I was happy to turn 65 so that I could get Medicare and have health coverage. Living on Social Security means that I am also close to poverty level so my Medicare Part B is paid by Medicaid. If my health takes a turn for the worse I can get regular Medicaid. So if I'm reduced to abject poverty and at death's door I can get full medical coverage. Since Medicare doesn't cover drugs I got a supplemental drug plan with Humana. I get it at a discount because well see near poverty level and all I could afford.
I'm 65 with C.O.P.D. and severe asthma plus severe arthritis. I am also a full time caregiver to a 100% disabled younger brother. I haven't got his apartment set up yet because he has been too ill to be by himself for more than an hour or so at a time. I was caregiver for my Mom for 6 years before she passed away so I know all about this care giving thing and what I was getting into when I volunteered to bring my brother out from California to North Carolina. We are still fighting a crooked moving company and are going to have to get a lawyer.
Not surprisingly I have trouble sleeping. Trouble as in full blown insomnia. Humana didn't want to pay for Ambien, the only thing that will let me get a few hours of sleep. My Doctor sent in special documents to them proving that I need the Ambien. They denied it.
When I was on the train coming from California to North Carolina in September I was thrown off my feet when the train lurched and sprained my ankle. It has never healed. I finally took an hour yesterday and went to Prime Care to make sure it wasn't broken. The good news was no breaks. The bad news it is still sprained, swollen and sore. Since I am a caregiver and have to lift my brother up there is a lot of pressure on the ankle. The Doctor said it was going to be difficult to get it to heal since I can't stay off of it while care giving. He prescribed an anti-inflammatory medicine to try and get the swelling down. Humana denied the drug.
My Target Pharmacy scrambled to find substitute generic drugs at the lowest cost for the Ambien and anti-inflammatory drug. They are ticked off at insurance companies denying needed medicine and contradicting Doctor's prescriptions.
This country needs to stop catering to the insurance companies and institute universal health care for everyone. All medical care needs to be nationalized and everyone covered by Medicare and Medicaid. In the end it would bring medical costs way down and everyone would have a chance at a healthy life without insurance companies playing God. I hate Humana but love my Target Pharmacy.