Grandpa Insurance

The last few months of applying for health insurance has been ridiculous.  To lay it out for you in a simple, easy-to-read fashion, I have condensed the past eight months into one conversation with a man I'm calling Grandpa Insurance.

Me (After submitting online insurance application):  Now I wait.

Grandpa Insurance:  I got your application!  Now I just need documents that prove you have a job, you paid your taxes, and you're an American citizen.  You have one month!

Me (Busy with three jobs):  I should probably print out those papers and get them sent in.

Grandpa Insurance:  Too late!  Request denied!

Me:  ...But it's only been two weeks.

Grandpa Insurance:  No, it's been 30 days.  Today's October 10th.

Me:  I submitted my application on September 26th.

Grandpa Insurance: ...Oops.  Well, I already threw out your last application.  Please apply again!

Me (About a month later):  Alright, application sent.

Grandpa Insurance:  I got your application!  Now I just need documents that prove you have a job, you paid your taxes, and you're an American citizen.  You have one month!

Me (Swamped with work again):  Gotta print out those papers!

Grandpa Insurance:  Too late!  Request denied!

Me:  Again!  You only waited two weeks again!

Grandpa Insurance:  Dagnabbit!  I gotta get this watched fixed.  At any rate, please fill out the application again!

Me (A few months later):  Ok, application is sent, and I have my papers ready to print!

Grandpa Insurance:  I got your application!  Now I just need documents that prove you have a job, you paid your taxes, you're an American citizen, you pay for gas, and you have previous medical bills.

Me:  What?!  More paperwork?  

Grandpa Insurance:  Don't shoot the messenger!

Me:  Ok, here's all the paperwork!

Grandpa Insurance:  Great!  Now we can get started!  Oh boy...I need two more pay stubs!

Me:  ...Ok...um...here you go.

Grandpa Insurance:  You're eligible for food stamps!  But not Medicaid.  You need to go through Marketplace.  Please fill out the application again.

Me:  Seriously?

Grandpa Insurance:  Again, just the messenger!

Me:  Alright, here it is.

Grandpa Insurance:  Perfect!  Now I just need to know when you lost your past coverage.

Me:  Um, April 22nd of this year.

Grandpa Insurance:  What about it?

Me:  What about what?

Grandpa Insurance:  April 22nd of this year.

Me:  You asked for the date I lost my previous coverage.

Grandpa Insurance:  No I didn't.  Now you need to fill out the application again.

Me:  A fifth time?!

Grandpa Insurance:  Messenger!

Me:  Ok, ok, here it is.

Grandpa Insurance:  Perfect!  You are now ready to pick a plan!  Please be aware that because you make barely any money, you are not eligible for a tax credit.  You will need to pay full price for whichever plan you choose.  The cheapest plan we have is $230 a month with an $8,600 deductible.

Me:  An $8,600 deductible?!  What's even the point of having the insurance?

Grandpa Insurance:  After the deductible is met, we'll pay for everything!

Me:  Is there a plan that has a smaller deductible?

Grandpa Insurance:  How about $7,200?

Me:  No.

Grandpa Insurance:  Wait!  I found one with a $0 deductible!  But your whole month's income would go to paying for it.

Me:  Ok, give me some time to figure this out.

Grandpa Insurance:  You have until the end of June.

Me (To myself):  What am I gonna-

Grandpa Insurance:  Just kidding!  Have free health insurance!  Have food stamps!  Have help paying for past bills!

Me:  What?

Grandpa Insurance:  Didn't ya hear me, boy?  You're fully covered!  No cost!

Me:  So what was with all the red tape?!  That was super stressful!

Grandpa Insurance:  Like I said-

Me:  Yeah, yeah, you're just the messenger.

This is a light-hearted, humerous look at the long struggle it took me to get fully covered.  It plays out like a joke because, in reality, applying and getting coverage is a joke.  It shouldn't be so complicated to have your health needs met.  But that's just how the world is these days.  I'm super grateful to have finally been found eligible for full coverage, though!

