Just when I thought I'd be back and be able to catch up with
online interactions, something else comes up. Dealing with things as
best as I can. Most of it doesn't warrant expending the energy to
mention. Some of it meh. Some of it sad. Most recent being the loss
of one of my aunts to medical complications. It was sudden and
unexpected, and still hard to accept. The circumstances around it have
made me reflect on my own health issues. I have been in some bad
mindspace, so I chose not to burden others with it. Not any different
than any negativity I have shared in the past, so why sound like a
broken record.
In better news, the Medicaid expansion finally hit. I got everything with it straightened out, I think. I went and saw my eye specialist and my rheumatologist. It was finally decided since we'd tried everything else with limited results, it was time to try adding immunosuppressants. I have been taking Plaquenil and Restasis since then. I wasn't able to until now without insurance, because the Restasis alone would have been over $500 per monthly supply out of pocket, similar to the problems I had with getting my Cymbalta before it went generic.
There is no generic for Restasis, so I am having to fight for a prior authorization for it. The insurance allowed the first month purchase to go through so I would have it, so kudos to them for thinking of the patient in these situations. Now I just hope they are reasonable to approve the prior auth since it is literally the only medication of its class and kind so there are no alternative treatments available to substitute. I also saw my new primary and she seems pretty awesome. A lot like my awesome Mayo doctor was the first time we met. Getting referrals for lab work and to see an orthopedic specialist, neurologist, and endocrinologist finally, after waiting an eternity. Here is to hoping I can get approvals for a bone density scan and MRI real soon.
Finished gathering, compiling, and
submitting all the information for my Disability appeal. My
rheumatologist and I sat down and compiled a whole slew of things to
throw at them, based on their own listing criteria, and directly quoted
those criteria and offered detailed information for a functionality
report based on models they use, which should be more than enough
medical evidence to support my claim and get approval. Now it is just a
matter of waiting again. It could take a year or more before the case
is even issued to a judge. Unless someone in the processing department
reviews it and sees how blatantly it is that I meet listing level
criteria and should have been approved the first time around. Jump.
Through. Hoops. Makes my fur bristle the more I have to conform to their
inadequate process.In better news, the Medicaid expansion finally hit. I got everything with it straightened out, I think. I went and saw my eye specialist and my rheumatologist. It was finally decided since we'd tried everything else with limited results, it was time to try adding immunosuppressants. I have been taking Plaquenil and Restasis since then. I wasn't able to until now without insurance, because the Restasis alone would have been over $500 per monthly supply out of pocket, similar to the problems I had with getting my Cymbalta before it went generic.
There is no generic for Restasis, so I am having to fight for a prior authorization for it. The insurance allowed the first month purchase to go through so I would have it, so kudos to them for thinking of the patient in these situations. Now I just hope they are reasonable to approve the prior auth since it is literally the only medication of its class and kind so there are no alternative treatments available to substitute. I also saw my new primary and she seems pretty awesome. A lot like my awesome Mayo doctor was the first time we met. Getting referrals for lab work and to see an orthopedic specialist, neurologist, and endocrinologist finally, after waiting an eternity. Here is to hoping I can get approvals for a bone density scan and MRI real soon.
The benefit of waiting is that it gives me that much more time to research and be thoroughly prepared for the hearing when the time comes. I did speak with a helpful woman in their support department who sent me some information for legal assistance for low/no income individuals. I plan to utilize it if I am able to. It's not the same as retaining a private attorney, but I'm sure I can learn something either way if I qualify to use it.
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