I HATE THIS DISEASE! IT IS MAKING ME BROKE!

[Ojibajo]

Just when I think I am getting a handle on things the reality of everything always smacks me in the face. I have quickly met my $3000 deductible, but now all of the bills are rolling in and I can't keep up with everything. With my prescriptions costs I got behind on my utilities and even though I made my payment on the the 9th (The due date) The told me that it won't post until the 12th and so they are probably going to shut off our utilities anyway and there is nothing we can do. We don't qualify for any assistance because I make too much and they won't take our medical bills in to consideration which I think is a bunch of crap.

So now my husband is screaming at me telling me how I screwed everything up. I hate him too.

[Ojibajo]

I called back and they said there is no shut off order and to pay when I can as soon as I can. I don't think anyone at the utility company knows their arse from their elbow!

I currently work for a grant funded program. Our grant is up at the end of August. I have no idea if I will have a job September 1st or not. We are supposed to find out sometime this month if we were awarded a new grant.

[jensequitur]

I'm getting a double whammy - my job keeps cutting people left and right, and when they're not cutting people, they're cutting wages and salaries.  I don't even know if I'll have a job tomorrow.  Then I have MS, and all these expensive bills are really costing me... and then there's that blood clot, and the four days in hospital, which now I have to figure out how to pay...  ARGGGHHH!

[HVAC]

When I got diagnosed with MS I did not say why me? I said how can I do this to our financial future? That is why I got involved in advocacy right a way. At first my husband did not like me spending so much time at the state legislature or running off to talk to our U.S. Senators and Congress persons at a moments notice. Now he understands I am fighting for our financial future and he is all for it. I started writing a state wide blog about my experiences trying to afford my health care. I had never been politically active. It is hard for Politicians and those who disagree with me to argue with my real life experiences.

I have been slammed by medical costs. I deal with them as best I can. I have been paying for the last MRI I intend to get in monthly payments. I like this because I am charged more anyway because of the insurance I have. I like that the hospital is having to wait to get paid. I have learned all the tricks for extending the payments the hospital does not tell people. It is costing them more to collect than the payments. They asked for a $1,000 the day of the MRI on top of the $2,000 my insurance paid. I said I only have $5 so they had to accept it. I wish I had learned this trick before I emptied my savings paying whatever they say I owed upfront. It will take over a year for them to collect.

I turn down many tests, procedures, and medicine. I ask how much and is it really necessary? Often the Doctors say no it is not and I pass. Hospitals hate if you stick to your guns and say you will not do something until you have the cost upfront. I cancel the test or procedure until they tell me. They lose money because they have reserved the time slot. If we all did this it would be harder for them to just charge what they want for different people for the same thing. We need transparency for medical costs. Who takes their car in and says do whatever and charge me whatever. Or has someone work on your house and say just bill me whatever.

Take care of yourself.

Alex

[Lulu54]

Yep, this is one durn expensive disease and it sure can s uck the life out of any funds you might have set aside for rainy days.  I hope you will follow the suggestions and start making phone calls.  If you aren';t sure where to start, try calling your local NMSS chapter and ask for a case worker to discuss your problems.  They should have contact numbers and more information for you.

Turning off a/c or heat to a person with disability should never happen.  Check into what rules can help you, ok?

As for the husband, I hope when he get a chance to reflect on the stupidity of what he said, he will come to you with a sincere apology.  You deserve one and so much more -
Lulu

[meg321]

It really does get bad, especially now with economy..i do get a deal on my PGE and my insurance is pretty good.  So I am grateful for that.  But it still wipes you out and I hate that they don't take the medical into consideration.

I am losing ground on my CC bills though. Its so stressful too which we do not need.  You just have to try to have faith and let some things go. It doesn't help any to worry too much, worry never paid bills.

There was some good advice here....and the husband,hmmmm..thats tough.  My husband is really good to me even though he doesnt do everything I think he should.  You remind me how much worse it could be.

I will keep you in my prayers...

hugs, meg

[Karen99]

Hmmm.  You made payment but they are still going to turn off utilities cuz it doesn't post for for a couple of days?  What a load of hooey.

Make those calls as suggested above.  It may be an egregious error on their part to turn off utilities on a person with a disability.  No utilities has the potential to endanger the health and welfare a person with MS - more so than the "healthy" person.  

Most states have protection for such situations.  What a bunch of hard-a$$es to turn off utilities especailly when they are actually paid.  

[Guitar_grrrl]

Ugh!!  I hear you!  The Nuvigil script cost me over $400 - just one more thing on my already ridiculous credit card debt.  My insurance only covers generics!  Damned insurance companies/big pharma, anyway!

I'm sorry your husband is being so negative :(  

I like the ideas you've gotten, here.  MS is bloody expensive.  Work with your insurance companies and the pharma companies.  Some slack can be cut!  It involves filling out reams of paperwork, but most often you can at least get a break on costs.

Good luck!

[MissLauraI]

Ojibajo-
I am so sorry you are having financial stress, MS and husband stress. That is a triple wammy! I don't know if this helps, but it may be possible that the electric/gas at least may not have to be turned off. Tell them you have a disability. There may be some assistance because of that.

Also contact the Salvation Army. they often can help with utilities. You might even contact the ADA-
ADA Information Line
[phone]

They may have some helpful advice.

My ex-husband blamed me for everything too. All of our problems were because of me. Even his cheating was my faulty...go figure.

Life is much better now :D

Hugs and prayers for you and your damaged heart today. I hope things get better soon.

[Sumanadevii]

I would call LARA....your public service commission

http://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/0,1607,7-159-16368---,00.html

[MonkeyMom4]

Take a deep breath....ahhhh....have faith that it will all work out.

Tackle one bill at a time, call each medical place and tell them you can only make $10 (or whatever amount) at a time.

I know it's hard, I've been there, and still getting through all of it.

A few years ago I started listening to Dave Ramsey, a financial guy who helps people get a handle on their bills/debts.

I have ten months left and I am debt free (except for our house and my student loans)

It all began about 3 years ago when I had over $15,000 in medical debt and was a stay at home mom. I went back to work to help get our debt paid. We had to stop paying ALL of our credit card bills and got way behind on many things. It was stressful to say  the least.

Check with your local offices and see if there are any other type of assistance that you can qualify for.

As for the husband...yea, I know what you mean, I have one of them too. =D

So, I've been rambling yet again, but I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone and it will all work out for you. It's easy to get overwhelmed and feeling like everything is coming down on you at once, just start with one bill at a time.

Take care,

Kelly