Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
Hello All,
I need to vent and I know this is the place to do it.
I applied for State Medical assistance because I could not afford my COBRA premiums. I tried the private insurance route, but because of the RA, the premiums were just as high as COBRA and on top of it there was a 1 year "pre-existing condition" waiting period. In order to be approved for help from the State, I need to have a form filled out by my Specialist to confirm that I have RA.
I picked up the form this afternoon and he has now decided that I have Inflammatory Polyarthritis. He said that the form was more for my PC to fill out than him. He didn't even answer the question regarding how my current condition was: improving, stable, deteriorating. On top of that, he didn't even list all of the medications that he has me on.
When I knew that I was being laid off in January, he wrote me a script for 120 Tramadol, in April before I lost my insurance (they carried me through my severance period) he wrote a script for another 540 Tramadol, so needless to say, I did not need to get a refill written at my last appointment. So, I guess since he didn't refill it, I must not be taking it anymore.
His theory is: It tests like RA (positive AntiCCP), It hurts like RA, It causes stiffness, muscle aches, low grade fevers, and fatigue like RA, but... he hasn't witnessed the swelling, and since it is not responding to Arava, "and that is a Rheumatic medication" (his exact words) he's not going to call it RA anymore.
If he didn't think it was RA to begin with, I wish he wouldn't have labeled me with it. It now shows up as a diagnosis on my Insurance records, and on my chart at my PC's office. Should I just get him to change all of my records with a "I was just kidding, I really don't know what she has"? Maybe private insurance carriers will insure me at a decent rate now.
I know I need a new Rheumy. That is why I was trying to qualify for the State insurance. I can't swing the initial office visit cost or what it would run to actually get some xrays taken.
Sorry for the length... I am just so frustrated. My otherwise wonderful hubby seems to think that I should be thrilled that I don't have RA. He doesn't understand that it doesn't change anything; I still feel the same. The Doc has just basically ended any chance I have of qualifying for help from the State.
Thanks for listening,
Kim
I need to vent and I know this is the place to do it.
I applied for State Medical assistance because I could not afford my COBRA premiums. I tried the private insurance route, but because of the RA, the premiums were just as high as COBRA and on top of it there was a 1 year "pre-existing condition" waiting period. In order to be approved for help from the State, I need to have a form filled out by my Specialist to confirm that I have RA.
I picked up the form this afternoon and he has now decided that I have Inflammatory Polyarthritis. He said that the form was more for my PC to fill out than him. He didn't even answer the question regarding how my current condition was: improving, stable, deteriorating. On top of that, he didn't even list all of the medications that he has me on.
When I knew that I was being laid off in January, he wrote me a script for 120 Tramadol, in April before I lost my insurance (they carried me through my severance period) he wrote a script for another 540 Tramadol, so needless to say, I did not need to get a refill written at my last appointment. So, I guess since he didn't refill it, I must not be taking it anymore.
His theory is: It tests like RA (positive AntiCCP), It hurts like RA, It causes stiffness, muscle aches, low grade fevers, and fatigue like RA, but... he hasn't witnessed the swelling, and since it is not responding to Arava, "and that is a Rheumatic medication" (his exact words) he's not going to call it RA anymore.
If he didn't think it was RA to begin with, I wish he wouldn't have labeled me with it. It now shows up as a diagnosis on my Insurance records, and on my chart at my PC's office. Should I just get him to change all of my records with a "I was just kidding, I really don't know what she has"? Maybe private insurance carriers will insure me at a decent rate now.
I know I need a new Rheumy. That is why I was trying to qualify for the State insurance. I can't swing the initial office visit cost or what it would run to actually get some xrays taken.
Sorry for the length... I am just so frustrated. My otherwise wonderful hubby seems to think that I should be thrilled that I don't have RA. He doesn't understand that it doesn't change anything; I still feel the same. The Doc has just basically ended any chance I have of qualifying for help from the State.
Thanks for listening,
Kim
When were u diagnosed by him with RA?
Xo MLC
Hope it works out.
For me, perfectly normal blood work is why I don't have a definitive diagnosis, but if your anti-CCP is elevated, I thought that was an automatic RA diagnosis.
This makes me so angry. Insurance companies making huge profits, their CEOs getting 40 million dollar salaries, crummy doctors. Hugs
Aggie, Medicaid is what I am trying to qualify for. We do have 411 here, I will give them a call. Thank-you, I didn't even think of them.
Altoclef, My PC has me listed as RA, so somewhere along the line the Rheumy informed him that was what I had.
Sharon, I am going to request all of my records, that is all that I can do. My fear is that the person reviewing the form will not know that Inflammatory and RA are in the same family and will think that I am just dealing with OA. Michigan has gotten around the "pre-existing" loophole, by stating that you must be completely without insurance for 1 year in order to qualify for the cheaper premiums under Obamacare.
I appreciate all of your information and help. Especially just for listening ...
Kim
I called the Rheumy's office to request a copy of all of my records. The girl actually told me that she will check with the Dr. to see what he will release. I told her I wanted everything thing and she just told me she will have to get permission from him, because he decides what is released. You've got to be kidding me...
Just needed to vent again.
Kim
Hang in there!
Here is what I would do. Go in the office and request a blank records request form. Fill it out, but wait to sign it and type up a letter citing that you want copies of your records, lab results, imaging, etc. Take it to a public Notary. Sign both in front of them and have them notarized. Have copies made for you to keep for your records. Then take all of this to the post office and send if certified and go so far as to include delivery confirmation as well.
This way, you will get an emailed confirmation that it was received AND you will then have a signature following in your mail in a week or so.
It is a pain in the butt, but they cannot deny ever having received your request or a message getting lost from the receptionists hands to your doctor.
Your doctor has no right to refuse you access to copies of your records. He is required to keep originals, but that doesn't mean that you can't have a copy.
AltoClef has a good point about copies of everything.