Blog'antine Day 24

Hello! Today is Friday, April 24, 2020. Thank you for showing up to my 24th quarantine blog post! I have 6 entries left of my 30 day goal.

Today I want to brush over the topic of affordable mental health care. We all know that America's health care system is kind of a hot mess, and this includes mental health care. Not only do you deserve mental health care, but you also deserve affordable mental health care. I've spent countless hours of my life searching for affordable mental health services. I've paid out of pocket. I've received sliding scale services. I've joined free mental health support groups. I've done it all in my 36 short years of life. Another issue I've had over the years is billing and insurance issues. For example: right now, there is a behavioral health provider in California, trying to get more money from me! I've had consistent medical insurance since 2015, yet this office says I didn't have insurance and is trying to get over a thousand dollars from me. I most definitely had health insurance! I still have the cards to prove it, and it's most certainly not my fault if they lost that information. The bill clearly shows that $10 was paid each visit. I wonder why $10? Oh yeah! Because $10 is the co-pay that my INSURANCE PROVIDER recommended. Would you be surprised if I told you they are still trying to get money from me for services I received in 2018? and would it surprise you even more to learn that I have been fighting this with my insurance company by my side for almost a year now? and they still have the audacity to send me bills during this epidemic. They are vultures. Don't let them feed off you. Don't stay up at night worrying about health care bills. We all have them and most of us can't afford them. Here are some suggestions to help you get health care bills paid, or not, and come out alive on the other side.

1. Lawyer up! If you feel like you are being jerked around by any care providers or insurance providers, it can't hurt to cold call lawyers. I've done it a few times, embarrassed myself by crying on the phone when seeking advice, and not every lawyer can help me, especially not for free, however I've always learned a new thing or two by talking to them or even their receptionist. Another professional that can help is a social worker.
2. Call the hospital/doctor's office billing line. If you receive a bill you can't afford, instead of shoving it in the trash hoping it will go away (I'm so guilty of that!) try calling and see if they can help. I've had emergency services without insurance and couldn't afford to pay them back. It's happened I think approximately 5 times. That's five uninsured emergency room visits, and one with an ambulance ride. (if your wondering, a few were from panic attacks and one was a car accident) One hospital completely took care of the bill when I couldn't pay (Thank you random teaching hospital in Philadelphia!). This help is uncommon though. However, most health care providers will offer payment plans.
3. If you can't get through to anyone on the phone, try writing a letter or email. I'll be working on this step today, as my phone calls to this mental health care provider are no longer being answer. Most likely because the billing people are laid off. I wonder who's mailing these bills then?
4. For expensive prescriptions, with our without insurance, try using a prescription savings card. Pharmacies such as CVS offer their own savings card. but many pharmacies won't offer that information until you ask! So ask you pharmacist how you can be saving money.
5. NAMI- Bless them! They are amazing! Contact them in any state or city, nation wide, and ask them to direct you to free or sliding scale mental health services.

I hope that none of you are having to deal with these issues during an already awful time, but sadly I have to think that many of you are. Me too! and we are in this together! Thanks for reading today! Don't forget to share this blog with others so we can help one another find the services we need. See you here tomorrow!