[BeyondtheRainbow]

This has been an expensive period medically. I had surgery with a lot of follow-up (numerous casts, splints, many dr visits, xrays, etc) 2 years ago. That is almost paid off but I've added 2 psych stays, one of which was long and expensive.

I have Medicaid spenddown so they theoretically will cover a chunk of my February bills (I also had therapy, dental work, meds, etc so it was an expensive month if Medicaid doesn't pay. They didn't figure things out for my surgery and didn't pay then so I don't trust 'em).

Today I talked to billing (my hospital is one huge billing system so surgery, psych unit, and pdoc bills are all one) and she kept talking about this huge chunk of like $580 that I owe that she says Medicare declined. None of my billing statements have anything like this. I know logically that she did not seem to know what was going on and I think she was wrong. And in theory Medicaid picks it up anyway as long as it was in February.

But I'm so stressed about this. They boosted my payment to about 10% of my income. That is a LOT of money.

I can't stop thinking what if she's right and this big chunk is going to get added on. When she added things up it came to the same total I expected which says she is wrong but I won't know until I get this itemized statement she's allegedly sending.

Gotta stop thinking......

[raspberrytorte]

I understand the stress.

I'm about $8,000 in the hole with medical debt (and yes I have insurance!). Right. Totally going to be able to pay that off. Maybe in the next thirty years.

Don't you hate this?! It's like we get punished for being sick and needing help.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Very much hated. And frustrated because they want it paid off in 1 year. If I could "just get $500 debt" they could put me on a 3 year plan but unless that woman's $500 turn up it's not going to happen.

It would help a lot if I knew Medicaid was going to do their thing. I probably need to try to see my caseworker but I dread that. I've never had a caseworker who had time to answer questions on the phone, much less deal with something in person.

With therapy, pdoc (which gets added on to the big bill) I now have 19% of my income going to various insurers, therapists, pdoc, etc.

I can't make my brain stop worrying about this. I know it will be fine and my mom will help if I can't make it but that makes me feel about --- big.

I think it's time for some extra sleepy meds.

[wildflowerchild25]

I'm about $12,000 in medical debt. Most of it is owed to my IOP program and its built up from three years. I've been four times in three years with a $4000 deductible each year so yeah. I'm in a much better place financially and I'm slowly paying it off but that's still a lot of money. Part of me is like why am I paying for insurance when I still owe this much? But my bills would be insurmountable without it. It's ********.

My main problem is I can't keep track of all my bills. I have like six active ones right now. If I could pay online I would be able to deal with it much better but I have to write out checks and that's anxiety producing and overwhelming.

I'm hoping I'll get this new job because I'll be making at least $5000 more a year, possibly upwards of $10000 depending on how well this district pays, and I'll be able to pay big chunks off. But every time I get my IOP bill I get sick to my stomach.

It was worse when my husband was alive. He had about $10000 himself from all his ER visits he had with no insurance. Thankfully when he died that debt was absolved because he had no life insurance or estate to speak of.

I'm so sorry. I've gotten some big bills in the past too and it's no fun. Not being fully insured it terrifying. Getting sick is terrifying enough without the dreaded bill coming soon after. I'm sorry for all you've been through.

[Anrea]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

This has been an expensive period medically. I had surgery with a lot of follow-up (numerous casts, splints, many dr visits, xrays, etc) 2 years ago. That is almost paid off but I've added 2 psych stays, one of which was long and expensive.

I have Medicaid spenddown so they theoretically will cover a chunk of my February bills (I also had therapy, dental work, meds, etc so it was an expensive month if Medicaid doesn't pay. They didn't figure things out for my surgery and didn't pay then so I don't trust 'em).

Today I talked to billing (my hospital is one huge billing system so surgery, psych unit, and pdoc bills are all one) and she kept talking about this huge chunk of like $580 that I owe that she says Medicare declined. None of my billing statements have anything like this. I know logically that she did not seem to know what was going on and I think she was wrong. And in theory Medicaid picks it up anyway as long as it was in February.

But I'm so stressed about this. They boosted my payment to about 10% of my income. That is a LOT of money.

I can't stop thinking what if she's right and this big chunk is going to get added on. When she added things up it came to the same total I expected which says she is wrong but I won't know until I get this itemized statement she's allegedly sending.

Gotta stop thinking......

Hugs to you. There is no way I would be able to handle that anxiety. If something that bad happened to me, I would have to call the crisis line for calming. Perhaps contact my pdoc for a special appointment, and if things were ongoing, I might have to get an ARHMS worker again. (someone like a case manager who helps you through life).

Our anxiety and stress cause us to stay on top of things. That is a bonus.

Best of luck in getting this figured out soon.