“Y-, as in yak, a-, t-, as in Thomas, e-, as in Edward, s-, as in snake, Yates.” He replied, “and your first name?” “Madison, M-, as in Mary, a-, d-, as in dog, i-s-o-n, Madison Yates.” “It doesn’t look like the insurance has authorized your prescription, have you talked to your doctor?,” he questioned.
I wanted to scream. Most of the time I want to scream. Yes, I’ve called them. Multiple times. Yes, I’ve done my due diligence. Yes, I’ve gone above and beyond to ensure that everyone has done their job. And, yes, my doctor’s office has done everything they can do too.
But instead, I calmly reply, “I have, yes, but I’ll follow up with them. Thank you for your time.”
It was the beginning of week 6.
Week 6 of phone calls, pleas, arguments, and countless hours of frustration over fulfilling one order for one prescription that I have taken for years.
Today we are asked to have a full-time job, to take care of the house, to ensure our family is taken care of, to take care of ourselves, and now to manage the fights against our insurance companies.
Admittedly I don’t have the time and energy to do half of those things. But I give it. Sometimes I want to give up, but most of the time, I am reminded that angels exist and that I am not alone.
A few years ago, my little sister gave me a book about angels. I keep it at work because that is where I spend so much of my time.
My mom, Rhonda, used to tell me stories about how when I was a baby and sick and, in the hospital, lying in my crib, I would converse with the angels. She’d tell me that I was so talkative and aware of a sort of invisible presence all around my crib. She’d sit and watch me just talking away, she said. So, I believe. And that is a reason I keep going and keep giving.
When I finally thought about giving in and giving up and living without the prescription, an angel appeared. I made one final call to my doctor’s office and explained in a voicemail that I wasn’t sure what to do and I was sure they had turned everything in, but my medication was almost out, and the pharmacy insisted that they couldn’t fill it. By the end of the day she had set things in motion and my angel, my doctor’s medical assistant, left me a voice message stating that she’d given my insurance an “earful” and insisted they comply with the order, explanation, and authorization that had been sent over 2 weeks ago.
I picked my prescription up the next day.
It had taken nearly 6 weeks, countless phone calls, hours and hours on the phone, 7-10 people, and goodness knows what else to ensure a routine medication was authorized by my insurance.
This is why, I refuse to be a patient patient.
“Well behaved women seldom make history” – Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
While I do not pride myself on being mis-behaved, I have learned that testing the waters and poking the bears can have its place.
I was sent the following song recommendation one time and sometimes I channel it when I’m on hold waiting to be helped: “Sit Still, Look Pretty” by Daya.
I sure ain’t here to sit still, look pretty and I am sure that there are many of you who are not here to do that either!
I think I’ve also mentioned that one of my favorite movies is A Knights Tale. If you have not seen it and you need some motivation and encouragement, I recommend it!
I’m learning to face the fact that part of my life includes battling the healthcare industry. And while I am still figuring out how to focus my feelings about it and use it in an effective and positive way, I believe in myself and also in you!
Even if your battle right now is not with health insurance, just remember to…
Not give up.
Don’t Quit
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit,
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out:
Don’t give up through the pace seems slow –
You may succeed with another blow,
Success is failure turned inside out –
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far:
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit –
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.
My grandmother sent this to me on a beautiful little piece of stationary. I am not sure who wrote it or where she got it, but I’ve kept it with me for many, many years.
