Thursday Thoughts- Today is the Day. . .

Well, dear readers, today I go to have my mammogram and ultrasound. . . . deep breath. . . in. . . out. . . Clearly I'm not relishing the thought of it. I AM relishing the thought of saving over $1,250 dollars! But the whole squishing of my chest, mmmm, not so much.

I will say this, though... through the whole messiness of this, it is amazing to see how women protect each other. I've had no less than five girlfriends call me to make sure that I made the appointment and am going. I've had girlfriends offer to go with me, and one even to take care of it if I couldn't. Wow. I'm quite overwhelmed. Women get other women, especially when it comes to something like this.

I have to say, when Karen and I first started this business, I thought we got along pretty well. I thought we might even get to be pretty good friends. I never looked down the road far enough to see that she would be the one going into that room with me, standing there while they read the mamm and ultrasound. THAT's a good friend. (Especially because I know how much she absolutely hates anything that remotely has to do with a hospital or serious concern). If we never sell another book, lose the business and never become famous authors, well, I've gained something far more precious. It's hard to find a good business partner, let alone an even better friend. Yep. I'll be holding on to her. :-)

I'll let you know how it turns out later today. I'm praying for good things.

Yours, grateful for true friends,

Melissa

Thursday Thoughts- You've GOT to ask!

Today I definitely have something for you to think about. It concerns medical costs.

I know there has been a lot of debate and conversation about health care insurance and coverage and rising medical expenses, etc. ad naseum. I cannot stress enough how much you need to take care of things and be proactive in your care, but also in managing your expenses. Here is what really blew my top this past two weeks. . .

Remember last summer when I had that scare with my chest and it turned out to be fibroid cysts? Well, after a visit to my doctor a few weeks ago, he told me now he wants not only a mammogram, but an ultrasound of my chest, just to be sure. Okay. I'll schedule it. I decided to call my insurance first to see how much of it would be covered.

ZILCH.

Nothing is covered until I meet my deductible.

And I'm paying HOW MUCH every month for WHAT?!?!?

I thought, being a Dr. ordered mammogram, there would be no question of having it covered. BZZZT! Whammie!

So I start pricing it out, knowing that I would have to pay for it out of pocket. I spent a full DAY on the phone (in the end, I spent THREE days on the phone getting it all sorted out). Here's what I found out:

For a full mammogram at the hospital breast care center it is $450. The ultrasound will cost $1,000.

So who happens to have $1,450 just laying around for medical expenses? Not me, for sure! But what to do, because I have to put this to rest. It's pretty painful every month, so I want to make sure everything is okay in that area. So I called everywhere, even the county health clinic. By this time I was desperate. Long story short, the worker said even if I could qualify (which I can't) she would have to send me to an x-ray place.

Which got me to thinking. . .

So I called the X-ray place directly and here's the quote I got:

If I pay cash, not going through the insurance, my costs for a full mammogram and ultrasound will be:

$184.

Yes, your eyes are working just fine. That's a total difference of over $1,200.

Yes, I am absolutely relieved that I will be able to afford it. And completely steamed at the price difference.

When I called the hospital to cancel my appointment, they asked why? When I told the man my story, even HE could not believe it.

Moral: don't blindly accept what they hand you. ASK. QUESTIONS. GET PRICES. Go in with your eyes open. Knowledge is sometimes the most powerful tool and bargaining chip you have.

Yours, now waiting for my appointment in another week,

Melissa