very informative thread this has turned out to be....

I do not believe in getting a flu shot of any kind. The last time I had one was when I was in highschool & didn't have any say over the matter.....since that point, I have never had a flu shot & have not had the flu. I have had bronchitis many times & pneumonia many times.....but NOT the flu (now watch, this year I will get it because I opened my big mouth & said something about it.....lol)

Drug companies are interesting for sure. I am on a high dose of pain mediation....have been for 6 years.....the cost....$1700/month & no insurance....medicare part D for it was costing me over $4000 a year with that insurance. I went to the drug company to check out their patient assistance.....I am on disability...I didn't qualify. I pushed the issue & espressed that on my income alone, it was all I was getting & leaving no money to live......they finally said to appeal the decision.....they qualified me based on how much money it was costing me verses how much liquid assets I have (which is none). Interesting thing is that with their decline, they didn't come back & tell me about the appeal process, it was something I have to pressure them for as I was desperate to have my quality of life continue.

I had a pain specialist that didn't have a problem prescribing it...I just couldn't afford it & live...sad choices they try to force us to make.

Interesting, the hospitals do the same thing.....usually if you prove you do not have a financial way of paying for the amount above insurance/medicare, many will write if off, but they tend to intimidate people into feeling we owe it to them.....NOT TRUE. They get enough money out of the insurance to more than make up for those who don't. But unless you push the issue, you end up stuck....or fighting off collection agencies.

It pays to not sit back & take NO for an answer....to fight the system & push...it seems that is the only to get the results that we need to make it in the health care areas these days.

eskielover