Journal

Hi Everyone,

I've being awfully busy with doc, therapist, eye doc, allergy doc, acupuncturist, etc.  That's why I haven't been around lately, just drop by now and then so at least you guys won't forget me.  Well, let's see I am no longer hypomanic so I know that the depression is following but I am going to kick butt on it and really try not to let it get me down.  I'm scare of going to bed at night and not getting up again.  I noticed that since my "body conditioning" classes ended for the summer, I'm getting up later and later even though I still wake up every 3 hours.  Also I noticed that I love just staying in bed and that's not a good thing.  I'll just stay there and read, JEEZ!

Anyway, I have some bad news.  If you remember I am unable to take regular meds for my bipolar so I made an appt. with this place called "Integrated Medicine", you might remember me talking about it.  It combines western and eastern medicine; including naturophathic, acupuncturist, homeopathic medicine, traditional chinese medicine, etc.  When I called to set up my appt., I asked how much it was and the front desk asked me if I had "Medicare".  I answered "yes" and she didn't asked me anything else.  She told me that "Medicare" would pay 80% and I would only pay 20% which would amount to only $36.49 for the first session.

I went in, provided the doctor all the paperwork they required, she read it and it said on the front page that I was a "Kaiser" member which is my "HMO".  She did not mentioned a thing until after the session was over (an hour).  Then she told me since you're an HMO member, Medicare will not pay for the 80% for this session.  She said I had to pay $255.00 and I told her that I wasn't expecting such a great amount and that I didn't bring any credit cards with me.  She said well, go home and call us with a credit card number and by the way we only accept VISA.  They would not let me go until I wrote a check out for the full amount.

Just wanted to let everyone know that there are places that will take advantage of you if you are not careful.  I spoke to Medicare and Kaiser and there was nothing they could do.  I spoked to an attorney and she said it was my responsibility to find out what coverage "Kaiser-Medicare" provided and that I had to pay it.

 So be careful out there and be sure you know what you are getting into before you get swindled like I feel I did but there was nothing I could do about it.

I'm living on Social Security Disability and that's not very much money so I'm hurting now and will for a long while.

Take care,

Monica

Hi everyone,

I need to explain something before someone gets the wrong idea of me.  You probably have being seeing a picture of me as a young woman doing karate, judo, or some other martial arts.  The reason I put that picture up is because I have decided to "KICK BUTT ON ALL MY DISEASES" by being pro-active and being aware of all the clues that might be telling me that I'm going into depression and trying to prevent it.  I am still a 61 year old woman and I'm not trying to protrait anything else.  God help me if I ever want to do that.  I hope this explains the picture and hopefully when I see it, it will remind myself of my mission. 

I hope you understand.

Take care and loads of hugs,

Monica711