Changing medical coverage could kill someone. How can this be?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238268)
Walnut Creek, California
November 5, 2018 1:54pm CST
I left one job and had to switch to Covered California to provide me with medical insurance during the two months during which I switched to a new job.
I still don't know, three months later, exactly who is covering me, and whether I'd get adequate care if I were run over by a texting driver tomorrow.
I have spent approximately 50 person-hours on the phone and on hold, trying to get things straightened out.
I have called over 40 different phone numbers (yes, I counted), and still don't know if I'm covered by Kaiser, my carrier for the last 28 years.
I have a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology, and find this incredibly difficult to navigate. How in the heck do "poor people" figure this out?
An interesting physiological note: I teach psychology and know that "out of control" situations increase cortisol (a stress hormone), which damages T-cells, which protect us from sickness.
Navigating the health care system here could lead to hypertension, heart attacks, reduced cognitive efficiency, and other problems.
How can this be? Were I not educated, and did I not exercise regularly, I would probably be dead by now
15 people like this
15 responses
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
5 Nov 18
That sounds like a horrible situation to be in. I'm glad we have a different system over here.
3 people like this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
6 Nov 18
@TheHorse We have universal health care where we all pay something, depending on our earnings so that no one is left out.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Nov 18
@1hopefulman What happens if your earnings get really high, or go to near zero?
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
5 Nov 18
The entire health insurance system in the US is designed to discourage covered people from ever trying to access their coverage and when someone does, they want to provide as little coverage as possible and denying payment for as much as possible. These insurance companies don't care about the people they cover. They are for-profit corporations whose only interest is in turning a profit and pleasing the stock market investors.
3 people like this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
6 Nov 18
i'm just very thankful we got medicaid.with my hysterectomy and my husband's quad bypass/valve this year,i'd hate to see how screwed we would have been without it.
2 people like this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
7 Nov 18
@TheHorse he's still having a few problems but they're working on it.
@Jackalyn (7558)
• Oxford, England
6 Nov 18
And for free, with no problems or need to think about it, in the last week I have been taken to hospital by ambulance, fed antibiotics in a 2 day stay as on a drip, in my own private room, had fourteen injectins in the head due to need for anasthetic for a procedure, been seen by top doctors, given free paracetemol, codeine, antibiotics, had two outpatient hospital appointments and not forgetting the morphine and gas and air. I have antibiotic cream now for free and a free appointment next week. This is hard on a situation where I had two MRI, one cat scan and some other like thing I forget. I have not had at any time to worry about insurance or providers or being rich or poor. I so appreciate the National Health System here. I was even offered food and drink in the day surgery. Now I am off to ring the doctor as I still have to sort a free appointment with a neurologist.
If the texting driver ran me over having to do anything but think of getting better would be the last thing on my mind.
2 people like this
@Jackalyn (7558)
• Oxford, England
7 Nov 18
@TheHorse yes I do feel blessed in terms of health treatment although at the minute my ear is itching like crazy at times. I keep thinking that I must be recovered and then I fall asleep or just don't get anything done but I'm hoping that tomorrow is going to be even better than today.
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
5 Nov 18
Poor people don't figure it out very well. I'm still trying to figure out if I actually have coverage, or if I got dropped months ago due to a paperwork error (possibly on my part).
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
6 Nov 18
When I tried to be covered by the ACA I even went to a "navigator" which is who helps poor people and really anyone here. Then my hubsand got a full time job, the insurer disagreed with what the navigator said and I went without insurance until I got Medicare this fall. Yes, the system is so complex many people just give up and die. I think that is the purpose.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
6 Nov 18
I don't know what to say. I have been through one thing like that from July 22nd to September 23rd. It was related to dad's medical insurance and my top up. Yes, that can be cause for serious worry. Younger ones can afford to wait four years. For us every day without medical problems is a blessing. I am really really sorry Pony ji. I hope the matter gets sorted soon enough.
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
5 Nov 18
Grrrrrrrrrr. I hate this whole healthcare system. Sometimes it can be confusing as heck (do they do this on purpose?) and it can lead to serious frustration. There must be a name for health conditions stemming from healthcare navigation stress - but more than likely it's not covered .
.2 people like this
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@crossbones27 (52907)
• Mojave, California
5 Nov 18
It really is amazing how complicated they made our healthcare system in the name of profits. They can't fix it right because they trying so hard to make sure it stays a capitalistic system and not a socialized hybrid like most of the rest of modern world.
Just remember we have a the best healthcare in the world says the rich leaders running our country.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Nov 18
@crossbones27 I they kill me, please let the world know that I tried to live a good and noble life.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
5 Nov 18
It is a headache and needs to be a lot easier to know what is happening than what it is.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381802)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Nov 18
@TheHorse Sorry, I really meant trying to talk to someone from the phone company or electricity provider. We are both on a pension and trying to talk to the governing body, Centrelink, by phone is absolutely useless. Even when you go to their office they tell you not to try to phone for help.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Nov 18
@TheHorse - We have a terribly disorganized healthcare system. I think every single person in the US should be entitled to some basic, affordable healthcare. I know this is not popular, but I think we are even better off if migrant farmworkers are covered, at the very least, for things like broken bones and injuries, so these people can heal and get back to work. It is insane that we have such a complicated, convoluted system. When my husband was on basic Medicare with an Anthem supplement, it was sooooo complicated when he had a heart attack and we had to go through both billing Medicare and Anthem and keeping everything sorted out. He switched to Kaiser after that. Much simpler.
