Marriage and CF

[stacielynn]

I have been married before (currently dating a wonderful guy!) and getting on insurance with my ex- wasn't a problem. In New Mexico, there is this thing called Childrens Medical Services (CMS) that picks up the tab on all the co-pays and hospital visits, prescriptions, xray's, etc. CMS is for kids up to 18 or 21 or whatever, unless you have just a few genetic conditions, CF and diabetes being 2 of them. You have to have primary insurance first, but they cover everything else. Technically, I have CF, but I am not on any CF meds, inhalers, antibiotics, pretty much the only thing I have is birth control (which is actually covered because it's 'preventative' for CF people, because it's consdered family planning). I decided a few years ago that I was going to get myself healthy and not be on the 'hospital' program. Not being on meds is cool, but another bonus is that I don't make such an impact on the program and can 'give' someone else my $15000 yearly allotment that really needs it. So I say....move to New Mexico!
~~~~~~
Stacielynn
Diag w/ CF at 10mos old, 37 years old now. No transplants, no hospital stays, College grad, Certified Wholistic Kinesiologist

 

[stacielynn]

I have been married before (currently dating a wonderful guy!) and getting on insurance with my ex- wasn't a problem. In New Mexico, there is this thing called Childrens Medical Services (CMS) that picks up the tab on all the co-pays and hospital visits, prescriptions, xray's, etc. CMS is for kids up to 18 or 21 or whatever, unless you have just a few genetic conditions, CF and diabetes being 2 of them. You have to have primary insurance first, but they cover everything else. Technically, I have CF, but I am not on any CF meds, inhalers, antibiotics, pretty much the only thing I have is birth control (which is actually covered because it's 'preventative' for CF people, because it's consdered family planning). I decided a few years ago that I was going to get myself healthy and not be on the 'hospital' program. Not being on meds is cool, but another bonus is that I don't make such an impact on the program and can 'give' someone else my $15000 yearly allotment that really needs it. So I say....move to New Mexico!
<br />~~~~~~
<br />Stacielynn
<br />Diag w/ CF at 10mos old, 37 years old now. No transplants, no hospital stays, College grad, Certified Wholistic Kinesiologist
<br />

 

[blundergirl]

My husband (he has CF) and I have been married for 12 years in August. We have always made it work, and we don't know any other way! He has always wanted to be employed (my mantra is - as long as you feel like it, and you can stop anytime it's too much) so he has health insurance through his job. Yeah, we have co-pays and caps and all of that, and usually end up paying the $2000 or whatever cap per year in medical costs before the insurance starts picking up the rest. I've always had full time employment too so we get along OK (especially since it's just the two of us). Pretty soon he will be done with full time employment and we'll be down to just me and whatever insurance I can put him on. We have a disability lawyer lined up if we need to go that route. Hopefully we will make it work no matter what happens, like we always do. I never even considered not getting married! What a thought - that being divorced but living together might be a better financial option. I just can't imagine. This country!!!

 

[blundergirl]

My husband (he has CF) and I have been married for 12 years in August. We have always made it work, and we don't know any other way! He has always wanted to be employed (my mantra is - as long as you feel like it, and you can stop anytime it's too much) so he has health insurance through his job. Yeah, we have co-pays and caps and all of that, and usually end up paying the $2000 or whatever cap per year in medical costs before the insurance starts picking up the rest. I've always had full time employment too so we get along OK (especially since it's just the two of us). Pretty soon he will be done with full time employment and we'll be down to just me and whatever insurance I can put him on. We have a disability lawyer lined up if we need to go that route. Hopefully we will make it work no matter what happens, like we always do. I never even considered not getting married! What a thought - that being divorced but living together might be a better financial option. I just can't imagine. This country!!!

 

[blundergirl]

My husband (he has CF) and I have been married for 12 years in August. We have always made it work, and we don't know any other way! He has always wanted to be employed (my mantra is - as long as you feel like it, and you can stop anytime it's too much) so he has health insurance through his job. Yeah, we have co-pays and caps and all of that, and usually end up paying the $2000 or whatever cap per year in medical costs before the insurance starts picking up the rest. I've always had full time employment too so we get along OK (especially since it's just the two of us). Pretty soon he will be done with full time employment and we'll be down to just me and whatever insurance I can put him on. We have a disability lawyer lined up if we need to go that route. Hopefully we will make it work no matter what happens, like we always do. I never even considered not getting married! What a thought - that being divorced but living together might be a better financial option. I just can't imagine. This country!!!

