Does everyone here have insurance?

[LawDoggy]

Hello All,

I have been reading all your posts and really appreciate all the honest information here.  I have not been officially diagnosed yet but have a TSH of 49+ and low T4 so presumably, I will begin Synthroid on Tuesday after I have my next appointment with my GP.

My question is how do we pay for all the tests and medications and surgeries that this disease seems to involve?  I am a law student (second year) and I decided to risk going without insurance for the three years of law school while I am not working.  Well, seems like the stress of law school may have been the thing that kicked this thing into high gear.  (Either that or the catastrophic, total-loss house fire we suffered in 2002.)  I have no insurance and am stacking up tens of thousands of dollars of student loans and now I'm wondering what all this hypothyroid treatment will cost.

I'm actually very scared because I feel so bad right now that I don't know how I will finish school and start working again.  I feel guilty for saying that, but I'm so tired and my joints hurt so much that I feel like a little old lady who needs a walker.  I will see my GP on Tuesday and he was very upbeat and told me "Oh this is the diagnosis you've been hoping for!  Just replace the thyroid hormone and you are going to feel like a new woman!!"  

Then I read your stories here about how difficult it is to regulate the dose and then surgery to remove the gland altogether and I just wonder if I can stand this?  (Or more  to the point, can I afford this?)

Everything is so difficult right now and my Dad died in July so I'm struggling to help my Mom and keep my pain to myself so she doesn't worry.  I was hoping this would be an easy problem to cure but doesn't look that way.

Any suggestions?  (Suicide is not an option...)

Thanks in advance for your input and your sharing.  It really helps me to know that I'm not the only one going through this.

Mary

[imedicmommy]

Just one last thought because people have posted a ton of great info for you. I would also talk to your doctor and see if he/she might help you out. I was without insurance for a while once and my doc cut his usual rate for me...He had been without insurance once as well. Most doctors will also let you make payments as long as you keep up with them.

Good luck to you and keep us posted
Margie

[LawDoggy]

Thank you so much to all of you who are both knowledgeable and compassionate.
I feel uplifted just knowing you're there.

I will check into the resources you've discussed and I'm sure there is some kind of student program that can offer a little assistance.  (Lab work and meds probably, plus the doctor can probably network with endocrinologist...)

This has been yet another emotional roller-coaster.  I was feeling like I was dying and then my doctor said "Just one pill and you'll be fine," so I was on top of the world but then I read that often there is more to recovery than one little pill and see all the expenses and so I was down in the dumps again.  Finally, I read all the supportive notes from you all and I feel that no matter what, I can get through this.  I'm tough and I will do what it takes because I know my loved ones depend on me.  It's just a whole lot easier when I can read about your stories and get this wonderful, supportive feedback.  Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers - prayer is mighty powerful medicine.

All good things to you,
Mary

[GravesLady]

I have very good medical and prescription Insurance. I made my choice to work for a company with good benefits. You might keep this in mind when aplying for a job.
For those who don't have any Insurance benefits the below info. might be helpful.

Blood Test:
Normally hospitals or county hospitals are less expensive than doctors office or Labs.
There are blood test kits that you can order and do at home, mail back to their Labs.
HealthCheck USA  order kit and get results.
google healthcheckusa.com

eBioSafe
TSH Test (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone). Convenient - self-collected at home or office; Accurate - Nationally Certified Laboratory results
Price includes: One BIOSAFE Collection Kit, return postage to the Lab, test analysis by BIOSAFE's CLIA Certified Laboratory, and review of results by a licensed Health Care Professional. google ebiosafe.com or biosafe.php
BIOSAFE Medical Technologies, Inc. announced today the formation of the BIOSAFE Thyroid Club operated by HomeWellnessTests.com. The BIOSAFE Thyroid Club will be chartered to provide the patented BIOSAFE Thyroid Test at reduced cost to patients needing frequent testing. The BIOSAFE Thyroid Test measures a substance called Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). This test will help you and your health care professional identify and/or monitor an underactive or overactive thyroid condition.
google lab123.com and/or biosafethyroidclub.com

Medication:
PPA - The Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together America’s pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that’s right for them. Many will get them free or nearly free.  TV talk show host Montel Williams.
Google pparx.org

The simplest way to lower cost of your medication is by asking your doctor if a generic substitute may be available and appropriate for your condition. If your income falls within certain financial parameters and you do not have additional insurance - you may qualify for Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) or Discount Programs (like TogetherRx) available through major drug manufacturers. See a list of some of the FREE and low-cost alternatives.  Google themedicineprogram.com

NeedyMeds = This is the best resource for finding Patient Assistance Programs and other assistance with the cost of healthcare.
NeedyMeds is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with the mission of helping people who can't afford to pay for their medications
Google needymeds.com

As far as doctors, hospitals, other test, you will have to make arrangements for each.  Talk to administration before hand to see if they will work with you with special charges and fee arrangements.   Could there possibly be a student program, which you might check into (?)

Good Health Insurance is worth more than a million buck - cash!

Good Luck.

[kitcurious]

524.00....
That is mind-blowing.

