Insurance Help & SSI?

[Guest guest]

Hi all J

I was really hoping

that someone on the list might be able to give me some suggestions here.  In a month or two my extended health care

coverage from my last employer who fired me basically due to my illness (nope not

suing, too much money etc…) will expire. 

I didn’t get COBRA as the company was too small, so what the health

insurance company (Humana) did was extend it via a state program, which gave me

6 months extra of insurance instead. 

Hey I am not complaining, at least I got SOME coverage J…

this fibromyalgia is really getting to be a pain (no pun intended here

heheh).  I am worried about insurance

once the extended coverage elapses.  When

I was unemployed before (in retrospect we think it was the start of the fibro

back then, just not as severe yet) we tried getting personal insurance.  We (Mum and I) had the money to pay the

monthly premiums, and we tried NUMEROUS agencies.  They all sent out their lil nurses to draw blood, and I filled

out many, many forms etc…. all said the same thing… NOPE.  At the time the only ailment that I had (or

at least was aware of at the time) was asthma. 

I got turned down for the asthma and my weight.  At that time my cholesterol was very low,

and as many docs said: I was healthier than many “skinny” people.  So I was VERY ticked off that I was turned

down time after time for those reasons. 

Does ANYONE know of any insurance companies that I might try? I mean do

any of you have private insurance not via a spouse or what have you that with

the fibro allowed you a policy none the less? Does anyone have any information

or hints for me? I would greatly appreciate any help I can get here. It is

getting down to the wire, and I am VERY nervous. As you all probably know, meds

are NOT cheap at all!!! I am on numerous ones at the  moment.  I got taken off

the Neurontin as I am one of the few who got a rare side effect of my

feet/ankles/calves/legs/hips all swelled up HUGE!! So for 2 months it was

extremely difficult to walk, get up etc… more so than usual anyhow.  I got real sick and was off all meds for 3

days and boom! My lower body magically went back to normal.  I have resumed all meds aside from the Neurontin

and I am magically back to normal once more! 

Process of elimination here… we all think it was the medication hehe… so

I am at least back to normal now J…

well relatively speaking anyhow hehe… here are the other meds I am on.

Meds:

Serzone                        150mg  twice a day (new med, seems to be helping me

sleep a lot better)

Celexa                          40mg  once a day at bedtime

Methadone                    10mg, 4 pills twice daily

Soma                            350mg, 2 pills twice

daily (rainy season is kicking my butt pain-wise)

Elavil                             25mg, 1 pill at

bedtime

Anyhow… ANY

information on how to get insurance or which insurance companies are the best

please email me at english@... … I

would GREATLY appreciate any help I can get.

Also…. I just got

my first rejection letter from Social Security.  I pretty much thought I would get turned down the first time

around, as everyone I had spoken to prior to trying told me they had also been

turned down the first time out of the gate, and that it is supposedly rare to

get approved the first time.  I made it

to the second round, which looked slightly promising.  However, yesterday I got the letter (packet really) telling me I

was not approved. They told me per their rules I am not disabled.  They also told me I will not qualify for

Medicaid.  I would love to know what

they classify as disabled.  I can’t work

due to the massive pain, hard to concentrate, sometimes forget things, hard to

move around much, driving long distances (i.e. anything longer than around 5

miles) is hard for me now. Yet although I can’t work and all of the above

reasons, I am not considered disabled? I do not get that.  I need some income in some way.  My two major bills I have taken care of for

at least two years.  One is a

consolidation loan that I wisely got the insurance on it that if I became

unemployed or disabled then they would pay the minimum payments for me for 24

months.  So they are paying that, and at

this rate it might be completely paid off at the 24 month mark.  Then there was my credit card (I only have 2

and one is a very low line of credit) with the highest limit.  I got the same insurance on that one.  They froze my credit card and no finance

charges are accruing which is WONDERFUL. 

So the insurance company again is paying the minimum on that for up to

24 months.  That should take a HUGE

chunk out of the balance by the time I have to start paying again.  LUCKILY I am living with my mum, and the

remainder of bills I have are pretty low. 

However I feel horrible as I have NO CASH of my own.  If I want to go see a movie or rent a video

I basically have to ask my Mummy for some money.  I am 27 years old and I hate having to ask her that.  I do not know if I should appeal the

decision (they say I can do so within 60 days) or if there is something else to

do????  Can anyone give me advice on

this at all?  If I do appeal, should I

go about it a different way? Should I get a lawyer this time around?  If anyone has any knowledge or advice on

this topic or the insurance topic, PLEASE email me at english@...  I get a lot of lists, so it would be far

easier if you would email me directly instead of me wading thru all the lists

individually J… 

I just want you all

to know how much I appreciate all the help you have given me over the past 6

months or so (since I have been diagnosed). 

This is such a frustrating illness to have, and knowing there are people

out there who are in similar situations has helped me come to terms with a lot

of things. Not to mention so many of you have such wonderful advice.  So thank you in advance for any words of

wisdom  you all may have to impart to me

on the above questions.  Thank you from

the bottom of my heart J

Gentle Hugz-

Keryn