"If You Don't Go to the Doctor, You're Not Sick..."

[ScreamingMeemie]

This is a joke my father used to say when my mother berated him for not making doctor's appointments and followups.

This is also the joke I've been using the last 4 years to make light of the fact that I couldn't see a doctor.

Let me preface this by saying: I am not an apologist. I argue equally with those who support every step Obama takes and with those who can find nothing good about his Presidency. I am the "middle of the road" who is most unwelcome here these days because I believe in holding politicians accountable while also being glad there's a "D" (even if it sometimes seems like just a letter) in office.

Now, with ACA, I got to see a doctor... for $25. I could throw the details out there about my own personal struggles, but this is not about that, and I'm not into playing games of "You think you have it bad, well let me tell you..."

I got to see a doctor. Something a whole lot of us haven't been able to do for a long time because we didn't have the $500 up front to see the specialist who treats our disease. Because we didn't have $4K for a Remicade treatment or the $12K for an outpatient ablation (at a low cost healthcare center). Some of us could not go and find out for free how far our disease had progressed because there isn't any thing of the kind around us.

Some of us pretended we were healthy because we couldn't see a doctor and purchased medicine from Canadian pharmacies based in India...and we tripled our life insurance policies.

This is not perfect, and I am still angry about single-payer. BUT, this is better than we would have gotten with a President Mitt. I believe that. And it is my fervent hope that it is just a small step towards something better.

I am sure there will be a medicine/treatment that won't be covered by my insurance, but at least there WAS a doctor there to prescribe it. (and that is sad but, these days, that's at least something)

[Voice for Peace]

1. thank you, agree nt

[CherokeeDem]

2. Thank you for posting this...

Last edited Wed Mar 19, 2014, 01:03 PM - Edit history (1)

As someone who is unemployed, I am thankful for ACA. Living in Kentucky, I am eligible for Medicaid and now back on blood pressure medication. It is not the blood pressure medication I've taken for years, it's not available under my Medicaid carrier. Thankfully, my doctor is working to find the right combination that will control my BP.

It infuriates me when people choose to blame Obama and the ACA for companies not covering certain drugs. I have an a close friend who is a retired Navy officer whose career was cut short by a brain tumor. She is currently covered by Medicare and VA Heath Care. She has had issues for years with a drug that she needs to stay alive. Each year she has to go through the same thing another poster's wife is going through. She has never failed to get the drug but has to jump hoops for it. Fortunately, the drug manufacturer is willing to step in if she cannot get the drug though conventional means. As of yet, she hasn't had to resort to getting the drug from the manufacturer. Once all the paperwork is finally in the hands it needs to be in, she will likely be approved as she has been before. I realize there is always the first time she may have an issue, but the fact is this has been going on for a lot of people for a very long time. ACA didn't cause it and to use this issue to continue to attack the president is uncalled for. I am terribly sorry that the poster's family is having this issue but they are not the exception, unfortunately.

I am glad that you have coverage. It feels good doesn't it? A major sense of relief.

*Edited to replace Medicare with Medicaid... sorry.

[treestar]

3. Good point.

Who thinks even single payer would completely eliminate such things?

The ACA has done me a lot of good too, at least as far as getting checked out for everything and having some minor things covered.

It's funny how people's view of it seems to be colored by their pre-disposal towards it. Most of us Obama supporters seem to have an OK time with it. Funny that. Maybe the NSA has figured out who we are?

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. I don't really want to bring about talk about "most of us Obama supporters" because

I've received my fair share of insults for questioning thinks like the NSA and this administration. It's why I posted in the manner I did.

What I was trying to point out that the inability to get medication is but a small point in this and that there are some of us who couldn't even get the visit, let alone the medication.

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. This is the thing. It sucks, but I've been through the "Your insurance won't

cover your medication" dance before. I am grateful that I'll get the chance to dance that dance again if need be, over what I was dealing with. Once upon a time, I was driving across the border to a Windsor compounding lab for my meds once a month.

Thank you CD.