Back in late November I wrote about how
I had finally gotten approved for assistance for Medicare Part D by the Social Security
Administration. It took a while longer,
but, I now know in general terms what kind of basic help I will receive on my
medication costs. Anything helps and this will help me. Late last week I
applied online for the program I wanted for drug coverage after overriding in
the system (I think) the program that they had automatically put me into.
No surprise that the program they
were automatically putting me into--something offered through AARP---had restrictive
drug quantity limits and would not cover one of the drugs I am on for my high
blood pressure and congestive heart failure. Having played drug roulette before
where my blood pressure meds were changed due to insurance nonsense with the result
I wound up in the hospital, I have no interest in doing that again.
Back when I was working I used to
scare folks because sometimes I would be beet red in the face and other times I
would be as pale as a ghost. People I worked with tended to notice that sort of
thing. It isn’t something you can hide like trying not to limp even when your
leg and back are hurting big time. I have weird blood pressure issues where I
can easily soar sky high (over two hundred) and then drop to below a hundred
twenty minutes later. Basically, it is a roller-coaster effect and I have to be
on meds that handle that sort of thing. Therefore, I went with a program that appears
to not only be cheaper than the program they picked for me but also--at least
for now--covers my drugs. It is going to be another ten days or so before I know
if I got in and when coverage starts.
Like I said, anything helps. If
things go the way I want, this will help.
Dealing with TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES remains far more difficult than it should be or is necessary. Appeal
letters went out today trying again to get us back on food stamps and Medicaid
for Sandi and Scott. Somehow, and probably because of the original foul-up with
Social Security, they have Sandi making a very nice income. I have provided
proof again that the figure is/was wrong. I have also provided again documented
proof that she is out on UNPAID medical leave and, in addition to other issues,
is facing some sort of cardiac surgery to remove the thing from her chest wall
slightly behind her heart. I have sent proof to the various people at the various
levels who have handled the case incorrectly in the hopes that one of them can
fix his or her error and thus restore our much needed food stamps and their Medicaid
coverage.
I also included the latest bill from
the cancer doctor as Texas Medicaid has not paid that. Now the bill has risen
to 847 dollars and with more cancer treatment most likely needed in the upcoming
weeks it needs to be paid by them ASAP.
What really took the cake with Texas
HHSC was the deal we got yesterday. As I explained back in late November, I had
been denied by Texas HHSC for help with Medicare Part B because I had failed to
fill out an application. Being certified by the feds wasn’t good enough for the
state folks. Also, the family being on food stamps with the same agency having financial
records and every other thing on us going back two years plus was not good
enough. I had to fill out another application for that and I hadn’t done so. Of
course, one can’t fill out an application if one does not get one. So, I appealed
the decision--pointed out the obvious problem that NO APPLICATION ever arrived--and
requested an application.
I continued to request an application
from each person in a different office in the state as the case was assigned a
hearing officer, a date and time, etc. I kept pointing out there was no need
for a hearing at this point as all I really needed was an application. I finally
got my application yesterday.
In SPANISH.
After repeatedly requesting it and never
once using anything other than ENGLISH, they sent me a multi-page horrendously
long form all in SPANISH. I can’t read Spanish.
I can’t write Spanish. I do not understand anything sent to me in Spanish. My
Spanish understanding consists of two obscenities. Two obscenities that I will
not repeat here and are not found on any government forms to the best of my knowledge.
I have requested this morning an
application in my native language of English.
Next time you see Texas Governor
Perry on television talking about waste of tax dollars and how the state of
Texas will not participate in the expansion of Medicaid because the state can
set up things so much better than federal folks, think about us. Think about
what we went through and have been going through to get the very little bit of assistance
this state provides to their neediest residents. Residents, who, through no
fault of their own, got sick, can’t continue to work, and need help.
Think about how Texas ranks number
one in the number of people without insurance. Think about how Texas ranks at
near the bottom on education and a number of other things. Think about us and
what we have gone through and are still going through.
It just isn’t right. It is bad
enough to be sick, disabled, etc. but those in charge make things much worse and
much harder than they have to be.
Kevin
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