Just a little insurance whine...
Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 5:17 pm
...and I don't even expect advice. I'll preface it by saying I know I'm truly fortunate that I have health insurance at all. Good insurance. Affordable insurance - through my job. I feel pretty guilty for complaining about it at all, but dammit, they finally dx'd a medical condition in my poor, pitiful legs that can be fixed (hallelujah!)...but insurance refuses to cover it. Geez!!
I've had this giant varicose vein in my right calf (my non-MS one) ever since I chipped my knee in high school and had my leg in a cast for 6 weeks. Last summer it started aching in yoga class, so I went to a vascular surgeon, who declared it was the kind that's easily fixable by a simple laser ablation. Something fixable!!! In me!! Something that's not demyelinating, deteriorating, degenerating, or steadily progressing! That knee has degenerative joint disease & swells up like a cantaloupe, the other leg has foot drop, RLS, twitches, tremors, and spasms. But this vein can be fixed!
However, insurance declares the procedure cosmetic, and not necessary. They will reconsider if my body's still wracked with pain after wearing super thick support hose for 6 weeks. I explained to the nurse how difficult it would be for me to wear thick, heavy stockings due to my peripheral neuropathy. I can barely wear socks and heavy shoes for short periods, and wear skirts, hose, and thin dress shoes most every day at work to avoid the burning (no, that's NOT from MS). But I admitted to her that the vein pain is usually not that severe even now, (except this evening, for some reason).
But...it's fixable! I think it would be worth it just for the psychological boost. And the company's getting off pretty easy in my case. They're saving thousands of dollars every year because I don't take expensive MS meds. And I shrug off the offer of an annual MRI from my neuro, because it wouldn't affect my treatment choices anyway. And they don't offer a cent for my REAL treatment – diet and exercise. I think they should at least be covering my health club membership and let me use my insurance card at the grocery for fresh fruits & veggies. They didn't even pay for my fabulous canes, since they're expensive, non-medical-looking ones (I, of course, insist on using canes with a bit of an "attitude"
).
Well, now I feel better. Sending good "attitudes" to you all.
I've had this giant varicose vein in my right calf (my non-MS one) ever since I chipped my knee in high school and had my leg in a cast for 6 weeks. Last summer it started aching in yoga class, so I went to a vascular surgeon, who declared it was the kind that's easily fixable by a simple laser ablation. Something fixable!!! In me!! Something that's not demyelinating, deteriorating, degenerating, or steadily progressing! That knee has degenerative joint disease & swells up like a cantaloupe, the other leg has foot drop, RLS, twitches, tremors, and spasms. But this vein can be fixed!
However, insurance declares the procedure cosmetic, and not necessary. They will reconsider if my body's still wracked with pain after wearing super thick support hose for 6 weeks. I explained to the nurse how difficult it would be for me to wear thick, heavy stockings due to my peripheral neuropathy. I can barely wear socks and heavy shoes for short periods, and wear skirts, hose, and thin dress shoes most every day at work to avoid the burning (no, that's NOT from MS). But I admitted to her that the vein pain is usually not that severe even now, (except this evening, for some reason).
But...it's fixable! I think it would be worth it just for the psychological boost. And the company's getting off pretty easy in my case. They're saving thousands of dollars every year because I don't take expensive MS meds. And I shrug off the offer of an annual MRI from my neuro, because it wouldn't affect my treatment choices anyway. And they don't offer a cent for my REAL treatment – diet and exercise. I think they should at least be covering my health club membership and let me use my insurance card at the grocery for fresh fruits & veggies. They didn't even pay for my fabulous canes, since they're expensive, non-medical-looking ones (I, of course, insist on using canes with a bit of an "attitude"
). Well, now I feel better. Sending good "attitudes" to you all.
