Comments on Renee's Reflections: Partners in Lyme: Consider The Cost

Hi Renee K I agree we need the medical and CDC to ...

2009-10-24T16:03:26.078-05:00

Hi Renee K
I agree we need the medical and CDC to accept the chronic lyme diagnosis and crisis we are in so insurance WILL be forced to cover our LLMDS. It is very sad...I know that chiropractic treatments are covered more now and that is good...maybe some day other "alternative" treatments will be accepted too!
Thank you for your comments. Everyone's comments have been very good!

Thanks Joanne for voting for me! I am glad you en...

2009-10-24T15:59:41.958-05:00

Thanks Joanne for voting for me! I am glad you enjoy my blog.

Hi Kara Thanks for your good comments. Yes, we ar...

2009-10-24T15:58:46.587-05:00

Hi Kara
Thanks for your good comments. Yes, we are blessed aren't we! To have what we need, and be able to have NAET, etc. to help us heal...Budgeting is vital isn't it.

Hi Linda I know all our systems have flaws, but it...

2009-10-24T15:57:33.485-05:00

Hi Linda
I know all our systems have flaws, but it is very heartbreaking to read about so many who don't have the insurance they need or the money to cover treatment.. I give thanks all the time that we can do what we are doing!!

There is alot that needs fixing in our world,isn't...

2009-10-24T15:56:20.984-05:00

There is alot that needs fixing in our world,isn't there Joanne...yes it is especially hard when children suffer from our broken systems.

Hi Sue Yes, a big chunk of our income goes for med...

2009-10-24T15:55:23.864-05:00

Hi Sue
Yes, a big chunk of our income goes for medical, etc. too....no money for vacations, etc. BUT I am so very thankful we have insurance!!!!!!

Hi Jo We do not pay 1/3 of our incomes on taxes......

2009-10-24T15:54:13.767-05:00

Hi Jo
We do not pay 1/3 of our incomes on taxes...maybe we should!! I will rejoice once the US accepts Chronic Lyme as a challenging REAL disease.

Sorry, but you will not get treatment for "all cit...

2009-10-24T14:13:44.501-05:00

Sorry, but you will not get treatment for "all citizens" until the medical community recognizes Chronic Lyme. Most of my treatment is paid for because there are other diagnoses listed as reason for treatment.

That is why we are all in the situation we are in, there is no diagnosis code for Chronic Lyme disease so insurance does not pay for it.

Alternatives are also not something the U.S. Medical community easily embraces. We need to constantly be vigilant at any attempts that are made to deny our access to alternative medicine.

I too would much rather use money for vacations and luxury items but spend most of it on supplements and alternative treatments.

No insurance company is going to pay for those, government or otherwise. Sad but true.

Hi Renee amongst the many garden blogs I follow it...

2009-10-24T10:23:57.431-05:00

Hi Renee amongst the many garden blogs I follow it is not uncommon to tag someone to do a Meme ie they link to who tagged them write 7 things about themselves and tag seven other blogs with links to them.
I hope you don't mind me tagging you it is part of my way of helping raise awareness to Lyme Disease and other chronic illness.

Do pop over to read my blog and no presure if you don't wish to paticipate.

Thanks for this great post, Renee. We are very ble...

2009-10-23T22:39:58.095-05:00

Thanks for this great post, Renee. We are very blessed to have good insurance as well. They our Lyme treatment costs (minus copays) as well as LLMD visits. But my other health care costs to treat the MCS add up to many, many thousands a year. Only my husband can take antibiotics for Lyme treatment. The rest of the family has to do alternatives which, as you know, are directly out of pocket. Like Sue, there is no money left for vacation or "fun stuff". Every dollar is budgeted.

We surely need to make treatment and diagnosis available for ALL citizens. It is a tragedy that so many are suffering.

Wow, heart breaking stories about people not being...

2009-10-23T19:35:36.373-05:00

Wow, heart breaking stories about people not being able to afford health care.

We, here in Canada, have universal health care and everyone has the same opportunity/right to see a Dr., regardless of their income. Doctor and Specialist's visits as well as most tests are covered. I am so thankful for this as I would not have been able to afford Doctor's visits/tests to have my dx of CFS if we did not have it.

Glad you have insurance, Renee. They seem fairly easy to get along with....(some people here have private insurance for extra things not covered by our health care system...things like medications etc. Those insurance companies are not always easy to deal with...arguing over what they will cover etc.)

Hugs to both of you tonight.

Sadly here in UK the situation is just as bad with...

2009-10-23T15:19:27.586-05:00

Sadly here in UK the situation is just as bad with NHS digging in following HPA/IDSA.

Many are having to pay for private doctors and perscriptions although there are only a handful available treating LLMD's.

What is happening with children is unimaginable some families accused of MBP and one family accused of sexual abuse by a top peadriatric hospital. Over ten years later the sick child now hospitalised and an adult is still refused treatment for Lyme or Bartonella infections.

The hospital will not allow private doctors in to test her and will not allow her to leave hospital.

How did we get to this stage in a civilised society.

I have been so lucky that my GP suspected lyme and treated me according to ILADS guidelines and I am 100% recovered on antibiotics.

The stories of the children are heart breaking.

You are so right, Renee, on all counts. I am grat...

2009-10-23T15:10:29.710-05:00

You are so right, Renee, on all counts. I am grateful for our insurance coverage and can't imagine how people without it cope with CFS or Lyme, but we still pay many thousands of dollars out of pocket every year in medical expenses.

I was just asking my husband recently why everyone else seems to have extra money for travel, furniture, and home decorating when we're always struggling to get by with our 30-year old broken down stuff. Then it hit me - duh! - it's the medical expenses.

The sad answer is that the people without health insurance often go without either diagnosis or treatment - they are the truly invisible, suffering and homebound.

Thanks for posting on this important topic.

Sue

This is a shocking state of affairs and makes me r...

2009-10-23T14:37:39.695-05:00

This is a shocking state of affairs and makes me realise (again) just how lucky we are in the UK as our health system is free at the point of use. We pay a flat fee for prescriptions except in Wales where they are also free. This is funded out of taxes.

I wonder if your taxes are any lower than ours? We pay, on average, about a third of our income in taxes.

I'm trying to cultivate an 'attitude of gratitude' at the moment. Thanks for helping me on my way. Gentle hugs and positive thoughts for you both.