Posted by Caper on May 18, 2004, at 18:21:02
In reply to Re: I just want to be normal, posted by LeilaH on May 18, 2004, at 10:09:45
Hi Leila,
I can't really give advice about missing work since I don't know enough about your particular situation, but I can share my experiences with ER bills.
I've been to Emergency Rooms for psychiatric problems without insurance before. I had a few different experiences.
First time, I had overdosed (which was stupid of me- do NOT do this!) and was kept about two days. I did get a bill for about $2000, which sounds bad I know. But you have to remember, hospitals are usually very willing to make a payment arrangement that you can afford. I paid between 5 and 20 dollars a month for a long time until it was finally paid off. Just don't totally ignore their bills- that's when they come after you with bill collectors and lawsuits and stuff. In general though, as long as you are paying regularly, the amount can be very tiny.
Another time, I was suicidal and admitted it. The hospital called a mental health person from the county community services board and she got me placed in a very nice private psychiatric hospital and I didn't have to pay for that at all. The private psych hospital had an arrangement with the county to accept patients who had no insurance when the hospital had the space available. So for that time, I only got a tiny bill from the ER because all they really did was put me in a room and keep a watch on me until the county mental health person could find a place for me.
So try not to worry too much about the bills from hospitals. As long as you are paying _something_ each month after making an agreement with them, you should not be harassed. Same thing goes for the ER docs who treat you. As long as you admit to them that you owe, they are almost always good about being patient and agreeing to small payments. They do this I think because they'd rather get paid slowly than not at all- which is what would happen if they demanded money we just didn't have.
I hope this wasn't too rambling and made some sense. Bottom line is, if you have to go to the ER to get the help you need then please do it! Money things will work out later on, they always do. Your health and well-being come first. If you don't have those, nothing else matters.
One last tip: if you can, go to a large hospital that has it's own psychiatric ward. This will mean a shorter wait in the ER and you'll get a more aggressive and comprehensive treatment as far as your general medical health and how it relates to your mental state. It was at a big hospital that I was diagnosed with very low potassium and magnesium, plus SEVERELY low thyroid levels, which were all contributing to my depression. Doctors there were also very knowledgeable about medications, including things that were very new.
I'll be thinking of you and wishing you well. Please don't give up hope- things can and will get better. You probably just need a more intense treatment for a short time. A time to focus on getting better and a time when you don't have to pretend to feel okay when you don't. Good luck!
Caper
> If I go to an ER without insurance, will I put myself in serious debt? I want to get better, I don't want to add thinking of how to pay a huge medical bill after missing up to a week of work to my list of stress factors.
> Thank you,
> ~Leila
poster:Caper
thread:347878
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/newbs/20040420/msgs/348317.html