Health Care Bills

JackieAnn · Dec 4, 2009

I'm sure there's been other posts out there for this same topic; sorry if I'm repeating it.

I'm just wondering how everyone handles their medical bills, after the insurance company has paid their part.

My employer switched insurance companies in July and the new insurance company (Anthem) is covering much less than the prior insurance company. My co-pay for my two Rx's has gone up $20 each per month, and all my medical bills are like 10x what they were before (no joke). My husband and I are I guess what you would classify as middle class income wise. So we right in the middle squeeze; we make to much to get assistance but were not raking in the money, we live paycheck to paycheck.

I usually know how frequent my appointments and lab work will be, so I'll just divide the number of months (usually 3) by the amount of the bill. If the bill is $30 bucks, it'd be $10 a month. Which worked before, but now i just feel like the amount of the bill has increased so much that I cannot pay enough during the time period.

I'm going to sign up for the patient assistance program to help with my co-pays but I feel incredibly guilty for it. I know that many other people need it, probably more than I do.

... SO my question is how do you all handle paying these bills? Are there programs out there that help out with the bills and not just the Rx co-pay?

I just get to fustraited, it feels likes these bills are like monthly dues to a special 'health club' that I don't really want to be in.

Thanks in advance for responding and listening to my rant! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Jackie

JackieAnn · Dec 4, 2009

I'm sure there's been other posts out there for this same topic; sorry if I'm repeating it.

I'm just wondering how everyone handles their medical bills, after the insurance company has paid their part.

My employer switched insurance companies in July and the new insurance company (Anthem) is covering much less than the prior insurance company. My co-pay for my two Rx's has gone up $20 each per month, and all my medical bills are like 10x what they were before (no joke). My husband and I are I guess what you would classify as middle class income wise. So we right in the middle squeeze; we make to much to get assistance but were not raking in the money, we live paycheck to paycheck.

I usually know how frequent my appointments and lab work will be, so I'll just divide the number of months (usually 3) by the amount of the bill. If the bill is $30 bucks, it'd be $10 a month. Which worked before, but now i just feel like the amount of the bill has increased so much that I cannot pay enough during the time period.

I'm going to sign up for the patient assistance program to help with my co-pays but I feel incredibly guilty for it. I know that many other people need it, probably more than I do.

... SO my question is how do you all handle paying these bills? Are there programs out there that help out with the bills and not just the Rx co-pay?

I just get to fustraited, it feels likes these bills are like monthly dues to a special 'health club' that I don't really want to be in.

Thanks in advance for responding and listening to my rant! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Jackie

JackieAnn · Dec 4, 2009

I'm sure there's been other posts out there for this same topic; sorry if I'm repeating it.

I'm just wondering how everyone handles their medical bills, after the insurance company has paid their part.

My employer switched insurance companies in July and the new insurance company (Anthem) is covering much less than the prior insurance company. My co-pay for my two Rx's has gone up $20 each per month, and all my medical bills are like 10x what they were before (no joke). My husband and I are I guess what you would classify as middle class income wise. So we right in the middle squeeze; we make to much to get assistance but were not raking in the money, we live paycheck to paycheck.

I usually know how frequent my appointments and lab work will be, so I'll just divide the number of months (usually 3) by the amount of the bill. If the bill is $30 bucks, it'd be $10 a month. Which worked before, but now i just feel like the amount of the bill has increased so much that I cannot pay enough during the time period.

I'm going to sign up for the patient assistance program to help with my co-pays but I feel incredibly guilty for it. I know that many other people need it, probably more than I do.

... SO my question is how do you all handle paying these bills? Are there programs out there that help out with the bills and not just the Rx co-pay?

I just get to fustraited, it feels likes these bills are like monthly dues to a special 'health club' that I don't really want to be in.

Thanks in advance for responding and listening to my rant! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Jackie

JackieAnn · Dec 4, 2009

I'm sure there's been other posts out there for this same topic; sorry if I'm repeating it.

