tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681632491042947805.post7340024966642800768..comments2023-10-21T06:45:27.501-04:00Comments on Blogging Hallie and Lea's Life: Government Insurance---A Personal Viewabbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03403145277760263562noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681632491042947805.post-50183246732989628782009-09-28T15:32:11.287-04:002009-09-28T15:32:11.287-04:00hello! I couldn't find a "contact us&quo...hello! I couldn't find a "contact us" button-so I'm leaving this here. I am mom to a 3 mo 24 weeker still at Pennsy. The NICU nurses were kind enough to point me to your blog. Thanks so much for the links. Since I'm in Philly, your experience as documented on this blog is invaluable to me. I'd love to chat at your convenience. best,<br />MaryMaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05619099589395275164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681632491042947805.post-61414441475397092362009-09-16T20:41:16.546-04:002009-09-16T20:41:16.546-04:00New York is, unfortunately, one state where income...New York is, unfortunately, one state where income is considered in determining whether or not Medicaid coverage will continue post-NICU. The waiting list for a waiver is over 2 years long and the waivers are not handed out lightly.<br /><br />I have seen many a post (not here)where someone insists that Medicaid always covers babies uner 1500 grams or even 2000 grams, until they are three years old, so parents need not worry. This may be true in some states, but sadly it is not universal. <br /><br />Unless a person has been faced with astronomical post-NICU bills, they are clueless as to the financial toll co-pays alone can take. At one point Eliza was on 8 medications a month. Our plan has fairly high co-pays for medications ($10/$25/$50) and for office visits ($30/$50). For the first year or so Eliza's pharmacy co-pays were about $400 a month (she has yet to be prescribed a drug that has anything less than the $25 co-pay and usually the medications carry a $50 co-pay).<br /><br />Your comment about Sharon's employer likely factoring in the huge medical bills your girls incurred is not completely off the mark. I had one lovely Oxfod UnitedHealth person tell me (as they were explaining yet another denial of a claim) "well you know we have already paid $2.3 million for your daughter." I told her that her compnay had taken a bet and had lost and they should move on from this ludicrous argument This was not the first nor last time I heard it from a company representative. Lucky for me we have unlimited lifetime coverage and frankly for the sheer joy of torturing Oxford UnitedHealth I will not be switching carriers any tim sooon.<br /><br />As a small company we have no room to negotiate for better rates and can only chnage our coverage (usually for the worse) to keep premiums stable. I am astonished when I hear people in this country say that they don't want employers making decisions about their healthcare. Well we already are making those decisions: when we increase co-pays, limit therapy coverage, change networks, etc.<br /><br />This system is horribly broken and offering a government or public option cannot be any worse than the current options most of us have.Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07192126503448477083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681632491042947805.post-44117366874783651852009-09-16T18:43:14.619-04:002009-09-16T18:43:14.619-04:00Thank you for sharing that! Here medicaid is base...Thank you for sharing that! Here medicaid is based on income (factoring in family size) and assets post-NICU.Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05371671630524713784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3681632491042947805.post-47973400997624777392009-09-16T02:11:16.605-04:002009-09-16T02:11:16.605-04:00Yes, you guys are VERY lucky to live where you liv...Yes, you guys are VERY lucky to live where you live. Our Medicaid was based soley on income after NICU discharge here in WI. Maybe we should move to PA?Corahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15883049741277695883noreply@blogger.com