I know a few members here have tried to touch base with me recently, to see if I was okay or in need of anything, since I haven’t been around much. This will have to serve as my reply, as it’s taken me several days to even get it written, mostly because I can’t sit up for more than 30 minutes at a time.
Yes, my old friend chronic pain is back… along with a newcomer that is causing me even more mobility issues. The details are below:
So here’s what happened:
I learned about 10 days ago that my Medicaid had been cut off. Shortly after, I discovered that the reason I lost both that AND my food stamps (SNAP) benefits was that my caseworker at the local assistance office had noted my new address in his paper file when I gave it to him last spring… but for some reason never got around to updating the address in the computer files (which, to my thinking, should have been the FIRST place to update the info — not the last).
Because of this, when the system auto-generated my recertification letter, it was sent to the old address, and not here. Same with the warning letter that my benefits (as limited as they are) would end if I didn’t respond by a certain date. Needless to say, the date came and went without my knowledge, and so everything was shut off.
Making matters worse, my doctor appointment was on 9/12. I couldn’t have a full visit because of the Medicaid issue, but the doctor did leave the prescriptions at the front desk for me. But I can’t fill most of them because of the lack of coverage, or money, to pay for them.
I was able to fill my cholesterol medication ($24) and obtain one jar of a special creme I’m supposed to use on the open sore on my left leg (where swelling from the circulation and neuropathy caused the skin to split, leaving an open, weeping wound), but that jar is running out, and at $45 each, I can’t afford the refills. That’s not even counting the cost of the sterile dressings, antiseptic spray, gauze wraps, and self-sticking bandage wraps that serve double duty as both adhesive to hold the bandaging in place and a pressure dressing to help reduce swelling.
This is all on top of what it would cost to fill even one of my pain meds, let alone all 3 of them. The Lyrica alone (which is somewhat helpful with joint pain, but doesn’t touch the pain from the fractured vertebra or the burning pain of the leg infection), is over $800. I’ve already decided NOT to fill this one, as it’s just not effective enough by itself to be worth the expense.
The long-acting Rx (which would keep me mostly functional for a month), would cost approx $920 for a 30-day supply (1 every 12 hrs). Yet, believe it or not, this is the most cost-effective choice. The other option, which is the short-acting version is much cheaper at only $435, but since it is meant only for breakthrough pain, the amount of pills would only last about 10 days if being used as the sole method of pain control… which means I’d have to get at least 2 more refills (totalling over $1300). Therefore, the best option is to fill the one long-acting prescription.
Needless to say, I can’t do that right now. I am just about out of all money (except for what’s left on a Petco gift card I was sent… so at least the kitties are okay). Frankly, I’d already BE out of money completely if it wasn’t for the fact that I’ve been in so much pain, and too sick between the infection and the gastrointestinal effects of going off the meds too quickly, to eat much for the last week, so my food has held out thus far.
Meanwhile, I’ve spent the last week trying to get the benefit folks to put a rush at least on the Medicaid reinstatement so that I could get these Rx’s covered… but to no avail. Even showing one supervisor the sore on my leg didn’t help… her advice was “Go to the ER”. Well, that would mean going there DAILY, just to have the bandages changed, racking up thousands in ER charges that may (or may not!) be covered when the Medicaid is reinstated. Plus that does nothing for filling my other prescriptions.
Even the fact that my regular worker admitted that the mixup with my address was his fault hasn’t moved anything faster. Their attitude is that somehow, it was MY responsibility to “know” that they had the wrong address in the computer — even though I have no access to that system and would have no way of knowing there was an error. I did what I was supposed to do by giving the caseworker my correct address, not just verbally but in writing as well, and he confirms that. How they come to the conclusion that his failure to complete HIS part of the job is my fault is beyond me.
I haven’t said anything here before now for a number of reasons. First, I had hoped that they would get the Medicaid reinstated quickly. Second, I needed to find out what the pricing would be for the meds if the Medicaid were not reinstated. Then there’s the fact that it’s taken me days just to write this, because I can’t stay sitting up very long, nor can I keep my leg elevated when sitting up (no place to put it). Most of all, though, I know there have been many folks needing help lately — both members here and the people affected by the hurricanes — and I didn’t want to ask for further help when you all have already done so much for me, while others are in need too.
But I’ve run out of options now. It looks like the assistance office is planning to take it’s time about getting me reinstated. That means I likely won’t see food stamps before next month. Worse than that, if the Medicaid isn’t reinstated almost immediately, then it’s likely I won’t get back into my HMO plan until November… so even next month’s meds could be delayed, as I’ll likely have to get a separate approval (I have it with the HMO) before straight Medicaid will cover them.
For now, I’ve set up a GFM account to help cover the cost of the meds and food to get me through the end of the month. If anyone would like to avoid the approximate 10% that GFM takes in fees, then there’s always my Paypal:
MOELOE1126 at AOL dot COM
I still have that one job offer for the end of October (the call center gig that starts on 10/23), so while I’d hoped to find something that started sooner, at this point I can’t even sit up long enough to look, let alone get myself properly put together for an interview. Step one is to get myself medicated enough that I can function, and to have enough supplies to get my leg healed up. I know from experience that will take time (I’ve had this kind of issue from leg swelling before), so if I want to be able to take that October job, getting myself healed and back on the meds asap is essential.
Please help if you can, and please, please spread the word so that hopefully I’ll at least be able to take care of the leg infection and food… and if I’m really lucky, perhaps the pain meds as well.
Thank you all…