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Update: the search for health coverage I can pretend to afford
When last we left our heroine, she was facing a $1,776 annual increase in the cost of her health insurance and frothing at the mouth at her current provider's refusal to reveal the cost of ultrasound and lab procedures received in recent months. This particular medical roller coaster had an unanticipated loop in the middle of the track as well as the expected miles and miles of research. I'm glad to report that I've found a couple of somewhat more tolerable options and appear to be nearing what I hope proves to be a reasonable decision.
( Doctor? Doctor? Who's got a doctor? and other 4-part harmony )
The bottom line? By changing doctors and trading the risks of no prescription drug coverage for the risk of increased co-pays on some services I know I'll need and others I might need, my costs will increase $600-750/year rather than $1,776. No, I can't afford that, either, but it's a lot easier to imagine coming up with an extra $50-60/month than it is to come up with an extra $150/month. I lucked out on the risk front these last three years and will be happy to have Rx coverage in the future. I'll be even happier if my annual prescription costs remain under $200, even though I'll be paying an extra $700/year for the privilege of being in compliance with the Rx requirement being added to the Massachusetts health care coverage law.
( Doctor? Doctor? Who's got a doctor? and other 4-part harmony )
The bottom line? By changing doctors and trading the risks of no prescription drug coverage for the risk of increased co-pays on some services I know I'll need and others I might need, my costs will increase $600-750/year rather than $1,776. No, I can't afford that, either, but it's a lot easier to imagine coming up with an extra $50-60/month than it is to come up with an extra $150/month. I lucked out on the risk front these last three years and will be happy to have Rx coverage in the future. I'll be even happier if my annual prescription costs remain under $200, even though I'll be paying an extra $700/year for the privilege of being in compliance with the Rx requirement being added to the Massachusetts health care coverage law.