What assholes!
Just saw this story. A lot rings true.
Fyi for those who may not know the specifics of Original Medicare with buying a Medicare supplement plan and part D for drug coverage vs the newer privatized all-in-one combo Medicare Advantage plans with extra goodies like a free gym membership or discounts on OTC suppliesā¦ Medicare Advantage plans are provided through health ins companies like Blue Cross UHC etc. Orig Medicare is not privatized and covers about 80% of most things so people buy a supplement for that remaining 20% but then you also have to add a Part D for drugs.
If you become disabled and get SSDI with Medicare benefits BEFORE retirement age, then at that moment of first qualifying, you should pick Orig Medicare with a suppl and part D. Because if you pick a private Medicare Adv plan you cannot switch back to the orig with a lower cost supplement until you reach retirement age. You will find out the under writing to try to go back to an Orig Medicare supplement plan will be sky high ratesā¦ if they will agree to offer a plan.
That is the problem the woman in this video is describing. She has SSDI stuck on a UHC Medicare Advantage plan and UHC is denying her treatment.
I am not sure if she has tried appealing far enough to have a review by Medicare who should still oversee all the private companies admin Medicare??? I assume the grievance process takes too long for the repeated treatment she needs???
I was told once I hit retirement age I can then re qualify for Orig Medicare Supplement plans which i believe will be, once again, at a better rate. But if I then select a medicare adv plan after hitting retirement age, I think the same problem happens again?? not sure, I am not at that age yet. So like this woman i am stuck with Medicare adv.
One year I did just have Orig Medicare with a Part D for drugs and no supplement, but then another yr when I tried that strategy, my Medicare Adv renewed even though I tried to cancel it.
I had realized that the co pay and limits to physical therapy were more $ and limited sessions on Medicare Advantage. That was more expensive than having PT bill original Medicare without a supplement!!! I think I paid 30-45 per visit up to maybe 15 visits per yr on Med Adv vs $15 per visit with unlimited visits on Orig Medicare, even with no supplement!
So the moral of the story is that we want Medicare for All that is Original Medicare, Not the privatized Medicare Advantage Plans!
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Itās 5:00 AM and I just got home from the ER. I got there at 7:00 PM. My blood pressure has been high because of my fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), and every night for months Iāve been struggling to keep it under 175/115. My doctor called on Friday and said we should wait another week before adding another medication to see if there was any improvement. Well, after a few readings of 185/130 yesterday evening, and the usual chest pain, trouble breathing, dizziness, migraine, and confusion, my dad brought me to the ER. There, my blood pressure was 197/138, and they kept me in the lobby for 2 hours during which they tested me for drugs and alcohol after an hour and a half because they thought that was my real problem. The doctor didnāt even look at my history. After finally getting a room, I was left there for 20 minutes and they didnāt have me change or check my vitals. The doctor finally came in and was completely condescending; he didnāt check my blood pressure or ask how I was and just said it was from being overweight (plot twist: Iām not and all my numbers are really good except my BP!) and he could give me another prescription, but I have to eat better and lose weight and I could just go home now because my blood pressure wasnāt a concern. After that, he literally got up to walk out of the room. Thatās when I let him have it. I said, āYou had me wait two hours to come in here and have you insult my intelligence after not even bothering to look at my history and then send me home to burst one of my two aneurysms or have a stroke? No, Iām not leaving here until I get scans and my blood pressure is not at a deadly level!ā Needless to say, I got the scans. The doctor said that everything looked like it did in July and that I could go home. He fucking lied! My scans showed that the FMD in my right carotid artery was significantly worse. Not to mention the fact that Iād had a handful of readings during this time that were 240+/135+. Thank God I had an amazing nurse! My dad and my daughter were in the room, and this time, my dad let the doctor have it. In the end, the doctor wouldnāt order me fluids or anything for the pain, and by the time a new doctor was on, my regular BP medication finally got my blood pressure down to 160/115, where itās sitting now. At least the second doctor (who hardly said two words to me) sent a prescription for another BP medicine to my pharmacy. At any rate, I should finally be able to make an appointment at the Mayo in Rochester with an actual FMD specialist and hopefully get answers after over four years of trying to work through their crazy-making, heartless, money-hungry system. And this is the Mayo! I suppose I should try to get some sleep now grateful that Iām a little less afraid of falling asleep and not waking up. Iām sorry to be such a downer and complainer, especially given everything thatās going on, and I appreciate any warm thoughts anyone has to spare. I hope you are all safe and doing well! 
Oh, I missed something last night. I read through my ER report, and my CT Scan reports from July and last night again. Yeah, that asshole not only lied when he said the FMD in my right carotid artery didnāt get worse, but he also failed to admit that I now have FMD with severe tortuosity in my left carotid artery too. Thank God the nurse hinted for me to listen to what the doctor said about the reports and then to read the reports carefully myself.
Drea, Iām so sorry you had to endure that level of dismissal at the ER, especially while in so much pain. Itās heartbreaking that the system makes it so hard for people to get the care they deserve. Your strength in advocating for yourself and your daughter is inspiring. Whatās helped you get through moments like these? If thereās any way we can support you, please let us know.
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Far out 
high BP is nothing to mess with. Good on you for standing up for yourself and your dad for being a massive help. Just try your best to take things easy 
if we can help the amazing Dream at all dont hesitate to ask
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wow. That is infuriating and the last thing you needed!!! I do not get it. I have had my share of drs not believing pain but bp is measurable and yours was high!!!
About a yr ago my Dad had an emergency scare with his heart and trouble breathing. He is not a complainer. I drove him to the ER at midnight. The ER wasnāt the problem but when he was transferred by ambulance and admitted to a diff hospital he laid there for days without follow up tests. I was dumbfounded. The hosp cardiologist (my Dad had never needed a cardiologist before this er scare) almost discharged him before giving him an echocardiogram. Luckily the echo tech fit him in. The specialist reading the test came in to talk to us. He left and as I was walking out of my Dadās room down the hall for a bathroom break I overheard the heart specialists tell the cardiologist 'āit is the real deallā as if the cardiologist did not believe us!!!
My dad was scheduled for surgery pretty quickly after but wholly cow. Had they discharged him without the test it could have been a very different outcome.
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Thank you, Maggie, I appreciate your support. Now Iām dealing with having the insurance company approve my finally seeing an FMD specialist. It really helped having my dad and daughter there, and it helps to write about it and get support. I know you and your husband are going through a lot, especially now with the fires. (Iām really behind in my Substack reading, so am not up to date on all of your articles, sorry.) I hope you are feeling okay.
Aw, youāre so sweet, thank you! I hope everything is going okay for you. Oh, and keep sending pics of your dogs (and, of course, more music)!
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Thank you, as much as I donāt want anyone to have to deal with things like this, it is helpful to know Iām not alone. Iām so sorry that your dad has to go through that, how terribleāI hope everything is okay with him now! How are things going with you?
Does anybody know how I can this idea to TYT? I think if they embraced it, it could be big!
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I can only think of attending a Town Hall Meeting when Cenk is there or emailing @karaeastman.
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