My Emergency Room Experience

Since I have been working for the last 30+ years, I have never had a problem with my family's health insurance or lack of enough coverage. Unfortunately, my youngest son and I have been without health and dental coverage since April 2005, after losing my job with the State of Florida after 14 years. In June 2006, I again became employed with the State of Florida, but the type of position I am in now does not offer any health or dental benefits, vacation or sick leave. In 2007, I was fortunate enough to obtain health and dental coverage for my son through Florida's low cost health insurance for children called Florida Kid Care. To make a long story short, the first year I enrolled him the premium was a very nominal amount. I am assuming they paid a little more attention to the documents at renewal and discovered I received a small increase during the year which raised my premium 8.5% for the next year, a big difference. So far, I am managing to maintain his coverage. I felt as long as he is covered, I'm content.

For myself, I would manage somehow, either by purchasing over the counter medications or using home remedies and getting plenty of rest. Suddenly reality hit me. It had been about two years since I saw a physician or dentist for the necessary preventive care I need. I decided I should enroll myself in a health insurance and dental plan very soon. Being without health insurance was out of the norm for me. In April 2008, I enrolled in AARP's Group Medical Advantage Plan and decided to sacrifice my tax return to pay the monthly premiums for a year. It felt good to have a primary physician again, although I still do not have dental coverage which would be more out of pocket expenses for me. AARP was working out in the beginning, although my out of pocket expenses outweighed the benefits allowed. Since I am used to an HMO plan, this was quite an adjustment for me, but I dealt with it.

One Saturday in August I became very ill with excruciating pain. Due to the bad weather resulting from a storm we were having, the local walk-in clinics close to my home were closed, so I decided to go to the emergency room. Although AARP paid the benefits which were allowed, they did not even begin to touch the enormous hospital bill I received last month. I am in the process of trying to find some type of assistance or discount to help me pay this bill. Since receiving this bill I feel out of character, as I am the type of person who pays my bills on time and have never been in this situation. Although the bill is expected to be paid in full, I will have to pay it the best way I can, which will take a while, as I do not have this type of money under my mattress. The sad part of all is the physician wanted to be sure of what he saw and ordered another CT Scan (this makes two CT Scans I have to pay for), in addition to diagnosing me with an infection without writing me a prescription for an antibiotic, just for pain. I was so drugged up while I was in the hospital I didn't even think about a prescription for the infection until I was home and realized I did not have one. On Monday I called my primary physician who wrote me a prescription for an antibiotic.

I have realized this type of insurance is not for me. I need to cancel it and find a plan that is affordable and more suitable for my needs, as well as dental coverage. Don't get me wrong, AARP health plans might be good for others, but it is not working for me. I recently started searching for a different health plan, but there are so many types of plans which make the choice more confusing, as well as the plans not being affordable for me at this time. Being a single mother and the sole provider, my money is funny and my change is strange. Paying for health insurance separately for my son and I is new to me. Right now I cannot see how I can afford the type of health insurance I need. I have to keep searching though, and hopefully I will find a health plan I can afford real soon before another emergency room visit is necessary, which is very frightening.