I'm just wondering how everyone handles their medical bills, after the insurance company has paid their part.

My employer switched insurance companies in July and the new insurance company (Anthem) is covering much less than the prior insurance company. My co-pay for my two Rx's has gone up $20 each per month, and all my medical bills are like 10x what they were before (no joke). My husband and I are I guess what you would classify as middle class income wise. So we right in the middle squeeze; we make to much to get assistance but were not raking in the money, we live paycheck to paycheck.

I usually know how frequent my appointments and lab work will be, so I'll just divide the number of months (usually 3) by the amount of the bill. If the bill is $30 bucks, it'd be $10 a month. Which worked before, but now i just feel like the amount of the bill has increased so much that I cannot pay enough during the time period.

I'm going to sign up for the patient assistance program to help with my co-pays but I feel incredibly guilty for it. I know that many other people need it, probably more than I do.

... SO my question is how do you all handle paying these bills? Are there programs out there that help out with the bills and not just the Rx co-pay?

I just get to fustraited, it feels likes these bills are like monthly dues to a special 'health club' that I don't really want to be in.

Thanks in advance for responding and listening to my rant! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Jackie

JackieAnn · Dec 4, 2009

I'm sure there's been other posts out there for this same topic; sorry if I'm repeating it.
 
 I'm just wondering how everyone handles their medical bills, after the insurance company has paid their part.
 
 My employer switched insurance companies in July and the new insurance company (Anthem) is covering much less than the prior insurance company. My co-pay for my two Rx's has gone up $20 each per month, and all my medical bills are like 10x what they were before (no joke). My husband and I are I guess what you would classify as middle class income wise. So we right in the middle squeeze; we make to much to get assistance but were not raking in the money, we live paycheck to paycheck.
 
 I usually know how frequent my appointments and lab work will be, so I'll just divide the number of months (usually 3) by the amount of the bill. If the bill is $30 bucks, it'd be $10 a month. Which worked before, but now i just feel like the amount of the bill has increased so much that I cannot pay enough during the time period.
 
 I'm going to sign up for the patient assistance program to help with my co-pays but I feel incredibly guilty for it. I know that many other people need it, probably more than I do.
 
 ... SO my question is how do you all handle paying these bills? Are there programs out there that help out with the bills and not just the Rx co-pay?
 
 I just get to fustraited, it feels likes these bills are like monthly dues to a special 'health club' that I don't really want to be in.
 
 Thanks in advance for responding and listening to my rant! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 Jackie

jbrandonAW · Dec 4, 2009

Honestly, we couldn't handle it so my husband joined the army. 100% coverage. The only thing that I have to pay for are the few meds that I can't get at the base pharmacy. Its either a 3,9,or 22$ copay for meds. But they carry almost everything.

Don't feel bad about getting help if you need it. CF is a demanding and expensive disease!

jbrandonAW · Dec 4, 2009

Honestly, we couldn't handle it so my husband joined the army. 100% coverage. The only thing that I have to pay for are the few meds that I can't get at the base pharmacy. Its either a 3,9,or 22$ copay for meds. But they carry almost everything.

Don't feel bad about getting help if you need it. CF is a demanding and expensive disease!

jbrandonAW · Dec 4, 2009

Honestly, we couldn't handle it so my husband joined the army. 100% coverage. The only thing that I have to pay for are the few meds that I can't get at the base pharmacy. Its either a 3,9,or 22$ copay for meds. But they carry almost everything.

Don't feel bad about getting help if you need it. CF is a demanding and expensive disease!

jbrandonAW · Dec 4, 2009

Honestly, we couldn't handle it so my husband joined the army. 100% coverage. The only thing that I have to pay for are the few meds that I can't get at the base pharmacy. Its either a 3,9,or 22$ copay for meds. But they carry almost everything.

