Outrage? Relief? Medical costs! (Of course political.)

[JackieOnLine]

let us know if it does!

 

[k9ophile]

We’re too old. That’s the problem. We come from era(s) where things made sense and people were competent.

I hate to admit that I agree with you. Yes, I do remember when things made sense and people were competent. I just don't like the "We're too old" part". Despite the fact that my husband took an awful fall and I accompanied him to the doctor where we both got orders for balance therapy. No falls for me yet, just a few episodes where I recovered before the fall or caught ahold of something.

 

[Spiky Bugger]

We’re too old. That’s the problem. We come from era(s) where things made sense and people were competent.

I hate to admit that I agree with you. Yes, I do remember when things made sense and people were competent. I just don't like the "We're too old" part". Despite the fact that my husband took an awful fall and I accompanied him to the doctor where we both got orders for balance therapy. No falls for me yet, just a few episodes where I recovered before the fall or caught ahold of something.

Yes, ma’am.

My only fall was several years ago, overenthusiatically serving a volleyball, whilst standing on wet concrete, spinning around and REALLY messing up a knee and a wrist.


Honestly, I’m a fall risk. I always hold on to things while walking. I sometimes “lose my place” and then regain balance. MrSue is staring and I just report, “I stuck the landing.” But I’m a fall waiting to happen.

OTOH...I will never honestly answer that question at a hospital, because I’ll leave AMA before even TRYING to use a bedpan.


(Are you old enough to HATE hearing, “I’ll need to put you on a brief, two-to-three minute hold.” My first job was at “the phone company.” We would be “written up” for keeping anyone on hold for more than ONE minute. So, based on my experience, a hold can be EITHER brief or for two-to-three minutes. It CANNOT be both...lol)

And everyone can get TF off my lawn, too.

 

[JackieOnLine]

Despite the fact that my husband took an awful fall and I accompanied him to the doctor where we both got orders for balance therapy.

so many risk factors in falling are things you can't do anything about - like age- that we should all be working on the things that help. like balance exercises.
and if you don't have a doctor's order for formal PT, just google "exercises for your balance" - there are tons.

 

[southernlady]

The only time, so far, that I’ve been considered a fall risk was right after my back surgeries.

 

[k9ophile]

so many risk factors in falling are things you can't do anything about - like age- that we should all be working on the things that help. like balance exercises.
and if you don't have a doctor's order for formal PT, just google "exercises for your balance" - there are tons.

I went to a presentation on falls. I don't want to give up my risky open back shoes. It breaks my heart, yet when my doggos cross the Rainbow Bridge, we won't get another dog(s). One of them is immobile when she's lying on the floor and easy to walk around. The other is skittish and I never can tell which way she'll jump. I surprised we've not tripped over her.

I went to my husband's appt. because he tends to minimize his pain and details when he talks about things. I had to nag him into making the appt. Then in a strange twist, he wanted me to drive. Since we didn't know how long it would take, we put the dogs in daycare. That meant we had to take his big honking pick-up truck, which he knows I hate to drive. (We have dog restraints in the backseat of the truck for everyone's safety.) I'm glad I was there because he omitted some other falls. I'm happy to report we made the trip safely with no wrecks. It's a Toyota Tacoma, but after my last cars (Camry and Rav4), I'm used to much smaller vehicles.

 

[k9ophile]

(Are you old enough to HATE hearing, “I’ll need to put you on a brief, two-to-three minute hold.” My first job was at “the phone company.” We would be “written up” for keeping anyone on hold for more than ONE minute. So, based on my experience, a hold can be EITHER brief or for two-to-three minutes. It CANNOT be both...lol)

Lord, we are old! I barely remember hearing a live voice answering the phone. For account balance press 2 blah, blah, blah. Funny how there are too many times when there is no "Press X" for an operator. Even that old stand-by of pressing the operator key or pound not-the-hashtag key is disappearing. Bring back the rotary phones and people answering them.

Keep off my lawn, get that hair out of your eyes, and for God's sake , pull up those saggy pants.

 

[JackieOnLine]

one of the ways vision gets worse with age is increased time for our pupils to adjust to lower light.

add this to a lifetime of keeping the lights off (saving money or not wanting to "wake up" too much while going potty in the middle of the night) and there is a fall risk right there: you walked from a room with low light into the dark bathroom and didn't realize what your pupils could adjust to in a second 30 years ago takes...well, longer, anyway.

age sneaks up on you and all the risk factors snowball. the most insidious changes are the ones we don't notice.

 

[k9ophile]

one of the ways vision gets worse with age is increased time for our pupils to adjust to lower light.

add this to a lifetime of keeping the lights off (saving money or not wanting to "wake up" too much while going potty in the middle of the night) and there is a fall risk right there: you walked from a room with low light into the dark bathroom and didn't realize what your pupils could adjust to in a second 30 years ago takes...well, longer, anyway.

age sneaks up on you and all the risk factors snowball. the most insidious changes are the ones we don't notice.

We both keep flashlights on our bedside tables or I use the flashlight app on my phone. I suppose that's one advantage over a rotary phone, but I still want my rotary back.

Also, after the doggos are gone, we're going to get rid of our carpet. DH said, "We'll get throw rugs, huh?" NO! They're worse than carpet.

I know many of the hazards we face as we age. I just don't like admitting that I'm close if not already there. Denial is probably the biggest danger.

 

[southernlady]

Okay, today was an appointment with my ophthalmologist. Because of having diabetes and now cataract surgery, my eye exams are covered under medical.

They only charged me the 20% that Medicare doesn’t cover. IF I haven’t met my deductible, there will be further charges. Total today, less than $25.

If I still had my Humana Advantage policy, would have been the $50 specialist fee plus being out of network. So Humana kicking me off may work to my favor right now.

Also called the Part D carrier (Aetna which has a division just for USAA members) to see if I could go on the drug plan a month early since I have NO drug coverage right now. They have to ask Medicare but I should know just before 1 May. They were very pleasant and want to help. They also said what Humana did was just wrong.

I’m also getting my Supplement thru USAA.

 

[JackieOnLine]

I am not even sure if I should "like" your post or what, Liz, it is all so complicated.

when I see super smart people like you and Diana and Sue struggling with insurance issues I think, what chance have I got to navigate all of it?!

I have NO drug coverage right now

 

[southernlady]

I am not even sure if I should "like" your post or what, Liz, it is all so complicated.

when I see super smart people like you and Diana and Sue struggling with insurance issues I think, what chance have I got to navigate all of it?!

I had a call from my PCPs office. They had changed the visit tomorrow from just a visit to a “Welcome to Medicare” visit. Hubby thinks that will change the amount I pay tomorrow from 20% to 0%. Medicare pays 100% of the Welcome visit. I had messaged my PCP about the issue and just needing my A1C and I believe he did this to help me out.

 

[DianaCox]

My PCP did the same thing.

 

[Sheanie]

About lighting and eyesight causing falls.

We had the utility company come to our old house for a cost saving visit. During that visit, the guy "upgraded" our light bulbs for free. The lights he installed turned on very dim, and took about 45 seconds to become bright enough to see. Might have saved power, but we will never know. I switched them all back to mine due to fall risk on stairs, doorways, just about everywhere.

Their response was "just wait for them to brighten up". Bullshit.

 

[Spiky Bugger]

We have those, too. I hate them.

Eta...and wait until you have cataracts not quite bad enough for your insurance to pay.