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So, last year in a tough negotiation, the district eliminated the PPO from our union health insurance. Instead, we were given an HSA (Health Savings Account) with the district putting up $750 each year, and we teachers choosing our contribution amount. So instead of a $500 deductible going to 80% coinsurance, we were given (for singles) a $3000 deductible with 100% paid after meeting the deductible. This summer has been the Summer of Med for me as I met the deductible in late June. And I’m taking FULL advangage.
So to begin. My normal expenses were therapy appointments, prescriptions, and the occasional Dr. follow up. The doctor who is in charge of my weight loss team told me in January that if I wanted to continue seeing her, I’d make her my Primary and do visits at her primary office, not the weight loss clinic. Cool. I went to see her in May and she expressed concern about my legs.
So my legs are troubled. Back in the 90s, I noticed that my legs would start swelling a bit depending on if I was gaining or losing weight. Then I got some sort of cellulitis in one, probably from a Brown Recluse bite or something like that. Then I started developing wounds. I spent the first few years of the 2000s in and out of wound care clinics until one doctor told me that the skin had gotten so brittle that ANY kind of anti itch cream with a steroid like cortisone would be forbidden. Indeed, If I bump my legs wrong, or even remove an adhesive dressing, I can break the skin and draw blood. I learned how to wrap and dress my legs, and use compression to keep the edema at bay. I know that as I keep shrinking the edema will become less and my legs much easier to manage.
That said, my doctor referred my to the wound ostomy clinic. The initial doctor consult itself put me over the deductible for the year. Which is good, because the treatment schedule is two visits a week, with a doctor/nurse visit one day, pulse lavage physical therapy another day. And many of the people in those offices remembered me from previous visits because of my sweet sweet PPO insurance. So that started in late May and is ALMOST done. I’ve got a few more weeks till fully healed.
Also, my primary prescribed a new med for me—Rybelsus. It’s a drug like Ozempic. Primarily for diabetes, but used often for weight loss. The only thing was—I couldn’t afford it. Even with a manufacturer coupon and insurance, the price was $600 for 30 pills. Now the deductible is met? Free for the rest of the year. I’ll discuss that when I see my primary this coming week.
I also have one visit with my surgeon a year as a follow up. The PA who did the visit noted that it had been four years since my last colonoscopy. As there were like 5 polyps last time, doctor told me to get one between 3 and 5 years. So, as deductible was met, I had that done.
I’ve also been referred, and insurance has APPROVED a new sleep study for me. Mainly because I need a new CPAP machine. So I need to get on the phone to scheduling for that.
Come January, everything goes back to the beginning. But I’m going to take advantage of the rest of the year and fix as much as possible.
So, that’s been my summer in a nutshell. Next Saturday, I’ll talk about the fun stuff I’ve been doing to help me grow in other ways. But for now, On To Tops!
TOP COMMENTS
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User Belinda Ridgewood highlights a Twofer from one of my favorite diarists, angry marmot:
Joan McCarter's story about RJK Jr. described a tweet in which he took care to refer to the numbers 14 and 88, which are meaningful to neo-Nazis. angry marmot described the odds of that being a coincidence, and then responded to a reply by doubling his contribution to the Verbal Meme Universe.
TOP MOJO
Top Mojo for yesterday, July 28, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on FAQing Top Mojo.
TOP PICTURES
Top Pictures for today, July 29. Click any picture to be taken to the full comment or picture. Thank you to the wonderful dKos staff who made it possible to continue this feature in memory of jotter!
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