Health Insurance, again!

I'm officially enrolled now, with benefits beginning tomorrow.  After losing my disability benefits last year at this time I also lost the health benefits associated with them.  We were forced by circumstances to go onto my wife's employer's health benefit plan, which had no mental health benefits.  Needless to say, it was a bit of a worry for someone who has an active mental health diagnosis to be without mental health coverage.  That changes tomorrow.

I received a call to serve half time as a "transitional minister" at Peace Lutheran in Otis Orchards, and my package does include participation once again in the Church's insurance program.  Quite a relief.

There will be a few hassles.  For example, today I began the process of getting my meds cleared for coverage.  I will have to get pre-authorization for them, and my physicians will have to go through the step procedure protocol, explaining to them that I've already been on all the cheaper meds and they didn't work.  Hopefully this will all sort out in short order.  But the good news is I do have coverage once again.

We are particularly grateful for the timing of all this.  After quite a few years with her employer, a change in management and concerns regarding her own health led Karla to the tough decision of having to resign her position.  The health benefits we were receiving terminated Sept 30.  There will be no gap in coverage, as my benefits resume Oct. 1.  There are times in life that I'm overwhelmed with the conviction that God is taking care of us.

And then there are also moments when I'm filled with a certain fiendish delight.  Having had my disability benefits terminated in an abrupt and disconcerting fashion there is part of me that feels a bit like "I'll show you, I'll take a call, and then you'll have to cover me again!"  Yup.  Now they can pay for the meds, and psychiatric bills, etc., etc., that they stopped paying for when they terminated my benefits.  "Hello!, Remember Me!  I'm back."

Those moments are short lived.  

Mostly, I'm just grateful for health, and insurance to pay for maintaining that health.  Were it not for insurance I wouldn't be able to afford the meds, and who knows what would take place.  I think of the homeless and recognize that many of the homeless are homeless because they are mentally ill, and not able to receive proper treatment.  Could a similar fate have befallen me were I not so fortunate to have been covered by insurance throughout this journey????  I have a family I could have leaned on, but would I have?  And without insurance could they have offered enough help?

This is one of the reasons that I believe that there should be universal health coverage in our country.  Sick people can become an incredible burden on society.  Keeping them well, and able to work, is much better.  At anyrate, I'm delighted to sing "Hi Ho, Hi Ho, and off to work I go."