Yesterday afternoon, I got an email from Gallaudet
University saying that my insurance plan expires tonight. And that students would be renewed to a
different type of plan or there’s always Obamacare. Those were not their exact words but that was
the gist. I knew that the annual renewal
occurs July 15th so I was not worried until yesterday. It is one thing to renew the same plan and
another thing for them to dump the existing plan and go with a completely
different plan. Advance notification
should have taken place. I am figuring
out how and who I can file a complaint for just one business day’s notice. I am currently undergoing treatment for my
post-surgical infection. Of course,
learning that my current plan is expiring was adding unnecessary stress on my plate. I did not want to go a day
without insurance. Someone commented
today that I was very dependent on health insurance. Truth.
Yet, that truth hurts.
If I did not have health insurance, I would have not gone to
doctors that led to my discovery that I had cancer. It made me wonder how many people out there
are uninsured. Despite Obamacare
requiring people to have insurance or they would be penalized through their tax
filing, there are people who are going uninsured because they cannot afford the
monthly premium even with assistance or tax credits.
I wondered today, how many of those people have cancer cells
creeping in their bodies without them realizing anything? Early detection is not possible for those
people. It makes me very, very sad. I was insured. Early detection was possible for me. Early treatment options were possible for
me. Somehow, this makes me feel
guilty.
Luckily after scrambling around to figure out options, I was
able to get an individual plan today, thanks to Obamacare. The catch… the new plan doesn’t start until August 1st. Yep I am uninsured July 15-31. A lapse that lasts for 2.5 weeks may seem trivial but… it makes me
nervous especially with the infection.
I asked to see my doctor today at the last minute to make
sure I am on the right path to recovery.
We both agree that I am improving… the infection is still there. She predicts that I won’t need any more
draining. We had to develop an action
plan of care for the next 2.5 weeks. She
promised to take care of me via email. I
will be emailing her with updates of my recovery progress. She ordered me more antibiotics. She told me to finish my antibiotics tomorrow
then it was time for my kidneys to take a break. Since those antibiotics worked well, she
wanted me to have enough on hand paid for by my insurance for the next 2.5
weeks. What is even more concerning
about the next 2.5 weeks is that I am going on a business trip to San Diego on
Friday. The last business trip I went on
worsened my infection. We discussed
strategies for me to follow on this trip to ensure that the infection continues to go away. And she will email me the green light to get
back on my antibiotics if needed. The wound has closed but is very susceptible to more
bacteria as the abscess underneath has not fully disappeared yet. Thus… no swimming. I groaned… I told her San Diego was THE place
to swim. She could see that I ached to
have some fun. We both agreed that I
had to shower before and immediately after I swim. A
watchful eye is the best we can do at this point.
I left the doctor’s office saddened that I cannot live
without health insurance anymore. My
cancer is in remission but I need to be sure I retain the remission status. One way to do that is to stay insured for
routine monitoring and quick treatment options.
Somehow, I don’t think that system is fair. I am blessed (and relieved) but many people
are not.
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