Entry tags:
COBRA/health insurance
I went to pick up prescription refills today, and they tried to charge me a lot more than last month, because the health insurance coverage isn't showing.
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cattitude's last day at Microsoft was April 30. We filled out the COBRA* stuff as soon as they told us how, and then sent in the check as soon as they sent us the paperwork so we could. (Starting next month we can do it online, but they want a check for the first month.) "As soon as we could" means the check was mailed this morning, so of course it hasn't arrived and been processed yet.
They're supposed to backdate the insurance once they get the payment (that's in the COBRA law), but the pharmacist didn't know whether we'd get reimbursed for that $99, let alone how long it would take. So I told her I'd go home and count pills and come back when I need to, and we will call the insurance company. Extremely modified rapture.
Meanwhile, I cancelled my physical therapy appointment for Thursday morning; they'd been charging me something like $11.73/session, until the most recent paperwork from the insurer which said I owed nothing because we'd used up our deductible (dental surgery is expensive). The no-insurance fee would be $200/session. If I was sure I needed this appointment, I'd chance getting reimbursed much later or even not at all, but we're at the tapering off stage where it's mostly strengthening exercises (and basically the same ones the last few weeks), with some stretches, a quick diagnostic check beforehand, and then ice and ultrasound after. If we were still doing traction, I'd probably take the chance of not being reimbursed.
As a side note, apparently there's very little evidence that the ultrasound makes a difference.** My theory on why everyone keeps doing it, other than inertia, is that it's the only part of standard PT that's basically pleasant for the patient, so we all want it. (It's pretty definitely harmless, so if I'm there anyway and the therapist thinks it might help I want it.)
* Explanation for residents of more civilized countries: COBRA is the law that says if an American loses employer-provided health insurance, they have to be allowed to continue for up to 18 months at their own expense, for no more than I think 2% more than the employer was paying. So continuing coverage, and the price advantage of buying in a group. (This is separate from and earlier than Obamacare.)
** The lack of evidence is specifically with regard to low-energy ultrasound as part of physical therapy. The stuff they do to break up kidney stones is also called "ultrasound," because they both use very high frequency sound waves.
cattitude's last day at Microsoft was April 30. We filled out the COBRA* stuff as soon as they told us how, and then sent in the check as soon as they sent us the paperwork so we could. (Starting next month we can do it online, but they want a check for the first month.) "As soon as we could" means the check was mailed this morning, so of course it hasn't arrived and been processed yet.They're supposed to backdate the insurance once they get the payment (that's in the COBRA law), but the pharmacist didn't know whether we'd get reimbursed for that $99, let alone how long it would take. So I told her I'd go home and count pills and come back when I need to, and we will call the insurance company. Extremely modified rapture.
Meanwhile, I cancelled my physical therapy appointment for Thursday morning; they'd been charging me something like $11.73/session, until the most recent paperwork from the insurer which said I owed nothing because we'd used up our deductible (dental surgery is expensive). The no-insurance fee would be $200/session. If I was sure I needed this appointment, I'd chance getting reimbursed much later or even not at all, but we're at the tapering off stage where it's mostly strengthening exercises (and basically the same ones the last few weeks), with some stretches, a quick diagnostic check beforehand, and then ice and ultrasound after. If we were still doing traction, I'd probably take the chance of not being reimbursed.
As a side note, apparently there's very little evidence that the ultrasound makes a difference.** My theory on why everyone keeps doing it, other than inertia, is that it's the only part of standard PT that's basically pleasant for the patient, so we all want it. (It's pretty definitely harmless, so if I'm there anyway and the therapist thinks it might help I want it.)
* Explanation for residents of more civilized countries: COBRA is the law that says if an American loses employer-provided health insurance, they have to be allowed to continue for up to 18 months at their own expense, for no more than I think 2% more than the employer was paying. So continuing coverage, and the price advantage of buying in a group. (This is separate from and earlier than Obamacare.)
** The lack of evidence is specifically with regard to low-energy ultrasound as part of physical therapy. The stuff they do to break up kidney stones is also called "ultrasound," because they both use very high frequency sound waves.