I am among the thousands of Americans that has absolutely no health insurance coverage. It feels like a twisted, malicious, cosmic joke that I happen to be searching for affordable health insurance while I am fighting a bad cold. Here are my thoughts about this situation, as I cough my way through the night.
I have heard insurance companies complain that too many people wait to buy health insurance until after they are already sick. This troubles insurers who are now, legally, unable to reject the applications for a health insurance plan that are submitted by people who have serious, chronic, expensive, illnesses. The insurer wants to make a profit, and, sadly, many want to do it by “cherry picking” the healthiest customers.
In my case, I didn’t wait until I got sick to find health insurance. I have been searching for an affordable health plan, that actually covered, you know… the health care that I require, since 2009. That was when I lost my job, and my health insurance, in one fell swoop. I assure you that I have not been sick the entire time between then and now.
In the past few weeks, I have been battling what I believe is a bad cold. I’ve been coughing, and sneezing, and blowing my nose. The only reason that I know this isn’t a bad allergic reaction to the change in season is because I have also been running a fever. Allergies don’t typically cause fevers. Therefore, I have either a bad cold, or perhaps the beginnings of a sinus infection.
So, now I have a dilemma. I could go to the doctor, be examined, and have a qualified medical professional diagnose what, exactly, I am suffering from. Without health insurance, it is going to cost me somewhere between $50 and $100 dollars, out of pocket, to do that. If I end up getting prescribed medication to treat my aliment, then that means I will be spending even more money.
Usually, I wait, and suffer, until I cannot stand the sinus pain for one moment longer. That is when I make an appointment to see my doctor. By this point, it is obvious that I have some kind of nasty infection, and the doctor will prescribe me the antibiotics I need to finally fight it off. I’d rather pay the $50 to $100 to get access to the medication I need, than to pay that amount to have a doctor to tell me to go home and rest.
Today, I went to see my acupuncturist. This alternative form of medicine has helped me in ways that my doctor has been completely unable to. My acupuncturist knew where to place needles in order to relieve exactly what I was suffering from. She prescribed herbal medication that I could purchase directly from her, (and avoid the dreaded trip to the pharmacy while I am sick). I came out of her office feeling remarkably better than I did when I went in.
Guess what? Most health insurance policies don’t cover acupuncture treatments. This means that if I had health insurance right now I would be paying out of pocket for the health care that is actually helping me, (in addition to whatever the health insurance premium would cost).
Tomorrow, I need to try and call back the insurance company that I have been playing phone tag with. I have many questions about what, exactly, their plan covers. I’ve been avoiding making that call because I fear that if I end up coughing or sneezing while I am on the phone with the insurance representative that it will magically make my premiums go up to something that I cannot afford.
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