Posted by Racer on June 3, 2008, at 10:55:21
In reply to Re: Thanks for your experience, posted by overtheedge on May 26, 2008, at 18:27:19
Insurance has been a fun experience -- the insurance company first told my doctor's office that Renfrew was out of network, and I could only go if there wasn't a facility within 30 miles. The office told them, "Well, there is a facility within 30 miles -- but everyone we've ever sent there has gotten worse, so we don't want to send her there. If she goes there, you'll be paying more and more and more as a result." Then they found out that Renfrew *is* in network, called back -- and it took three people to find out that, oh, gee, Renfrew is in network after all.
Then insurance told the doctor's office, "Oh, and Renfrew already got pre-certification for her, so all she has to do is show up." Renfrew said, "Oh, no -- they like to say that, because they're in the business of NOT paying for treatment. If you show up with pre-certification, we ask for authorization, and they can deny you. You'd have spent all the money to get here, the money to check in -- and then get a nice shock." So, back to the telephones.
Right this minute, my doctor's office was supposed to send off various progress notes, etc, to insurance, and should have an answer today. Once I have that answer, I have to send on the medical and psychiatric clearance forms, the results of various lab tests, and some financial paperwork. As soon as that happens, and Renfrew gives me a confirmed bed number -- I have to scurry to find a flight I can afford and get my lumpy @$$ onto it.
And the travel arrangements have my in a state of emotional turmoil -- I don't know when I'll be coming home, so I can't make round trip reservations unless I can change the return trip. Mind you, most of the flights I've looked at do allow for that -- at a price. That's the problem -- fees up to $250 to change the flight. I don't know if I'm better off getting one way tickets, or what. And that's got me nearly paralyzed.
I wish so much I could turn that over to someone else -- and there's no one. I am just not sure what to do. So, typically, I'm sucking back, withdrawing, and playing the Scarlett O'Hara tape -- "I won't think about that now. I'll think of that tomorrow." I guess I'm taking it one step at a time.
Meanwhile, I got a call from the head of their nutrition department yesterday, which freaked me out a lot. I finally told her, while we were talking, "You know -- you're really interfering with my denial right now..." She said that she thought I'd be OK, because I had a sense of humor about it. Of course, she was saying, "Oh, a lot of women with eating disorders are picky eaters. You'll learn to be more flexible here." I don't want to hear that -- I am flexible enough, and being picky doesn't cause that much difficulty for me anymore. I've done as much in that area as I feel the need to do. I'm a picky eater, and that's just who and how I am. But -- they don't agree...
So, that's where it all stands right now.
And the dessert I get for doing this nasty, scary thing is that my dear friend ClearSkies, who is good for my soul, will visit me while I'm there in her state. It's a horribly long drive for her, and the visiting hours are short, and she says she'll do it anyway. I'm actually crying while I write that, because it means that she really does care about me, and that means so much to me. If anyone ever wonders -- ClearSkies is a wonderful person, and we're all very fortunate to have her here. And I'm most fortunate, since I get to see her in real life, too.
poster:Racer
thread:827092
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/eating/20070820/msgs/832673.html