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monica711 
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
Comments
Contact the Attorney General's Office inform them of the switch and bait situation that occurred they maybe able to assist you. Also then contact the Better Business Bureau and file a complaint with them regarding that clinic. Contact Medicare again and file a complaint with them also, it may take awhile, but after the complaints...needless to say something may happen. Inform the Social Security Administration inform them of the matter and that you want to file a complaint against the clinic for abuse of medicare assistance. My fibro fog has me blank at the name of the other reporting agency you can contact...I think the governing agency who licenses that clinic, you are a senior plus disable and you are considered a vulnerable adult which is a protected class---call the ADA for some advice also. Hope this helps.
capricorn7
Good luck straightening this all out. Hope you succeed. In the meantime, did the therapy work? If so there may be another facility that will work better with you, or contact Kaiser to see if they do any alternative medicine referrals. Anyway, hope you feel better!!!
celiamayberry