Confirm Your Doctor's "In-Network" Status
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Today's Advice:
Always confirm your doctor's "In-Network" status. Don't assume like I did. I thought my cardiologist was in network because I was being referred by another in network doctor. I found out today my cardiologist is not "In Network". Unfortunately I found out too late.
The result of my follies? I may be stuck with a bill for over $5,400. Wow. I'm going to appeal to my insurance company to see if they will cover more. I'm not sure why they're not covering more, I have to investigate. I'm also going to see if there's any legal action or mitigation I can take. I don't think there is... Advice?
In the mean-time, learn from my foolishness. I feel like a fucking tool, because frankly, I could have asked or did research online before going to this son-of-a-bitch.
I'll Live, Fortunately?
Incidentally, my heart is OK for now. I'm just on the good side of borderline. Or it's a variance and I'm a "big guy with a big heart." I kind of like the sound of that, although today I feel somewhat rueful about it. The bill today gave me massive panic attacks, and I practically did have a heart attack. That doctor better hope he's right and I don't keel over... or he'll never collect. Jerk-ass!
Predictably, Depression Sets In
For now, I'm massively depressed. I feel like a pawn, a dupe, always the victim, like I'll never get ahead financially, that my efforts to advance myself will continually be thwarted by the Universe or my own stupidity, that my only value on Earth is to work and work and give my money all away every month, that I'm pretty much too dumb to live. Before you interrupt my pity-party, I gotta tell ya, that's kinda the way it's been going lately...
The "The Secret" and LoA people would tell me that the above statement is a creative force and I'm bringing my misery on myself. In a way I hope that they're right, and I create my own reality because: please, come say that to me in person so I can kick you in the throat.
How's your day been?
Trackback: http://philsown.org/2008/02/confirm-your-doctors-in-network-status/trackback
Comments
Matt
May 9, 2008
Life is good. Find your happy place, man. You're alive and all these miserable feelings you're having will pass and you will experience happiness again. God wants you to be happy!
I agree with Matt! God DOES want you to be happy!
Having my own health issues, I've had my fair share of rotten health news and rotten doctor bills.
I know that feeling all too well - the one when you open the statement from the doctor or the insurance company and the figures that leap out at you make your head swim, eyes blur and knees go weak. You want to swear, scream, vomit, impale yourself on the wooden spoon in the kitchen and burn your apartment down.
Sometimes life isn't fair and it's just that. Not out to get you - it's just life.
You're not alone in your experiences. We've all been fed crap sandwiches.
Maybe you'll have to pay the bill, maybe you won't. Ask God to help you deal with this.
I received a bill once during my "you might have leukemia" days and it was for over $7K. After balling my eyes out, I prayed, took a deep breath and called the hospital billing office. The guy who answered was an angel from heaven.
He said, "Oh. That doesn't sound right. Don't worry about it." So...I didn't. And he sent me a new statement with a zero balance.
Now, I've had it go just the opposite and I've paid on a hospital bill for years. That sucked. You're not alone, my friend.
The older I get the more I'm realizing that I just need to let things "be". My getting all twisted up in the game isn't healthy or productive. I'm relying more and more on prayer because I've realized that anxiety, depression and sorrow about situations just leave me feeling more depressed. So I pray and I buy myself a bunch of flowers.
Concentrate on what makes you happy. What brings you joy. Don't give in to the negative. It's tempting, but make a choice to stay positive. You'll be surprised at how things turn around.
I hope you don't want to kick me in the throat now. ;)
YMF!!!
Thanks so much Nancy, Matt & Erica. You guys definitely encourage me :-) YMF's!
How to Put Your Face Next to Your Comment
May 9, 2008
Just be glad to have your health - things will get better. You'll pay them off eventually. I know how hard it was to pay off Daddy's medical expenses.