The excitement of aging encompasses yearly physicals which includes new and thrilling tests such as bone density scans and mammograms. During my most recent exam one of my physicians (Everytime I visit the practice I meet a new doctor or PA because they keep leaving the practice), discovered a nodule on my thyroid. Naturally this led to a thyroid ultrasound. This was fairly simple, I pay a copay for the physical, another copay for the follow up to discuss the physical, and one more copay to complete the ultrasound. I then return to pay another copay for the results of the ultrasound. So let's see, that is 4 visits at $35 each for a total of $140. Okay not too bad so far.
Next I discover my nodule is 2 cm which according to my most recent PA (sorry, can't recall his name), means I need to have a fine needle biopsy done. I leave the office with my blood pressure prescriptions and the name of a few endocrinologists.
I then do some Google research to learn more about thyroid nodules, fine needle biopsies, and thyroid cancer. I am pleased to discover that 90% of thyroid nodules are benign. Additionally, thyroid cancer if discovered is most often the easiest cancer to treat.
I then make a few calls and schedule an appointment with my new endocrinologist specialist. My copay for specialists is $50. So, slightly more money. Since I have my first appointment during my vacation week I go visit the office to return to them the package of completed paperwork they mailed to me. I discover that my pending appointment is a consultation. Basically this is a meet-and-greet with the specialist. I pay $50 for the privilege. I ensured my records were sent from my primary care office (I've heard horror stories about records not being sent).
I had my meet-and-greet this morning. I sat with the doc for approximately 15 minutes where we, again, reviewed why I was visiting. She agreed that a needle biopsy was warranted due to its size of 1 cm (evidently, the nodule shrunk a centimeter between offices). I left the office with another referral to a lab that does biopsies, x-rays, and ultrasounds, and $50 follow up appointment the following month to discuss the results of the biopsy.
To review, I am adding another $100 to my initial $140 in co-pays.
I then go to the lab to schedule my biopsy. I called my insurance company to find that I have to meet my $3500 deductible for the lab. So...I have to pay for both the cost of the biopsy and the reading of the biopsy. Fortunately, the lab bills the insurance first so I do not have to pay upfront. This is a good thing because if I had to pay first, my biopsy would most likely be delayed several months since my bill debtors and utilities really are not interested in my medical issues.
I am hopeful that my nodule will be found benign and I will simply have to monitor it yearly for any growth. Of course since it appears to be shrinking in size between offices I am again hopeful!
The issue is this...what if this nodule is found to be cancerous? What happens then? I'm not so worried about the cancer problem as I am the cost of trying to cure it. See, like most others I live paycheck to paycheck. I do not have $3500 to spend on treatment before I meet my deductible. Case in point, last year I broke my bridge and the cost for a new one is $2500. I am still walking around with this same bridge. So $3500 is pretty much out.
What do I say to my car loan lenders? Sorry I need to treat cancer and meet my deductible so you are not getting paid for 2 months. That should go over well. Perhaps I can get that empower for my electricity.. Sorry cox communications you are a luxury and besides who needs coping skills to manage the stress of cancer anyway. I refuse to acknowledge rent at this time. I mean hey having cancer and being homeless at the same time..hell, a dream come true..no stress there.
The way I see it, in the likelihood that I have cancer, I have two options. First, I can pay my deductible and treat my cancer. This will be followed by either homelessness and car repossession or both. But hell I will have my health, right? The second option is to continue to pay my bills and work and try to save up money to pay for my deductible. I might become more ill or possibly die but I will have a roof over my head, food, a car to buy food, and electricity to cook the food.
The thing is..this is reality..because my income is too high to qualify for Medicaid I pay $196 a month for health insurance through work. However, since I live paycheck to paycheck I can not afford the deductible if I need it. I have met with many people who are impoverished trying to come up with money to pay for their medical bills.
Why is it other countries have free medical care for their citizens but the great USA does not? I find it astonishing that I am more concerned about the financial repercussions of possibly having cancer then I am about having cancer itself.
Tell me, is there something wrong with this society that allows its citizens to feel this way?
No comments:
Post a Comment