These are the stories the President needs to tell.

My story pales next to the heartbreaking life/death stories or the stories of the uninsured (rather than under-insured as I have recently learned I am). But here's a taste of the latest in my saga.

I was injured on 6/2 and had surgery on 6/18. At every follow up I have been told it's healing nicely and I'm on track for a full recovery, though I was still far from being able to bear weight at all. Even so, I was going to physical therapy regularly, regularly performing exercises at home, etc.

Last week I had a follow up with a new orthopedic doctor who told me I'd lost a lot of bone mass and if that couldn't be reversed I'd need to have another surgery for a bone graft (a la Yao). He had no explanation for why the other doctor hadn't seen it - he showed it to me on the x-rays and it was plain as day. He told me to stop going to physical therapy because it could worsen the situation; he further said the left side of my foot and leg were basically only held together at this point by the plate they put in during surgery.

He told me that using a bone stimulator was pretty much my only hope of re-growing bone and avoiding surgery. Bone stimulators are around $4,000 from what I've gathered.

So I called my insurance company to find out if they'd cover it. They said that if I met certain criteria, they would cover half of it - leaving me to pay around $2K. Here is the criteria:

1. Non union long bone fracture (don't know what this means, but it sounds right)
2. Bone not infected (fine)
3. Two portions separated by less than 5 mm (so they'll pay if it's a small problem but not if it's a big one)
4. Bone stable at both ends (fine)
5. 90 days elapsed from original fracture (they will make me wait 2 more weeks for something I urgently need now)

And, again, even if I do meet all this criteria and wait the extra two weeks, I still pay half. And after all that, it's still more likely than not that I'll need the additional surgery.

Compared to so many other situations, my problems are relatively meaningless (though, as Neil Young sang, "that don't make them go away"). But they are one more window into our screwed up profits before health "care" system.

Anybody who thinks this system isn't broken has never had to use it.

 

That's one thing I've been wondering about is where a strong counter grassroots effort? The answer to people yelling at townhalls against healthcare reform is to show up with as many, if not more people, for it.

 

I don't know what a bone stimulator is but is that in addition to or as a substitute for the bone graft? I had a similar problem with my broken femur, which is one of the reasons it took so long to heal. I was given a bone graft and a smaller plate / rod in the bone so blood flow could increased and healed up after that. No bone stimulator was used or mentioned to me. Although this was almost 20 years ago so maybe that technology hadn't been invented.

One other technical thing you might want to ask your doctors about is I heard about using something that is like cement to hold the bones back together. This cement though can be absorbed by the body and eventually your own bone takes over for this cement. I don't remember what it was called but read about it a few years ago.

 

They have been; but the drama for the liberal media are the gun nuts and nazi wackos.

 

I'm not quite sure what it is either. I think it's meant to stimulate bone growth through electronic vibrations or something.

It would be used in order to avoid having to have the bone graft.

Thanks for the info and advice re: cement, etc. I'll mention that to my doctor.

 

Who is your insurer and what type plan did you have? This is sounding like a bad plan. Most group coverages aren't like that, but who knows.

And why do you have to buy a $4,000 machine that might be used for 6 months? I'm sure you can find a rental. At least I would think. I know when my son was born we had to use this expensive as hell machine and we rented it for a couple months.

 

Humana PPO.

I really don't know yet what the cost will be. I'm guessing based on scant internet research. All I know is that the best my insurance will do is split it with me.

 

It makes me really angry that Humana treats union and non-union employees differently.

(sorry, Batman, couldn't resist. we are all pulling for you, ... or most of us.)

 

Count me in the pulling for you majority.

 

Jesus Batman, that is f'in horrible. So sorry to hear that.

 

Wait, was it a Humana individual plan? I'm assuming it was in your line of work.

Either way, post what that bone thingie is. (as in specs) I'll see what I can find. I'm not in the field, but know folks who are.

 

The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 had little to do with the causes of bankruptcy. It has everything to do with maximizing dollars for the credit card industry by forcing people out of Chapter 7 and into Chapter 13. What is funny is that the credit cards are now actually getting less because the bill is a complete piece of crap.

Incidentally, at last count, roughly 84% of people seeking to file a Chapter 7 have no impact from BAPCPA of 2005.

The other major thing they did was reduce the availability of cramdown for cars. You cannot just pay the value of a car in Chapter 13 unless you entered into the loan contract more than 910 days before your petition date.

A little off topic, but the bill did nothing to address the causes of bankruptcy.

 

Me too. I am pulling for my favorite BBS superhero to get well very soon.

 

Batman... that sucks and I hope you get it all worked out but I have to ask: Why do you hate freedom so much?

 

Thanks for the new sig. vvv