Today's Boston Globe has the article about my fight with my insurance company to pay for my hospice care: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/05/22/advocate_for_others_fights_to_die_at_home/. There's also a link to a brief video in which I explain my situation. I'm sure that this article will generate a faster response from United Health Care than my snail-mail appeal, which I'm sure is just now entering their system.
The Globe writer, Kay Lazar, did an excellent job, and got everything right. There's also a great quote from the administrator at my doctor's office, Nancy Boucher, who says, "I have never had an insurance company call me and say a patient has exhausted her hospice [benefit]. I was devastated when they called me about her case. You mean this woman can't have hospice because she didn't die fast enough?"
Another piece of good news is that Julie found another person who wants to work as one of my PCAs, and brought her over yesterday evening for an interview. Her name is Laurel and she wants a minimum of ten hours a week. She's the mother of four kids (one with special needs), and I think she, Marty, and I probably know a lot of people in common (when I mentioned to her that he worked with groups promoting middle east peace). Since Ann has fewer hours available this semester (originally she thought she'd have more), I really need at least one more person. A day like yesterday, when I was exhausted from any exertion and Marty was out (he had two doctors' appointments, and then gave a talk in the evening) showed me that I really shouldn't be alone.
It's pretty early in the morning, but I feel stronger now than I have the past few mornings, so I'm hoping for a good day.
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Hurrah for the Boston Globe! I'm glad this important story is getting such coverage. It will make a lot of people think hard about these things. Love and hugs, Hopey
ReplyDeleteHi Judi, I've read the excellent Boston Globe article and the reader debate. Its good that just a small minority put in stupid comments - just so the rest could put them right and clarify how simple the equation is really - you've paid insurance premiums and they have the choice to give you the care you want, or spend a lot more to make you have care you don't want. No-brainer I'd have thought.
ReplyDeleteWell done you Judi for taking on the system once again, though you should not be having to do this.
HI Juei, I'm so pleased that the Globe reporter did such a fine job with your story... sometimes the press can really botch the message, but this story was so strong! I hope it heps the insurance company realize the error of their ways!
ReplyDeleteDarby