Don't feel bad about getting help if you need it. CF is a demanding and expensive disease!

jbrandonAW · Dec 4, 2009

Honestly, we couldn't handle it so my husband joined the army. 100% coverage. The only thing that I have to pay for are the few meds that I can't get at the base pharmacy. Its either a 3,9,or 22$ copay for meds. But they carry almost everything.
 
 Don't feel bad about getting help if you need it. CF is a demanding and expensive disease!

kfw1963 · Dec 4, 2009

Jackie, I'm in the same boat as you(I also have Anthem). The bills are crazy. I figure I pay about 500/mnth between rx, copays and other bills from hospitalizations etc... Last year our out of pocket was $12,000. I am also what you would call middle class income and as such make too much to qualify for aid but not enough to keep paying all the bills and still have anything left. We are the the group in healthcare that are getting the short end of the deal. To top it all off, everything is going up again the first of January. I can't afford to be sick. And I have in the past pushed clinic to 6 months instead of 3 sometimes as the costs for 1 visit can be over $200.00 depending on what they do. Sorry for the long post. All this just to say you are not alone and I understand where you are coming from.

kfw1963 · Dec 4, 2009

Jackie, I'm in the same boat as you(I also have Anthem). The bills are crazy. I figure I pay about 500/mnth between rx, copays and other bills from hospitalizations etc... Last year our out of pocket was $12,000. I am also what you would call middle class income and as such make too much to qualify for aid but not enough to keep paying all the bills and still have anything left. We are the the group in healthcare that are getting the short end of the deal. To top it all off, everything is going up again the first of January. I can't afford to be sick. And I have in the past pushed clinic to 6 months instead of 3 sometimes as the costs for 1 visit can be over $200.00 depending on what they do. Sorry for the long post. All this just to say you are not alone and I understand where you are coming from.

kfw1963 · Dec 4, 2009

Jackie, I'm in the same boat as you(I also have Anthem). The bills are crazy. I figure I pay about 500/mnth between rx, copays and other bills from hospitalizations etc... Last year our out of pocket was $12,000. I am also what you would call middle class income and as such make too much to qualify for aid but not enough to keep paying all the bills and still have anything left. We are the the group in healthcare that are getting the short end of the deal. To top it all off, everything is going up again the first of January. I can't afford to be sick. And I have in the past pushed clinic to 6 months instead of 3 sometimes as the costs for 1 visit can be over $200.00 depending on what they do. Sorry for the long post. All this just to say you are not alone and I understand where you are coming from.

kfw1963 · Dec 4, 2009

Jackie, I'm in the same boat as you(I also have Anthem). The bills are crazy. I figure I pay about 500/mnth between rx, copays and other bills from hospitalizations etc... Last year our out of pocket was $12,000. I am also what you would call middle class income and as such make too much to qualify for aid but not enough to keep paying all the bills and still have anything left. We are the the group in healthcare that are getting the short end of the deal. To top it all off, everything is going up again the first of January. I can't afford to be sick. And I have in the past pushed clinic to 6 months instead of 3 sometimes as the costs for 1 visit can be over $200.00 depending on what they do. Sorry for the long post. All this just to say you are not alone and I understand where you are coming from.

kfw1963 · Dec 4, 2009

Jackie, I'm in the same boat as you(I also have Anthem). The bills are crazy. I figure I pay about 500/mnth between rx, copays and other bills from hospitalizations etc... Last year our out of pocket was $12,000. I am also what you would call middle class income and as such make too much to qualify for aid but not enough to keep paying all the bills and still have anything left. We are the the group in healthcare that are getting the short end of the deal. To top it all off, everything is going up again the first of January. I can't afford to be sick. And I have in the past pushed clinic to 6 months instead of 3 sometimes as the costs for 1 visit can be over $200.00 depending on what they do. Sorry for the long post. All this just to say you are not alone and I understand where you are coming from.

JasonDBrown · Dec 5, 2009