First Hand Account

As mentioned a few posts ago, I have been experiencing symptoms that I've had two doctors say may be coming from a mass growing on my pituitary gland.  Since then, I have been working on getting better health insurance.  I was already covered, so I wasn't rushing.  Until I got a bill for some blood work I had done in January.  It was almost $500!  And I had another bill coming for blood work I had done beginning of March.  I got on my computer right away and applied for Medicaid.  They needed a bunch of paperwork, which I got to them as quickly as I could.  I got an email about two weeks later saying that I was not eligible for Medicaid.  The email directed me to a website and phone number for Marketplace, where I could shop around for health insurance based on my income.  There were no other directions other than to go to the website or call the number.

I tried the website first, to find absolutely no directions on what needed to be done.  So I called the number.  The lady I talked to filled out a new application with me and told me she needed a couple more papers from me and the date of when my prior coverage ended.  I called the number again today and spoke with someone different.  I told him I had the date my coverage ended, which just so happened to be today (I didn't get a letter from them or anything!).  The man I was talking to told me he didn't need a date, just the paperwork.  I asked a couple questions, confused and frustrated, and he recommended doing the application again.  So that's what we did.  In a matter of a month, I've applied for insurance three times.

Based on my income, the man on the phone was able to set me up with Marketplace.  I am finally ready to choose my coverage.  The man on the phone made sure to tell me, though, that because of my low income, I wasn't eligible for a tax credit and I'd have to pay full price for coverage.  The plans range between $230 and $570 a month.  There were a few reasonable options, until I took a closer look.  For $230 a months, I would have full coverage, meaning I wouldn't pay a thing, after an $8,600 deductible.

I still haven't picked a plan.  I'm going to sit down with my parents and have them help me out.

I am absolutely disgusted at all the red tape I had to go through just to find out that because I don't make a lot of money, health coverage is extra expensive for me.  I honestly wouldn't mind paying $230 a month for coverage.  It's the ridiculous $8,600 deductible I don't understand!  I wouldn't worry so much if I didn't have an MRI coming up.  And, depending on what the MRI shows, I may need to have surgery as well.  I can't pay for any of this!

You better believe that I'll be writing an email to my local congressman, senator, or whoever about this issue.  It just doesn't make any sense!  Taking care of one's self should not be a decision between paying for medical bills or paying for food and shelter.  I am blessed to be living with my parents who are always willing to help out financially.  But I see their struggles, too, and I don't want to have to rely on them.  I want cheaper, if not free, health care/coverage.  I want to live a long, happy life.  I don't want that to be dependent on my income.  It's just not fair!

Fiery Serpents 2020

Remember that one time that God sent fiery serpents among the children of Israel to get them to behave?  I don't, personally, but I do remember reading about it in the Old Testament.  Those who were bitten were offered a cure.  All they had to do was look at a brass serpent that Moses lifted up.  That small, simple act of faith in God cured many people.  But there were many others who suffered and died because they thought the cure was too simple to actually work.  They lacked the faith they needed to be healed.
We have a new fiery serpent among us today in the form of the Coronavirus.  While I'll admit that staying in or around the house 24/7 is not at all a simple act, wearing masks out in public is.  I was surprised to see how many people on Facebook are complaining about tyranny and being told that they must wear masks in order to get groceries.  People don't like being forced to do things.
The masks, in this case, are the brass serpent.  Wearing a mask in public, though a minor annoyance, is a simple act to protect yourself and others around you.  Whether you believe in the Coronavirus or not, wearing a mask is something simple you can do without complaining.
The main difference between Moses's brass serpent and today's brass serpent is the lack of prophetic authority.  By looking at the brass serpent Moses lifted up, you were showing faith in God through his prophet.  It's easier to question today's Moseses (government leaders, doctors, etc.) because people have so many differing opinions on said authorities.  Instead of trying to decide who to listen to, maybe you should decide for yourself.  Put yourself in other peoples' shoes.  Just because you don't believe masks will work doesn't mean they won't.  The people around you wearing masks seem to think they work, and they're wearing them for your protection, as well as their own.
The moral of the story is to think about what is being asked of you.  If it's something simple and harmless, with the best of intentions, just go with.  Wear the mask.  Look up at the brass serpent.