The Best Medical Care Often Costs More Money

Because my medical condition is unique I often have to pay providers outside of my network for medical care. Many of the providers do not accept insurance, which by the way, is one of the reasons I continue to visit them. This means patients, like myself, must pay for services out of pocket and then … Read more

The Total For My Horrific Day At the Hospital

Two weeks ago I wrote about my horrific trip to the hospital including my fight with the receptionist over projected hospital bills. Here’s a brief recap of what happened. Three hours prior to my appointment I was informed that my insurance company refused to pay for my procedure. According to the receptionist the insurance company … Read more

Another Horrific Day At the Hospital

At 10:30 this morning I received a phone call from the hospital. The receptionist informed me that my insurance company denied coverage for an upcoming procedure. The procedure was scheduled only three hours later at 1:30 in the afternoon. In order to be seen I had to authorize direct billing. If I didn’t agree my … Read more

My Cod Liver Oil Cure

With my grandmother’s urging I headed out this week in search of cod liver oil. I don’t know if the claims are true but cod liver oil seems to be the cure for quite a few ailments including arthritis and muscle pain. (Of course, I also found negative articles including cases of vitamin toxicity.) The … Read more

The Cost of Being Sick

I am sick of not feeling well. I know better than to pity myself or cling to the hope that things will get better. After three years things are not going to get better. This is my life and I should be thankful to be alive at all. I know that people have it much … Read more

The Correlation Between Body and Spirit

If you get a chance, read His Heart Whirs Anew, a very interesting article in the Style section of this weekend’s Washington Post. The article discusses Peter Houghton, a 68 year old man who underwent an operation seven years ago that replaced the dysfunctional left ventricle of his heart with a titanium turbine. Mr. Houghton’s … Read more

43 Things I’d Like to Accomplish

Tonight I stumbled across the 43 Things website. The site allows you to create a list of 43 things you’d like to accomplish. The creators of the site claim that people who document their goals are more likely to achieve them. You can view other’s lists and incorporate their aspirations into your own. It’s a … Read more

Tips for Surviving a Medical Crisis

Since my last two posts touched on medical issues I thought I’d round out the week with some final tips that helped me through my long-running medical journey. First, if possible, ask someone you trust to escort you to doctor’s visits. After being released from the hospital I initially attended all of my doctor appointments … Read more

Choosing the Right Disability Insurance Coverage

In yesterday’s post I discussed the need for long-term disability policies. Life insurance policies are relatively easy to comprehend. My husband and I purchased term insurance for 20 years, believing that our homes will be paid off by that time. Most people don’t need extra riders on a life insurance policy, the payout is simple, … Read more

Saving for the Unexpected

M’s comment about failing health on yesterday’s post has left me thinking more and more about unexpected illnesses and how best to prepare for them. When you are young you never think about becoming ill or being injured, at least I know I never did, but having lived through a medical crisis I now know … Read more