runaround

image credit: eccehomo


so, as most of you know, i've been poz since '85. i have a tendency to think i've got most of my health situation under control. or at least i like to think that. but since october, most of my life has been a tilt-a-whirl. this would definitely include some of the pieces i consider "handled" around my health care.

i switched jobs in august. i was working for 2 years as an hiv client advocate- mostly connecting poz persons to services and working out situations that were really barriers to treatment, or continuing treatment. in august, the grants that a clinic i have been working with part time for a year were awarded, and that awarded enough(tongue in cheek)salary for me to just work full time at that clinic. i became a full time substance abuse counselor, and have also been developing (when time allows) some outreach and a gay men's treatment program for denver metro. this is truly a privilege and i try to do the best i can.

well, with the shift of jobs, came a shift of insurance. the new company required me to be working full time for 90 days before i became eligible. the gracious company i had worked for previously just paid for my insurance until the shift took place. (either i am a good employee, or my old boss is benevolent, or both?)

but i received a letter dated nov 9 from my old insurance company telling me that my benefits and coverage were discontinued as of oct 31. i received the letter on nov 14. i informed my current job of the situation and the processing for the new insurance company began. this was a month early and i was caught off guard completely. i was out of one of my hiv meds on the 17th of november. i called the help line at my old pharmacy, and they informed me that the best they could offer was to perhaps fill the prescription and i could pick it up a full price( about $900) but, luckily a friend had enough to loan me 10 days worth.


but after 10 days, still no new coverage. i called the state health department person who handles ADAP (Aids Drug Assistance Program) to see if they could help.he told me that they would but not until monday and then he loaned me three days of meds to get me through the weekend. luckily my salary is low enough that i qualify for assistance and was processed. the local main hospital would help, but they required me to sit through a 2 1/2 hour intake procedure, which i really didn't have the time to do this day. then another city said they could help. all i needed to do was fax my driver's license and get my current expired prescription information, they would call that clinic and transfer and fill that prescription. i did drive way across town to get this accomplished and then 2 hours later i received a call that my original insurance had never expired. i was still active. i phoned in a refill and we shall see what happens on thursday.

you know the truth is, this adventure has been more than just a little emotional for me. i have a good support system in place and i have people i can count on to try to help me when necessary. i honestly cannot imagine how difficult this same scenario is (and i'm sure it happens) for people who don't have the grounded lifestyle i am privy to. or don't have the patience to ride it out.

and on another note, this is so very similar to other chases i have been on in order to obtain drugs. but this was much more serene and civilized than my memories of those wild goose chases. never wanna go back there...