Struggling with your Health Care Provider

 

If you have Fibromyalgia then you know, dealing with a health care provider can be the absolute pits.

Since the onset of Fibromyalgia, which has been about 10 years, I have been with Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield & United Health Care.

Out of all of them, United has been a real thorn in my side. Every pill that I’m on that is the least bit expensive, they require that I go thru their mail in service. To give you an idea of how much I pay a month, taking all into account, it’s nearly $300 with all the Co-Pay’s put together. The mail in service requires that I pay for 2 months at a time. I don’t know about many of you, but I know that I cannot afford $600 at a whack, even if I’m getting one month ‘Free’.

In addition, and particularly with Lyrica, United Health Care consistently incorrectly reads the prescription dosage. I require 3 of the 150mg pills a day to keep the aches and pains down. If I have any less than that, then I ramp up on the Hydrocodone because the muscle pain becomes more apparent and noticeable to me. If I’m on a consistent 450 mg of Lyrica, I don’t have near as much trouble. However, since requiring me to go through mail order, they have regularly filled my prescriptions for 150 mg a day. It’s appalling and irritating and I have a sneaking suspicion that it’s completely and utterly intentional. After all, Humana & BCBS NEVER had these types of problems. Ever.

Particularly when “Health Care Reform” is on everyone’s minds, I can say that I’m at a loss as to how to make it better for me. Clearly, my Dr. and I have been working together for years now and know what dosages work for me. To have me change health care providers and then suddenly have all these problems, is not just irritating, it also effects my health. United Health Care has no better knowledge of my health and what works for me than my Electricity provider. My employer and I pay good money to have this  health insurance. I should not have to fight it every step of the way to get my basic needs met, especially needs that other providers have met with out question.

So, when I hear about “reform” or the repealing of “reform” I can say that so far, until I can get my monthly prescriptions with out a fight, I will have to be on the fence. I’m weary of fighting on this one. I’m weary all the time, so when I have to fight for this… well it just makes me exhausted & bitter. Yet there is hope that it will all come together in the knick of time. I’m just not going to hold my breath! 

Fizz

© ‘Fizz’ 2011