|
|
Yet another month with a visit from Aunt Flo...that's a clever way that we women online refer to our periods. I fear that I am getting older by the minute. At this rate, there's a good possibility that I will be 37 (or, heaven forbid, older) when I have my first child. With our current money problems, I am beginning to wonder if it's even a good idea to try...
I cannot imagine how the average person who has never worked closely with insurance companies in a professional setting can possibly cope with the garbage that I'm dealing with here. From my years as a social worker, I learned a few things, primarily the importance of dogged persistence and writing down everything -- and I mean everything. I write down the date and time of my call, the name of each person spoken to, summary of what was said (including a few good quotes), and how the discussion resolved, including who referred me to whom in an effort to "pass the buck". I am still dealing with trying to get my insurance company to cover a bill from my first miscarriage. Those bills in the mail are almost as unnerving as the parenting magazine that arrives monthly, courtesy of my good friend who subscribed me during my last pregnancy.
While the magazine is placed immediately in an out-of-view pile, the bills are addressed swiftly. I have excellent insurance through my last full-time employer via COBRA, which means I pay the monthly premium -- so I'll be damned if I don't get my money's worth. After my lengthy complaint about the way my first miscarriage was handled, the insurance group assigned me a case manager, a wise move due to the frequent calls that they rightfully assumed I would be making. While my case manager is a pleasant enough person, she is also an insensitive boob who had the audacity to carry on one phone call about how staying home one day with her three-year-old was more than she could take, and thank goodness she worked full-time because she just could not stand to be around her child all day. It was all I could do to keep from saying, "I'll take him..." to her.
Just a few more months of listening to my insurance case manager's personal problems -- then, my COBRA will expire and I'll be on my own. I am currently researching self-employment insurance, and not too thrilled at what I am seeing. With the onset of HIPPA, things should be a little better, but I'm trying to time this just right. It's so confusing...
At any rate, as good as my coverage is, I still have absolutely zilch when it comes to fertility stuff. As my case manager informed me early on, my policy is usable only for diagnosis -- not a smidge of treatment. No medications and no procedures. And now that we know I can get pregnant, apparently, there's no need for diagnosis of conception problems. So all we can do is wait to get pregnant again, and everything will be covered. All we can do is wait...
© Tracy Morris
_2.jpg)
