it has been, I cannot find enough coverage for my medication then I'm right back at square one: in the hospital, unable to function. Only this time without insurance. Which is what I was asking about in the first place. At that point it's a little much to be telling someone to make it on their own when they can't even make it out of bed.

Ivy, thank you...your words seriously mean a lot. I think that's actually a really, really great idea and I'm going to have to look into it. I think that a lot of others with similar conditions within the state would be willing to write with me. There are so many who need help. It isn't just me and any way to get our voices heard would be wonderful. Time to go start that I suppose :)

I was only a couple years older when I was diagnosed, so I know where you're coming from Mills.

I looked back over some notes to refresh my memory... maybe there's a scrap here that will help.

I received Medicaid medical insurance about 4 months after I applied. I don't know if there was any way to speed up that process - I had just been diagnosed, was in treacherous health, and could barely function - let alone get down to the Social Services Building often enough to "harass" anyone about my case.

The Medicaid insurance that I was granted (I also was a broke college student trying to hack it on my own), covered RETROACTIVELY. This is something you need to remember and take a deep breath. If you lose your dad's insurance, file immediately for your state Medicaid. It may be a scary few weeks or months waiting for it to arrive, but the bills that pile up during that time can be addressed by Medicaid retroactively. That's how it worked in Missouri. I would hope your state did the same.

With Medicaid, I still needed help. I found the Patient Access Network Foundation. They award me $4000 every year to cover the "Gap" between Medicaid or Medicare and what I am ACTUALLY capable of paying in reality. They have been sent from heaven, I swear.

I hope that helps, Mills. You've got my addy if you ever need it.

Well said Ivy, I salute you.

I was in a relationship similar when I was fourteen, in that my step mother (my primary gaurdian while father was on the road) simply never believed I was as sick as I said I was. But that's another story...

I do know what it's like to feel fairly trapped economically and medically, and I've tried as many alternatives as possible. If anyone is familiar with my other posts, I'm on LDN (which is about $15 dollars a month) and doing well. Other people have the same experience.

But I don't say that to peddle LDN, and I have no link to where you can buy it. My only point is to say that a differeing perspective is perhaps attainable. I would encourage you to take a look at the rat race of Crohn's medicines, and maybe think there are better options available. I see that you are trying so hard, and I absolutely understand, but you're also afraid it won't last. Well, that means the system is broken, not you, this maintenance dosage you always have to keep paying for is not working. Apparently, Crohn's can be cured by a sitting platform toilet, or probiotics, or not eating carbs and protien at the same time, or some mineral water. Again, I'm not saying any of these are true, just that maybe your goal is not the long term solution, to stay on these meds as long as possible. THough I haven't done it, I've heard of enough people who have cured themselves of crohns. Once I started questioning how my doctors treated Crohn's (it's so easy to assume they know more than me) I was able to take a little bit of control. It was my idea to go on LDN, it was my idea to start juicing, etc.

You have my support and prayers LMills, sorry I don't have an application or link to some free insurance for you. Take my words with a grain of salt, but use you no tears to gain said salt.

ExJohnson

The best thing for you to do is to get your father to keep you on his insurance.  My daughter went off ours and her's through work covers nothing.  I tried to buy her insurance and was told that no one would cover her because of crohns.  She has to have insurance through an employer or her parents.  She is not eligible for any programs, she works and has insurance available to her through her employment even though its bad.  She's not disabled, not quite bad enough to be. 

She has to quit her job in order to be covered under my husband's insurance, I'm still trying to get her to do that.  Even his insurance will not cover any "injectibles".  She was just approved for assistance through Cimzia.  But then her surgeon threatened to stop treating her if their bill wasn't paid and the anesthesiologist is threatening to take her to court.  She hasn't been working much so we are making payments to every one.  That seems to satisfy them.

Don't loose your insurance if at all possible.  Here, some of the State medical plans don't have any doctors to choose from and when you find one you have to travel.