Where the health insurance issue is concerned, I may not have the solution, but I'm certainly an expert. Where my family is concerned, this is the single most important issue facing families in the US. It's too late for us, as our damage is done and is irreversible. But I'll be voting for political candidates with ideas that can help all the other families out there. It's not too late for them.
You could have been writing about our family, except we have just one son, and he is bipolar.
However, we have been fortunate to at least have insurance coverage, but as you said, not enough...we still pay more than we can afford and it gets worse every time enrollment and benefit options comes around...but at least it is something...
Medical collections from 4 different agencies...credit cards owed on and in collections....and a PAID for house that we dare not risk losing by declaring bankruptcy and starting over...
Our son is 17, will be 18 in June and has already told me he will go off his meds...he works at a oil changing place, loves his job...but insurance is only offered to management, and this kid is still struggling through high school, let alone becoming a manager of local business for a national chain...
He does not think that insurance is a big deal...medical or auto...
I am SCARED TO DEATH of what will happen to him when he goes out into the world...no insurance...no meds...I have shed more tears over my anger and frustration and fears for my son, and the situations that he will be forced into, than anyone will ever know...
Tambrey,
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.
I understand your concerns about your son. It's not much comfort, but we made it. You made, I made it. Wherever and whenever it was, you emerged from your youth and succeeded. Somehow I did the same. We not only made it, we thrived. The thought of my son doing it on his own scares me to death, but when it comes right down to it, I think he'll make it if he has to. It's hard enough to sleep at night, and I choose to believe that it will work out.
Thanks again Tambrey, I always appreciate your comments.
We need only to look to the recent episode in Rochester, New Hampshire to see the system is broken. Can you imagine all the money spent on responding to Leeland Eisenburg's holding campaign workers hostage. My goodness, what he did was wrong. But, I live in N.H. and NAMI gave NH a "D" for the mental healthcare. His method of expressing frustration was wrong. However, his voice was heard by me!
My daughter is bi-polar and I understand the pain first hand. I can barely work through the system to assist her and I am not fighting mental illness.
I would like to know what the plan is that is presented by the politicians. I don't want the brief "we have a comprehensive plan". I want the granular details before I vote for the next U.S. President.
OMC,
A great comment. I so feel your pain about getting a child through the public assistance nightmare. There is NO WAY a person with a disorder could EVER navigate the system on their own. The people that most need the help can't get the help due to the nature of the system.
Hillary had some innovative and interesting health care ideas in the past, but she seems to have abandoned them for this election. I'm going to keep an eye to the candidates for signs of promise, but I'm not seeing much yet. What are your thoughts?
Our therapist told us about something called "Wrap around service" that's provided in our community. They help with psychiatry and meds as well as preparing the child for living independently. We have the application sitting on the dining room table and I will probably tackle it this weekend.
The problem is, they don't have the resources to take on everyone who needs them.
We need more services like these for our bipolar children who will likely have trouble paying for meds and care when they are older.
The thought of my son choosing to go off meds when he graduates, scares the crap out of me. He's already made one suicide attempt and I don't wish to see this incident repeated.
I've had good insurance through employment over the years here and there and I've had no insurance even though I was employed. I've also had no insurance and no employment.
Currently I work but have no insurance because I can't afford the out of pocket portion of the premium each month. It is almost equivalent to one NET sum of a paycheck.
So, if and when I do find insurance it will be as, if not more, expensive (may not even qualify) because of pre-existing conditions now like Bipolar and my auto accident. So, even if I find something and I somehow manage to pay the premium I won't be covered for what I seriously need coverage for - up to 18 months. My Bipolar related stuff - zip, my auto wreck injury stuff - zip.
So, what do I do when I can't get insurance and I don't qualify for public assistance because we make $150 GROSS more than the maximum for our family size and yet we can't buy insurance nor pay the electric bill each month.
It is sad when you look at what is coming in the month and have to decide - food or medical bills - electricity or insurance - life or paying true necessities (roof, electric, food, etc.) you simply don't have the money for.
So here I am with Bipolar, suicidal at the moment by the way, have a torn up foot that has arthritis now, and a surgical adhesion that formed after 3 major abdominal surgeries, chronic pain in foot, and horrendous anxiety.
I can not go inpatient cause of the hospital bill and the very real possibility of losing my home. I can't seek a pdoc because I have no insurance and no money, and I can't buy meds because I have no insurance and no money.
On top of all this, an attorney is filing suit because I didn't finish paying my last psych hospitalization in which I had no insurance and my daughter can't get 1 Santa gift - just 1.
Insurance is neither a right nor a privilege for those who aren't financially wealthy. Even if I had insurance, I wouldn't be able to make the deductible, coinsurance, or copayments.
tabby,
I am so sorry, things sound pretty overwhelming right now. I'm sure you have no lack of advice from well-meaning people, so I won't presume to give you advice. I'll keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Hey - email me would you? Click on my profile and you can email me through there.
Hello everyone...I can certainly relate to every post. Our health care system is in intolerable condition, and it has affected my family as it has many of yours.
Our insurance pays only 50% for mental health and drug abuse, as do many insurance companies. This has been going on for far too long.
Our politicians aren't listening, or at best arre not doing. Where do our candidates stand on mental health insurance issues and what about parity? It certainly would be nice to know.
Guess I'll try writing my politicians once again. Hope springs eternal. Thanks for listening.......Judy
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We have fairly good insurance but find ourselves paying over $2000 for our son's hospitalization. That's not even taking into account all the therapy appointments and psych visits and meds we have to pay for.
Thing is, I'd never put a price on my son's health. If it cost a million dollars, I'd find a way to pay it.
He has been worried about how much he's costing us. It's bad when a 16 year old worries about such things. I told him that we would pay whatever it was without reservation and that all he needed to be concerned with was getting better.
I just hope when he is an adult, he doesn't find himself not being able to get insurance. That's my worry for him.
I read somewhere that parents are giving up custody to the state for their mentally ill children. This is just so the child can be given the treatment they need. That's a horrible message to send to the child. You're defective so we're giving you up.
I couldn't do it. I don't care how much he costs or if we wind up filing bankruptcy over it. It's only money after all.
Hopeful Mom,
I agree with you, no matter the cost, when care is needed, we'll do what we have to do. But we shouldn't have to make a choice between, for example, medical care and home ownership. Or medical care and a dependable vehicle.
You talk about your son's stress, I understand this very well. My son used to stress so badly about his medical bills, he'd carry them around in a backpack. We're in the process of helping him secure assistance that might provide him some relief from those bills, but that didn't stop him from worrying. I felt so bad for him.
Thanks so much for reading and leaving a comment.