Got the bill today...

[Rrae]

Originally Posted by Mark56

Illustrates for us in the Land of the Free how it will be under legislated fixes to our system. Private insurance yet a necessity for that which public sector will not endure.

I do wonder as my Work Comp set aside account is administered under Medicare rules, then I read recently Medicare is coming to the bridge crossing of declining to compensate pain remediation procedures. This makes me nervous, because the "set aside" was established specifically to enable further help when my SCS reaches its end of life technologically. If Medicare does not authorize such care in the future, my Work Comp set aside will be useless to me. ARGHHHHHHHHhhhhh........... a pirate's life for me. Cutlass, blunderbuss, cannon, and away we go! Hoist the Jolly Roger!

ARGHHH,
Mark56

This concerns me as well. I've often wondered what will happen when our batteries need changed out. My insurance will probably change by then, since I probably will no longer be at my current job. Will it be hard to find insurance to cover this since it will of course be labeled as a pre-existing condition. Will we end up having to use up our 401K's for this?! Yes, it is a very scary thing to think about.

[Spiney95]

I have watched my level of coverage under Medicare/Medicaid go down for the last 8-10 years. It certainly isn't getting any better. Question??? Will I need assistance after having the scs implant? If so, how long? I will stay in Louisville with my daughter for two days after the procedure as I am not comfortable having that same day surgery and then going home immediately......two plus hours away. Home Health already said they will not be able to temporarily increase my level of care, regardless of doctor's orders as Care/Caid won't cover it. That IS my support system and I am trying to figure this out. Thanks.

[Mark56]

Receiving the permanent implant is a major surgery with at least two incisions and definite post surgery pain with which to deal after the fact. I had my nuclear family to assist when I arrived home same day, and it took a few days before I was up to "doing for myself" so the notion of you going home to a Home Health "will not be able to provide you any care as follow up" posture is disquieting. Can you stay in Louisville a few days? If you did would you have anyone there to watch over you, or is daughter on her own and gainfully employed outside the home so the being there would essentially be "on your own?"

I have concern for you being totally on your own alone at your home.....
Prayin,
Mark56zzz

[SnowWhyte]

Hahaha, Thank you for the coffee mug comment. I'm over-thinking (obsessing) over my upcoming scs trial and I needed a chuckle. So thanks for that

Originally Posted by Rrae

BAHH!

Dawn't EVEN get me started on the decline of our healthcare system due to things like THIS. It's absolutely disgusting what the doctor's make on these.....the Reps, big Pharma, all of that cr@p.
What REALLY ticks me off is how some of the Dr's 'push' for these things and then leave the patient to deal with the problems that may come up ...
kinda like leaving them high and dry.....
once they get their $$$$$$$$$$ kickback.

My trial cost $30K and the perm cost well over $100K. This of course does NOT include a decent thorough follow up to make sure things are in order.....so the extra expense for me was my SELF-ORDERED lumbar x-ray, which revealed a migrated lead, of which was removed (technically another 'surgical procedure' - not sure how much that was)
GOOD LORD you'd THINK they'd at least throw in a complimentary coffee mug or SOMEthing.



Thanks for having me RANT about

Rae

[Mark56]

You DID NOT GET THE COMPLIMENTARY COFFEE MUG, COMPLETE WITH A CARICATURE OF A PATIENT BEING CONSTANTLY ZAPPED???? What is this? Why? What is the world coming to? OHHHHHHHH....... woe is me!!!!

Hey Snow, I will not try to suggest you do not obsess over the Trial. It will be on your mind, BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT, I wanna let you know there is hopefully every indication you will do well with the Trial, and if you are going to be so, you will have a "feel for it" even before you leave the surgery center. Two days into the Trial, I was "feeling no pain." So, in this regard I pray you will also be given a good sense whether pain will be washed away by the soothing stim. Do not let the rep or surgeon hurry you on the OR table as they try a variety of signals before releasing you to recovery. You are the Star of the show, and you get that opportunity to feel the first vibes of stim in those OR moments.

There is much care here,
Mark56