Shocker Today: No Health Insurance

I've been on medi-cal since laid off last year around this time (I'm 60) and sent in my renewal, not hearing anything back. I called to arrange for something and was informed I have no insurance and that my CenCal wasn't renewed. I am not sure why I find this so traumatizing and scary. On hold for 90 minutes with the department of social services. Seems like I have just been journeying down, down, down since I lost my job. I imagine there is a bottom, thought I already hit it, but no, it keeps getting deeper. Staying positive. Letting myself cry. Trusting the process. Letting go.

I don’t have any useful advice, but I can give you a hug and a shoulder to cry on. There used to be a commercial with a song that said, “It’s alright to cry. It might make you feel better.” My dad used to break out singing it whenever anybody felt down or upset.

I was without health insurance for a year between the time I was separated from employment until my disability retirement was approved and insurance reinstated. I knew it happening, though, and had 30 days I think to see doctors, get labs and Rx before the insurance terminated.

I continued to see my Lyme doctor, who was out of pocket anyway. I just didn’t get labs done, except standard and Vit D. The out of pocket cost for std labs wasn’t that much, but Vit D was very expensive. If I had checked ahead on the cost, I wouldn’t have tested Vit D.