Feeling Defeated

AnnaBananaBelle

So, I just got off the phone with the hospital where Allison is having her tests done Wednesday.  I was already worried enough, now I find out our insurance only covers after the first $500.  So I just had to drop $500 over the phone for these damn tests.  We try so hard to be very responsible with our money, this kind of stuff sucks.  I know its what our savings are for, but it just sucks.    It makes saving $40 a week on groceries and $4 here and there just seem so vain.  On top of that my poor baby has to have a catheter and xrays, I'm not happy.  Not happy. 

 We were originally going to start TTC #2 later this year but I think I'm changing my mind.  I don't handle Allison being sick well, and thinking about newborns (my friend just had her baby) has started bringing up lots of bad memories from Allisons traumatic birth and the terrible months of PPD that follwed. 

 

OK, vent over.   It will be OK.  

crackerjackprinter

((hugs))

Take it one step at a time.  Just worry about Allison for now, TTC later.  Don't even think about it.  

And all that $ you're saving does help!  That's why you have savings to pull this $ from in the first place!  Every little bit counts.  

Keep us updated on the tests.  Try not to worry about it right now though, take each day at a time.

triumphantreturnofplanningbug

Oh my gosh, how frustrating and scary. I'm glad that you have the money in savings, but it's not easy having to spend it. Like you said, large bills make it so much harder to be proud of the smaller savings we struggle to make sometimes

((((hugs)))) and hopes that all the tests go well and have good results!

Alirebco

(((hugs)))  Hope you are able to get some answers soon from all of these tests.  That sucks that you have to pay the first $500 though - insurance is definitely not like it used to be. 

AnnaBananaBelle

Alirebco:

(((hugs)))  Hope you are able to get some answers soon from all of these tests.  That sucks that you have to pay the first $500 though - insurance is definitely not like it used to be. 

Yeah, it sucks.  I was just a bit surprised b/c for example, we didn't have to pay anything out of pocket for her delivery and the hospital stay.  Oh well. 

papagena

I'm sorry ((hugs)).  I can only imagine how stressful it is with Allison being sick.    I'm with pp - don't worry about TTC yet - I'd focus on your DD and keeping yourself strong for her at the moment.  No need to add more stress to an already stressful time. 

I know this is probably the last thing you want to look into at the moment, but have you thought about getting an HSA?  If you run the $ you're paying for healthcare through there, it is at least tax free.  It sounds like you have a high deductible insurance plan that would work with it. 

AnnaBananaBelle

papagena:

I'm sorry ((hugs)).  I can only imagine how stressful it is with Allison being sick.    I'm with pp - don't worry about TTC yet - I'd focus on your DD and keeping yourself strong for her at the moment.  No need to add more stress to an already stressful time. 

I know this is probably the last thing you want to look into at the moment, but have you thought about getting an HSA?  If you run the $ you're paying for healthcare through there, it is at least tax free.  It sounds like you have a high deductible insurance plan that would work with it. 

What is an HSA?  Thanks! 

papagena

Health Savings Account.  I fully admit - I'm no expert on them.  You need a qualifying high-deductible insurance plan to get one, and then you just pay your health care bills through that.  I'm sure the gals on money matters (or google) would have more specific information on them.

LittleFuller

It's a Health Savings Account. Money is deducted before taxes and put into a bank account that earns interest (a VERY small amount).  You can use this money for any health expenses for you or your family.  However, it has to be associated with a high deductible health insurance plan.  You basically pay for all expenses up until you meet your deductible each year. For me, this is $3,000.    It's not for everyone, but for healthy people, the savings in premiums can be worth the high cost of the deductible.

smurfetteinred

That really stinks about the insurance. I hate it when you get blindsided with charges that you really expected to be covered.

As for the tests - Noel's had them both done (I think I remember you saying it was a VCUG and a Nuclear Renal right?) and it sucked because you never want them to have to go through it but it wasn't too bad on him. The catheter is not like catheterizing an adult. It's in and out and a no biggie - no discomfort or lasting issues from having it in. Are they doing conscious sedation? If that's an option, I would highly highly highly recommend it. Noel had to have some of these done more than once and the last time I demanded conscious sedation. It made doing the iv and dealing with him not having access to his arm a ton easier and he was out for the tests. It's not like going under, it's basically a liquid that they give them and in konks them out. When the tests are over you just wait it out until they wake up. It was like Noel was waking up from a good nap and he was happy as a lark and had no clue that he'd had anything done. It went far smoother then his first couple rounds of tests.