 

[cgcheatham]

<P>My husband has CF.  Just reached 58 yrs old last week, diagnoised at 14 yrs.  He received double lung transplant May 1997, thanks in part to my insurance.  He was the first CF patient to be transplanted at Emory University Hospital (because he had insurance).  He would have had to go to UAB or Duke if we had not had insurance.  We have been married now for almost 36 yrs.  He is self-employed (39 yrs) and very little health or life insurance.  I have insurance with BCBS through my employment of 39 yrs.  We've struggled over the years to pay copayments and deductibles but the Lord has provided when it was needed. We've had to stay on top of charges, insurance payments and denials.  We are not wealthy, but are rich with God's blessings.  Husband has worked many a day when he did not feel like it.  Before transplant, he worked (auto mechanic) pulling his oxygen tank behind him when his lung collapsed for the second time...his work ethics are awesome.</P>
<P>We have met the lung donor's mother and the heart recipient.  What blessings!  Husband and the mother have spoken to many organizations and groups on donation of organs and that of being the recipient.</P>
<P>We have one daughter who is now 30 years old and has given us a beautiful granddaughter age 4.  Daughter is now a certified respiratory therapist and working towards RRT.  This has been another blessing....she and the granddaughter have been diagnoised with asthma.  Neither has CF.</P>
<P>I never considered NOT marrying this man, I love him!  Social  Security denied disability on him, although no one understands why, for all but the year of the transplant.  He had cdiff colitis twice following transplant surgery and almost died, acute renal failure and dialysis.    He is now diabetic, has had colon cancer and chemotherapy.  He works 40 hours+ each week.  He is now 14 yr post-transplant and still going strong.  He is amazing!  Although my insurance costs more each year and pays less, it is better than being without it.   </P>
<P>I'm just saying even with insurance it is hard, but the outcome has been well worth the struggle!!</P>

 

[cgcheatham]

<P>My husband has CF. Just reached 58 yrs old last week, diagnoised at 14 yrs. He received double lung transplant May 1997, thanks in part to my insurance. He was the first CF patient to be transplanted at Emory University Hospital (because he had insurance). He would have had to go to UAB or Duke if we had not had insurance. We have been married now for almost 36 yrs. He is self-employed (39 yrs)and very little health or life insurance. I have insurance with BCBS through my employment of 39 yrs. We've struggled over the years to pay copayments and deductibles but the Lord has provided when it was needed. We've had to stay on top of charges, insurance payments and denials. We are not wealthy, but are rich with God's blessings. Husband has worked many a day when he did not feel like it. Before transplant, he worked (auto mechanic) pulling his oxygen tank behind him when his lung collapsed for the second time...his work ethics are awesome.</P>
<P>We have met the lung donor's mother and the heart recipient. What blessings! Husband and the mother have spoken to many organizations and groups on donation of organs and that of being the recipient.</P>
<P>We have one daughter who is now 30 years old and has given us a beautiful granddaughter age 4. Daughter is now a certified respiratory therapist and working towards RRT. This has been another blessing....she and the granddaughter have been diagnoised with asthma. Neitherhas CF.</P>
<P>I never considered NOT marrying this man, I love him! Social Security denied disability on him, although no one understands why, for all but the year of the transplant. He had cdiff colitis twice following transplant surgery and almost died, acute renal failure and dialysis. He is now diabetic, has had colon cancer and chemotherapy. He works 40 hours+ each week. He is now 14 yr post-transplant and still going strong. He is amazing! Although my insurance costs more each year and pays less, it is better than being without it. </P>
<P>I'm just saying even with insurance it is hard, but the outcome has been well worth the struggle!!</P>

 

[cgcheatham]

<P><BR>My husband has CF. Just reached 58 yrs old last week, diagnoised at 14 yrs. He received double lung transplant May 1997, thanks in part to my insurance. He was the first CF patient to be transplanted at Emory University Hospital (because he had insurance). He would have had to go to UAB or Duke if we had not had insurance. We have been married now for almost 36 yrs. He is self-employed (39 yrs)and very little health or life insurance. I have insurance with BCBS through my employment of 39 yrs. We've struggled over the years to pay copayments and deductibles but the Lord has provided when it was needed. We've had to stay on top of charges, insurance payments and denials. We are not wealthy, but are rich with God's blessings. Husband has worked many a day when he did not feel like it. Before transplant, he worked (auto mechanic) pulling his oxygen tank behind him when his lung collapsed for the second time...his work ethics are awesome.</P>
<P>We have met the lung donor's mother and the heart recipient. What blessings! Husband and the mother have spoken to many organizations and groups on donation of organs and that of being the recipient.</P>
<P>We have one daughter who is now 30 years old and has given us a beautiful granddaughter age 4. Daughter is now a certified respiratory therapist and working towards RRT. This has been another blessing....she and the granddaughter have been diagnoised with asthma. Neitherhas CF.</P>
<P>I never considered NOT marrying this man, I love him! Social Security denied disability on him, although no one understands why, for all but the year of the transplant. He had cdiff colitis twice following transplant surgery and almost died, acute renal failure and dialysis. He is now diabetic, has had colon cancer and chemotherapy. He works 40 hours+ each week. He is now 14 yr post-transplant and still going strong. He is amazing! Although my insurance costs more each year and pays less, it is better than being without it. </P>
<P>I'm just saying even with insurance it is hard, but the outcome has been well worth the struggle!!</P>

 

[lilmac1177]

i am in a relationship w/ the most amazing man and we very much want to get married, but are facing all the same issues as these posts are detailing. i'm wondering what your committment ceremonies consisted of? i mean, was it like same as a wedding except for the legal paper??

 

[lilmac1177]

i am in a relationship w/ the most amazing man and we very much want to get married, but are facing all the same issues as these posts are detailing. i'm wondering what your committment ceremonies consisted of? i mean, was it like same as a wedding except for the legal paper??

 

[colred42]

I was always told, if you have an unofficial ceremony and you are on state help, if the state found out you would be responsible for your medical care retroactively. I believe there was this couple who do the ceremony and then had to pay the state back for two years of medical care.

Beth was extremely helpful to me and all my questions. Which is why i have a male life partner <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

 

[colred42]

I was always told, if you have an unofficial ceremony and you are on state help, if the state found out you would be responsible for your medical care retroactively. I believe there was this couple who do the ceremony and then had to pay the state back for two years of medical care.

Beth was extremely helpful to me and all my questions. Which is why i have a male life partner <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

 

[Treble]

Imo, sounds like it's for the best to just not get married unless both parties are able to consistently work. I'm very fortunate to have a partner that couldn't care less if we got married or not, so long as we're together. True love, imo! :>

 

[Treble]

Imo, sounds like it's for the best to just not get married unless both parties are able to consistently work. I'm very fortunate to have a partner that couldn't care less if we got married or not, so long as we're together. True love, imo! :>