I'm chewing my arm off as I type this

[LeftyFingerPop]

Phone rings this morning as I am shaving.

Mr. Philboy?
Yes.
This is Tracy at the MRI place.
Hi.
Can you arrive 15 minutes early for your MRI?
Sure.
We're doing your arm today, right?
Yes, left arm.
Have you ever had any metal in your eye?
No.
Do you have a pacemaker?
No.
Where is the pain?
Well, my entire arm, but it seems to center in the elbow and forearm.
Uh-oh.
What's wrong?
Well, the insurance only approved the elbow. Let me get your chart.
Ok.
Mr. Philboy, unfortunately, even though the doctor wrote an MRI for both the elbow and forearm,
they have only approved the elbow.
What about the forearm?
It is still in the review process.
Oh.
Would you like to come in twice, once for the elbow, and then the forearm when it gets approved?
No.
Ok, we'll have to reschedule you. I'm sorry.
Have they approved my pain patches yet?
No, they are still in the review process.
Ok.
Someone will call you to reschedule, ok?
Ok, thanks.
Bye.
Bye.

So, I'm chewing my arm off now. Only a few more strands of bicep to go.

[skygazer]

1. You don't have a hacksaw?

Works pretty well. Or a friend with a chainsaw is real quick. But then, you're nearly there.

Fucking insurance. I just recently got billed for a procedure done last October that had been approved at the time. I'm still trying to figure out why it is suddenly not covered. :nuke:

[LeftyFingerPop]

2. no lie....

I almost feel like taking a saw to it because it hurts so much...fucking insurance companies indeed.

[skygazer]

3. I have had so much of a runaround about my left knee`

I've been having trouble with it for 3 years now. First my doctor wouldn't take me seriously. Then when I finally had an MRI, it showed a badly torn meniscus. Surgery did not correct. Another surgery. Now there's no frigging cartilage left.

It hurts all the time, has arthritis in it and makes crunchy noises. Insurance stonewalls everything.

I tell people I'm going to cut it off, put on a wooden peg and become a pirate. :P

:hug:

[LeftyFingerPop]

4. So it seems that your doctor's hesitation...

coupled with the hoops to be jumped through with the insurance, probably worsened your condition.

I am very sorry to hear this. It must be so frustrating for you. :hug:

[skygazer]

9. And your situation for you

I'm sorry, man. Our whole system is screwy. :hug:

[QueenOfCalifornia]

5. Your forearm is in review.

Isn't that the name of the bestselling book titled "Meaningless Phrases and How I Would Like To Confuse You."

[LeftyFingerPop]

7. Probably, but then again....

everything confuses me.

[Parche]

6. So Its True

:hi: :hug:

[LeftyFingerPop]

8. Yes it is!

:hi: :hug:

[Dr. Strange]

10. Locking.

Bodily functions thread. (Yes, arm-chewing is a bodily function. Of sorts.)

[LeftyFingerPop]

11. Fake thread locks were first developed by Lucifer himself.

[Gormy Cuss]

12. You know, if you could be in the same room with the insurance company decision makers

and you chose to ram their extra sharp pencils into their elbows to demonstrate the type of pain you're in while they're playing around with the approval, perhaps the process would be expedited.

I can't imagine having that job. I'd need to be drunk every night to forget what a loathsome job it was.

I hope that the patch approval comes soon.

[LeftyFingerPop]

13. Thanks, I hope so too...

and I do not blame the decision makers...they are just doing the job that they are paid to do. But I guess I have to blame someone at these companies...so I will blame the fucking CEO's who develop the policies that determine how rigid they need to be based on the company's profit goals.

"Insurance" and "health care" do not mix, they are not compatible entities because they have different goals.

And as I re-read your post...you are correct. I can't imagine having the terrible job of having to turn down claims, when you know in your heart the denial is not in the best interest of the patient.

[Gormy Cuss]

26. By 'decision makers' I don't mean the person who checks the manual -- I'm referring to the authors.

They get paid handsomely for it and they don't have the normal moral dilemmas that most of us would.
There is no amount of money that would make that job look attractive to me.

[Shell Beau]

14. Insurance is a bitch, huh?

Better to have it though!

[LeftyFingerPop]

16. Indeed, much better to have it...

but the whole system needs to be changed. We need National Health Care, similar to the UK. Then, EVERYONE has it.

Under our current system, I would be dead in a month without insurance. And that gives me nightmares.

[Shell Beau]

18. Yeah, I know. It sucks.

Good luck though with your MRI!

[LeftyFingerPop]

25. Thanks a lot Shell...

:hi: :thumbsup:

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. Crappy American healthcare system strikes again. Hope you get sorted out right quick! *hugs*

[LeftyFingerPop]

19. Thanks!

I will just rely on illegal drugs to get me through in the meantime. :rofl: Errr...just kidding...sorta. :hi: :hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

20. I has some catnip if you think it will help

[LeftyFingerPop]

24. I will smoke anything that can be lit at this point.....

:rofl:

[poliscifanboy]

17. This is why we need to have goverment healthcare

The insurance companys are just to inefficent, we need to have the Gov't be there for us.

[LeftyFingerPop]

22. I agree, and welcome to DU!

Call it "Socialized medicine", call it whatever you want...we need it.

Welcome...and enjoy your sentence in the lounge. :hi:

[Yavin4]

21. Socialized Medicine Will Cause Rationing of Healthcare

You see, it's better to have private entities ration your health care instead because this way some fat cat HMO CEO gets to live well off of your premiums.

[LeftyFingerPop]

23. Damn straight...you hit the nail on the head. n/t

[stuntcat]

27. :shame:

omg I can't even think up a funny reply for this, it pisses me off so bad x( WTF's the world come to?

Good luck, I hope this is the most ridiculous it'll get. But judging from the bullshit my mom and step-dad have been through the past couple years you're getting great service.