OT August chit chat 2

[Howie]

Good morning all.

I assume one of my other meds might cause that problem, but he didn't ask, or explain, it was just added when I picked up my meds.

I'm going to have to have a talk with him.

[Howie]

Okay...I can't take it....WHERE IS EVERYONE!

No one has posted all day, no one is chatting. My cats have even stopped talking to me.

I took a bath today....a nice hot bath....even put on cologne and deodorant.

So come out, come out, where ever you are.

[agate]

I haven't been so idle. Oh wait, you didn't say I'd been idle.

I've been tinkering with photos and avatars and trying to upload a new photo for my avatar.

I couldn't get it right. If I shrank it down to an acceptable size it was hardly visible.

Back to the drawing board. Meanwhile I put the old avatar back but it's about 3 years old.

[Howie]

I can't even post an Avatar. Isn't that the saddest thing you ever heard?

[Frog42]

We've all been hiding since we're so sad.

[Howie]

Well, we can't have that. I'll work on it....soon. New computer, old brain, makes it tough.

[Cherie]

Hey all...been MIA and slammed with fatigue and trying to stay atop of all the stuff coming at me from different directions. Friday I am the keynote speaker for an MS foundation talk on "building a Stronger MS community". I have been asked to talk about managing your Health Care Team, Being your own Advocate, what to do if your health plan drops your doc or medication and more. It's the time of year when many of us have to renew our insurance or move to a different plan and with ACA now enacted in all States, that is posing some obstacles for some.

We buy directly from Blue Cross and have for years. this past year, the two of us have paid $1866.73/month plus our deductible and copays. October 1 our premium goes up to $2273.86. So I have decided to make the move to Medicare. I have had Part A for 10 years. Tomorrow morning, I'm off to the Social Security office with my letter from my insurance company stating that as of 9/30/14 I am no longer covered but have been for the past 18 months in an approved policy. Supposedly, I will get my new card with A&B on it and SS will deduct the cost of B from my SSDI payment but then I am signing up for a Plan C which is A+B+D=C with a premium monthly (less than $300) and no deductibles. Only problem is the Tier 4 meds (DMT) I have to pay 30% of cost each month or about $1500 out of pocket till I hit the donut hole then am in it for a month then the cost drops to 5%. However, the reimbursement specialist at the drug company tells me since I have been on the med for so long successfully, the company can draw on a number of resources so I won't have to pay nearly that for med. Added Ampyra last week. Also up there at around $4000/month with 30% copay. At least with that med, I should know if it will help in another week or so and if it doesn't , it will not be added to the pot.

We have had some of the most gorgeous cool dry weather here for the past week with nights dipping into upper 50s or lower 60s and days sunny and breezy and lower 70s. At least that is a gift with things so busy and me so tired. We are not adding heat fatigue to the bunch.

does any of this make sense?

[dumblonde]

Howie...you have left me utterly speechless after your medication mixup.

Where does one go as a follow up to THAT story? *calvin1

Give us a minute to catch our breaths...we'll return to post as soon as we stop rolling on the floor, laughing our *sses off.

We'll just need a moment to compose ourselves in order to be able to offer you the appropriate level of solace and empathy for your...er...predicament.

[agate]

Howie...you have left me utterly speechless after your medication mixup.

Where does one go as a follow up to THAT story? *calvin1

Give us a minute to catch our breaths...we'll return to post as soon as we stop rolling on the floor, laughing our *sses off.

We'll just need a moment to compose ourselves in order to be able to offer you the appropriate level of solace and empathy for your...er...predicament.

Interesting choice of words, db.

Cherie, everything makes sense, insofar as anything involving medical insurance ever makes sense.

[renee]

Cherie-
There are benefits to being financially challenged.
Since insurance doesn't take airline points as tender, I have fewer choices and
my dilemmas include finding someone who knows what the state and the feds
are up to any week. The other is finding someone to give gravitas to what
I need because I am the low man on the Medicare-Medicaid ladder.

When they get to Medicare Part K I say we start a non violent revolt.

Howie, I drove to the big city for auto body work related to my- ah, henh,
'close encounter with three bushes, pole fencing and a birdbath' incident.
The owner of those items has submitted a spite driven damage claim.
Unless the birdbath belonged to the pope and was touched by Mother Teresa
the guy is venting his frustration related to living in a lot that has
probably been the scene of many accidents.

The body shop dudes who work on conversion vans blew it when ordering parts.
No work done, afternoon shot, give me gas money! and a sandwich.
I got to my garden and chilled out. Left there at dusk before the weasel-like varmint
came out to attack bunnies and any other unfortunates.

If I can post an avatar, anyone can post an avatar.
Just say YES.

[Howie]

You are in luck. I have the complete incident on tape. And it's only $49.95 US. Line forms to the left.

[Howie]

Renee, are you sneaking in on me...AGAIN! And here I am....sniff....being as good as I can!!! Shame one you! And after that "driving demonstration....well, I'm just speechless.
(we all know that's impossible, but humor him.)

[dumblonde]

Agate, I am simply not smart enough to have deliberately used that word usage on purpose...that would have been renee. Stop making me have to think really hard to figure out what subtle unintended double entendres may be contained in what I write. lol

Renee, you are taking this little misadventure in good humour, I must give you that. Unless that guy had a photo the second before the birdbath was damaged, I would suspect it was old and cracked from recent lightening and really not going to last long anyway (the "crumbling skull legal doctrine")? Hope your van is fixed fast and they at least give you some free air fresheners for your inconvenience.

[Cherie]

Renee, I would love to use your fist two sentences in my talk tomorrow. You have such a wonderful way with words.

I think I am more relaxed this evening than I have been in weeks. My presentation and handouts are all ready to go and references and visual aids marked and in order. The house is clean (for here). All is ready for guests in the house through Sunday from tomorrow afternoon. I did the laundry and paid the bills tonight (my saturday work...so I can spend time with guests). I have already told everyone at work that I will not be checking email or phone till Monday August 25. I spent part of the morning at the SS office applying for full Medicare benefits. They were going to fine me 10%/month since I became Medicare eligible in August of 2004 for not proving that I had an acceptable alternative policy. My letter from Blue Cross said I had been with them since 10/1/2005 (14 months after I was awarded Medicare) so there was a 14 month fine to pay. We have been paying for all of our own Health Insurance since 1996. So...they gave me a form to fill out from the employer benefit program (David is self employed si is the employer) and told me to fill it out, have it signed, put it in this envelope and drop it in the slot. They said I could take care of it while I was there...just don't do it in front of them. So...I went back with the form filled out and "David's" signature on the form and she smiled, stamped the form (after pulling it out of the sealed envelope) and said, "Thank you. You should have your new Medicare card in two to three weeks."

There is something about having a lot (too much to bite off and digest) on your plate at any one time and for a long consecutive period of times, that ups the stress level. I feel like I can breathe now

[renee]

Today's library dvd check outs:

1. Despicable Me, cartoon rated GP
2. A Night in the Museum, comedy w/Ben Stiller rated GP
3. Jango Unchained, usual nasty Quentin Tarantino rated R+


I wouldn't invite me to my kids birthday party.