|
|
 |
No Worries!?
By Mona Lease
Hi, all!! I need to see my eye Dr. - who is now retired. No worries -
he left associates to replace him. I called to schedule an appointment.
Three Drs - take your pick. No worries. Now to the insurance - of
course - they want to be paid before you even get there. My insurance
is United Health Care. Are the Drs "in network" or "out of network?"
Now the worries start. OK - maybe not worries. But - hassles and
headaches for sure.
The eye exam could be "up to" $175. It is comprehensive - far past
"turn your head and cough" or, in this case - "read the eye chart top
to bottom until you can not read any more." I spoke with the Dr's
receptionist. She will not know anything until I give her personal
information so she can "look it up" on some website on the computer
that they use. I do not give the information and state that I will pay
cash.
I call the insurance company. They "find me" in their system. My "new
Dr." in my "old Dr's office" is "out of network." (Breathe slowly.). My
insurance will reimburse me "up to $40" of the eye exam. Pay attention
to the "up to" part here. I would need to submit a receipt with
paperwork to the insurance company to receive my "up to" money. Would
they send me the required paperwork? Surely! Did I want that fax or
email? (What!? Breathe slowly.). I can not send or receive a fax. Nor
can I print off an email. (Remember they can send/receive these.).
Would they send it regular "mailbox mail?" No, they can not do that.
(They are set up to do that. Does this imply "laziness" or a condition
that will "gum up the works?").
I call my eye Dr back to ask if they can speak to the insurance company
to see if the company will cover a "comprehensive exam." No - they can
not call. But they were willing to do that when I made the appointment
- if I would give them social security numbers, group numbers, policy
numbers, and such. (Breathe slowly.) I am however "free to call"
the insurance company myself without a "code number" for the exam -
which the insurance company will require and I was not offered by the
Dr's office. (Breathe slowly.).
I saw in the media that our own "Mr. Woodman" is making headlines - so
to speak. I've always wondered why no one looks past his woodpile to
the man himself. What would drive a man to 1)haul wood 2) cut the wood
to lengths to fit his fireplace 3)split the wood into smaller pieces
4)stack those pieces onto "chocks" to allow air to circulate all around
the wood to aid and speed drying time. You are to let newly cut wood
"cure" a year before you burn it so your chimney, flue, and damper do
not collect moist sap that will stick and attract soot . 5)Take out the
ashes. People are complaining about rodents that they believe live in
his woodpile. Wild animals do not show themselves to humans unless they
are sick or they have no natural food or water - by the way.
Could it be that Mr. Woodman likes not having to pay a $300 gas bill in
the dead of winter - or a corresponding electric bill to circulate the
heat? Or could it be that it is far easier to just do a little hard
work every day rather than to deal with my above story? Are all of the
phone hassles worth the "up to $40" I might get? It can be a hard
call. To me - all of the phone calls, can not/will not do something,
and the added stress it all brings are not worth the money I might get.
My mental health and emotional stability are worth more. You really can
not put a price on that. Then again - Mr. Woodman, you probably already
knew that - didn't you? After today - dealing with a few "rodents from
a woodpile" does not really look that bad. Rabid animals hide somewhere
safe and out of sight to die. Cujo was a Hollywood movie - not reality.
Remember the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the
furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next
time. Ever Toodles!! MONA
|
|
|
<
|
