The Woes of Insurance

I'm not a fan of insurance - on any level.  It's misleading, corrupt, and discriminating.  It's also necessary.  And, with the new changes that will go into effect, by the beginning of next year it will be MANDATORY.  If you don't pay the insurance company you will have to pay the IRS. 

Let's add a bit more perspective on this subject. . .  Pretend that we pay $350 per paycheck for family medical coverage.  That is $9,100 per year.  On top of that, we'll say we each have to meet a $1000 deductible.  For a family of three we are now at $12,100 per year.  Do you know what the average out-of-pocket is to have a baby if you DON'T have insurance right now because the doctors and hospitals give you a discount?  About $4,500 which includes antepartum, delivery, and postpartum care.  Yet, it's still considered "more affordable" to have the insurance because we don't look at the big picture.  We get used to our paycheck being reduced.  We adapt and budget based on what we bring home.  Then, when the hospital tells us that our insurance covered all but the deductible and 10% we literally jump for joy that we don't have to come up with the $4,500.  Nope, instead, we're coming up with over three times that amount when it's all said and done.

This particular subject has infuriated me even more now that I'm about to deliver.  When I first discovered I was pregnant, we didn't have insurance.  In fact, we only acquired it on May 1st.  Prior to the insurance we had been on a payment plan with our doctor's office - a doctor that I ADORED.  She was amazing and I was so grateful that I had found her.  Unfortunately, now that we have insurance coverage that doesn't have any limitations or pre-existing condition clauses, all antepartum care should have been covered starting on the policy effective date.  WRONG!!  Because my doctor is an employee of an apparently very large medical group that has a department supervisor for billing, they were unwilling to bill the services individually UNTIL I left the practice and found a new doctor.  So, on the same day that I marked 34 weeks gestation I was meeting with a midwife to take over my care.  Talk about an emotional roller coaster!  Oh, and the previous office managed to absorb 70% of the money I had prepaid for the total service, so the refund was minimal.

It is these things that add so much stress in a time when I should be able to just enjoy becoming a Mother.  Do I feel better ranting about it?  Marginally.  In approximately two weeks (or less) I will be welcoming my son into this corrupt, fallen world.  And, in order to spend as much time with him as possible, I will be void of a paycheck so that I can recover, bond, and establish a routine for 6 weeks BEFORE I start paying someone else to care for my son so that I can return to making money.  But that's a whole other topic of discussion. . .

On days like this, I need to stop looking at the earthly limitations and focus on praying.  I have a promise from our Lord and Savior that He will not forsake me.  I have my wonderful husband to share this crazy journey.  I have an amazing family.  I have true, great friendships.  And, while there never seems to be any money, we somehow always have enough, even if it "just barely".  Those are great things!!

Oh, the Changes!

It doesn't seem possible that 2012 is over, and it seems even less possible that we are already in March!  I REALLY need things to slow down - just a touch.

Let's start with my 2012 in review:

• Reconnected with a childhood friend, who became my best friend and confidant.
• Fell in love with my best friend and got engaged.
• Started working for a new dental practice that I love!  Finally, I am enjoying my job again.
• Married the love of my life.
• Found a church with Woody and was baptized.
• Discovered we were pregnant followed by a miscarriage 5 days later.
• Decided to schedule doctor's appointment to discuss extra precaution to prevent another pregnancy for a couple of years.
• Discovered we were pregnant again one week prior to the above mentioned doctor's appointment.
• First Thanksgiving and Christmas with Woody; first Christmas with my step-son, Speez.
• New Year's Eve pregnant. . .  Nap to enable late alertness, Chinese delivery, and a sip of champagne at midnight. 

WHEW!!  What a year full of changes.  I'm a firm believer that change is easy; adapting to the change is where there's often difficulty.  For instance, the changes that a woman's body must undergo starting very early to accomodate a little alien that takes over.  The actual change happened literally overnight, the adaptation is still a work in progress.  I'm now certain that I will be fully adapted right about the time that my baby arrives, just in time for everything to change again!

Speaking of baby, we are having a BOY!!  It's a very odd realization to think I'm growing a tiny little penis inside of me right now.  We women are amazing!!

There have been some big highs, and some big lows.  In addition to all of the changes my son is causing, we've also been learning to "be married".  I know that a lot of people say that the first year is always the hardest - maybe it's because of all of the changes?  I've had to learn to share my home, and not just a little bit.  My body was invaded by an alien.  At times I just feel invaded.  The things that drive me crazy about Woody are probably the same things that drive him crazy about me.  Our home is a disorganized wreck right now, which drives me bonkers yet I have no motivation AT ALL to change this fact.

It seems that everything keeps coming back to change. . .