[shelly45]

I am sorry for your stressfull situation. Please do not think of the word suicide. Is there a counsuler at the school that can help you deal with your stress by talking to them,that you might be able to confide in him or her? I am so proud of you helping your mother first and trying to balance school and health at the same time. Have you tried state assistant,they can help you for medical care, They go by your income and I believe health issues also. You might want to ask your local hospital if they have clinic for low income people. Those clinic do help students/people who don't have healthcare and who are in need. Sometimes they will cover all of he cost or you might have small copayment to make after they pay(like anywhere between $2-$50) depending and they can help cover the cost of meds. I been through this before I starting working and had struggle with my health. My parent couldn't get me on their insurance because it took a chunk of money out of their pay(they had union insurance) so I was able to get charity care from my local hospital. I went for charity care when I was in high school when one of the guidence dept of my school suggested that my parents could get me health insurance through charity care. There are programs out there for people like you. Is there a health dept near you,if you call them they can help you direct you where you can find affordable health insurance or govermental programs free of cost or a very minminal pay. Also ask your school if they have any info. I wish you the best of luck in school and health. Please let us know how things are going,we are here for you.

[AR-10]

$524.00 per office visit.

I have probably occupied a lot more of her time than a half hour, but that is what the insurance company was billed for the initial consult.

Don't know what the last Endo was charging. I was too sick to care.

I agree with your post. That's why I put a disclaimer at the beginning and end of my post. The costs should be managable if the diagnosis is not complicated.  

[kitcurious]

If you have a straightforward case of hypothyroidism your bills will be containable. Let's all hope you get on replacement and feel better soon.
Make sure you get a branded form of levothyroxine. They cost a little more, but they are stable. There are several brand names cheaper than Synthroid.
You said you are in school. Can they make suggestions for assistance as well?
I am hoping you have an uncomplicated case (most are) and you won't need much assistance.
Once you are on replacement they just test your levels periodically so you only see the doc once or twice a year.

[kitcurious]

Your Endo charges WHAT? :-O  I am floored!!!  Mine is bad but not that bad.

[AR-10]

Let me say right up front that your treatment may be simple and relatively cheap, if you are lucky. Keep that in mind, because the rest of what I have to say is depressing. My situation and your situation may be very different medically. You may not incurr the expenses I have.

I have Blue Cross/ Blue Shield and I have told my wife to keep a VERY close eye on the bank acct. so that when the automatic withdrawl takes place each month there is funds to cover it.

I imagine they would love to drop me right now. I got a letter from them the other day telling me they are going to assign a caseworker to me so that I can whip this disease as painlessly as possible. I take that to mean they want to limit their losses as much as possible by keeping a thumb on me and my treatment.

I will do whatever it takes to keep from getting cancelled. A health insurance policy with a thyroid exclusion rider would be worthless to me right now.

My policy has an $1,800.00 deductable and I am blowing through that each year without blinking an eye. Then BC/BS pays most of the rest. I am paying off a hospital debt that was two grand after they chopped the real bill in half because I could not work and they felt sorry for me. That was four thousand dollars worth of services BC/BS would not pay for. My deductable and co/pays got away from me and suddenly I owed the hospital quite a chunk. That can happen if you have no income.

MY Endo charges over $500.00 for a half hour office visit. I've gone through maybe three thousand dollars worth of tests in two years. Over five thousand in emergency room and General Physician office calls in two years. Meds are not outrageous, but they cost money too.

Office calls to see my GP are around $100.00 each time. I see him a lot.

God only knows what RAI therapy costs. Surgery hasn't been discussed, but I would not want to foot the bill for that, either.

For me, no insurance would mean financial ruin, and I shudder to think about having to rely on the public welfare system for my health care.

I hate to say it, but you will probably never buy health insurance that will be affordable or include thyroid treatment now that you have been found to be ill. You need to discuss your situation with your doctor. He can probably point you to financial aid.

Again I say, you may be lucky. Your treatment may be simple and straight forward. Your thyroid condition may stay fairly simple and managable for your entire life. I hope so. Mine has been complicated and expensive.

Good luck to you.

[kitcurious]

Provided you are clear of suspicious nodules and the like ( you should have an Ultra Sound if you haven't already had one) your doctor's optimism is not misplaced. The replacement hormone, once you have the right dosage and are stabilized, will make you feel better.

I am sorry about your dad and the fire and other pressures you've been under recently. You are a very good daughter to take care of your mom first. I just hope you have people around you that  you can confide in and allow you to vent your feelings.

I do have health insurance, but I grew up without anything of the kind. My dad died when I was little and my mother had no real job skills, so we were astonishingly poor. The furnace died and we could not afford to repair or replace it, so we wnet through winters with space heater and the gas over door open.  We had well water and the well went dry. We couldn't afford a new well and had to have an uncle bring us bottled water from a rather rusty well on my grandfather's abandoned property.  Long story short I was often very sick as a child. Caught everything and my mom took me to the doctor when she could.  

One way my mother handled the bills was to make regular payments to them in an amount she could afford. I don't know if that still works, but she has good credit to this day. If the doctors and labs are receiving steady money from you there would be no sense in them making a fuss . As I said, I don't know if that still works in "modern" times, but it worked for her.

We  are here to listen and we do care.