If anyone read my first post, you know that – like many other Treasure Valley residents – I am out of work. Sure that means no income, but worse that that – it means my wife and I have to pay full list retail for doctor visits and prescriptions. Why is that more scary than no income? Simple – I’m diabetic and my son is not yet two.
What’s the big deal you ask? Can’t I just test my blood and take shots? Sure, that’s the easy part. Buying the supplies, now that’s a bit tougher. Consider:
Blood test strips – just under a dollar each, I use about 7 a day.
Insulin – about $400/month
Blood pressure – 2 meds. Fortunately, one is on Walmart’s $4 list, but the other is about $2/day.
What’s that all add up to? $400 (insulin) + $210 (blood strips) + $4 (one blood pressure med) + $60 (other blood pressure med) = $674/month in meds. Just for me.
Which brings me to the “scary” part. My wife and my son are both very ill. Since last night each has been vomiting regularly. It is probably something they ate (i didn’t have the cheese-macs, they did, I’m fine). What thought was in the forefront of my thoughts? “What can I do to help them feel better?” “Oh my goodnesss, I wish it was me?” Nope, those would be easy.
I’m embarassed to admit that my foremost thought was “Please don’t let them have to go to the hospital – that will completely drain the savings we’ve been counting on to get us through until I find work.” Does that suck or what?
I never took health insurance and drug coverage for granted. I’ve been diabetic for 30+ years and been on Medicaid before, so I realize the value of health insurance.
What was new this time was the consideration that – should my family need to go to the hospitak – it could put us in a very tough situation as I try and find work.
And that’s what is scary, really scary.
I hear you. I’ve had health coverage on and off over the past 8 years. I have it now, but it is less….FAR LESS, than enough. My wife has a condition that requires a medication that is $1000/month according to my insurance. Where as I had different coverage a few years ago that made my out of pocket cost on that same medication $20 a month. slight difference there. The only way we are making it is that she has found a slury of alternate meds that seem to be ok, not as good as th $1k med, but she is getting by. This has been a major blow to my male ego in that i’m unable to provide for my family. Thank goodness my kids are just naturally strong and healthy. just co-miserating i guess.
Keep your chin up Doug! I know your abilities and know you’ll find something better than what you had before. Insurance was my primary concern when I was laid off too. My daughter has Asthma, so the last thing we could do was allow a lapse in coverage and make it into a non-covered pre-existing condition. Luckily my wife switched to full time at her job and immediately qualified for insurance. It was very expensive (not nearly what Cobra would have been though) and it covered very little, but was enough to ride us through until I was eligible at my new gig. I’m keeping an eye out for any employment opportunities I see for all of my friends from MPC. If I see something I’ll definitely keep you in mind.