![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tabitha on August 6, 2003, at 13:27:35
He had severe depression, but was completely opposed to psychiatry and meds. He'd tell me, well I haven't killed myself for 12 years, so I'm OK. I'd explain that having suidical thoughts ever was enough reason to consult for meds. But it didn't seem like he listened.
Somehow he finally started feeling bad enough to go to a free clinic and it sounds like he got a good doctor and is going to get free celexa. The doctor spent 2 hours with him and he said during the talk he realized that his whole life was an attempt to medicate himself. That's just what I'd been saying! He spends all his energy trying to manage his mood with nutrition, massage, exercise, art, support groups, meditation, etc etc. It's all good stuff to do, but man! Do you really want to devote 100% of your energy to mood management, just to keep your head above water, when meds could do a lot of that job for you? He said he's finally ready to give up and accept some help.
I guess I get some credit, since breaking up with him is what pushed him over the line into intolerable psychic pain. Yay me.
I'm kinda mad though, that it sounds like he immediately found this really good doctor, and gets the treatment for free since he's so low income. It sounds better than what I've gotten for my $200 private practice consults, and horrible HMO practice doctors, and soon I'll be paying like $500 per month to keep my health insurance while I'm unemployed.
Posted by lostsailor on August 6, 2003, at 13:53:06
In reply to My ex-boyfriend is starting meds, posted by Tabitha on August 6, 2003, at 13:27:35
sorry, I can't think of the term, but it is a way to buy your ins at the cost your former emp paid...
hugs
~t and Aurora
Posted by Kar on August 6, 2003, at 14:01:19
In reply to Re: tabby--do they have ...., posted by lostsailor on August 6, 2003, at 13:53:06
Posted by lostsailor on August 6, 2003, at 14:36:18
In reply to COBRA (nm) » lostsailor, posted by Kar on August 6, 2003, at 14:01:19
Posted by BekkaH on August 6, 2003, at 18:16:28
In reply to My ex-boyfriend is starting meds, posted by Tabitha on August 6, 2003, at 13:27:35
> and soon I'll be paying like $500 per month to keep my health insurance while I'm unemployed.
>
*************************************************Hello Tabitha,
I'm sure you know about this already, but I just wanted to tell you that there is usually a deadline for applying for COBRA. I think you have to do it within sixty days of your last day of work. Just make sure you sign up for it in time, and mail all the forms certified, receipt return. The cost of COBRA is a disgrace, but at least you'll get the group benefits for 18 months, or until you're ready to work again. Good luck!
Bekka
Posted by Kar on August 6, 2003, at 20:43:41
In reply to Re: COBRA--TY KAR:) (nm), posted by lostsailor on August 6, 2003, at 14:36:18
Posted by BekkaH on August 6, 2003, at 23:28:50
In reply to My ex-boyfriend is starting meds, posted by Tabitha on August 6, 2003, at 13:27:35
Now that your ex-boyfriend is taking medication, maybe he'll start posting on Psychobabble. Oh-oh!
Posted by Tabitha on August 7, 2003, at 0:57:26
In reply to Re: tabby--do they have ...., posted by lostsailor on August 6, 2003, at 13:53:06
Yup, Cobra it is... but the HR lady won't tell me the cost yet... grr! and I've had one person tell me it will be $500, another say no that's for a family, single person will be only $150, another person say it will be $300. The insurance co says that they can't tell me, the HR lady has to tell me, but she won't tell me. She says she'll give me the info at my exit interview, on my last day, but other folks said they don't even tell you then, you just have to apply and find out.
I asked for this info months ago, and it has been run-around ever since. Grr!
Posted by Tabitha on August 7, 2003, at 0:59:11
In reply to COBRA - - Tabitha, posted by BekkaH on August 6, 2003, at 18:16:28
Thanks for the tip, I had not thought of using certified mail. I knew I had to apply in 60 days. I've also gathered it's VERY important to make the payments on time, or they can drop you.
Posted by Tabitha on August 7, 2003, at 1:04:17
In reply to Re: My ex-boyfriend is starting meds - Tabitha, posted by BekkaH on August 6, 2003, at 23:28:50
Haha. I'll never tell him this site name. I have talked about using an internet support group related to mental health and psych meds. I hope he doesn't figure it out. He's not super internet savvy, and has no computer at home, so I'm probably safe enough.
Posted by lostsailor on August 7, 2003, at 10:21:22
In reply to Re: tabby--do they have .... » lostsailor, posted by Tabitha on August 7, 2003, at 0:57:26
Posted by Tabitha on August 10, 2003, at 14:06:15
In reply to Re: tabby, that is terrible!! WOW (((tabbicat))) (nm), posted by lostsailor on August 7, 2003, at 10:21:22
gonna be about $250/month.
I'm definitely making a profit off it though, cause they pick up so much of my therapy bill.
Posted by Dinah on August 10, 2003, at 14:37:57
In reply to Re: Update, COBRA cost for me.., posted by Tabitha on August 10, 2003, at 14:06:15
So they finally let you in on the secret, eh? I guess they want to leave you with vague unease until the last moment so that quitting would have that extra bit of anxiety.
Sounds like a good plan. Is there a limit on therapy? (And you'll be continuously covered so that the new law will apply to you.)
Posted by Tabitha on August 11, 2003, at 1:54:36
In reply to Re: Update, COBRA cost for me.. » Tabitha, posted by Dinah on August 10, 2003, at 14:37:57
the therapy coverage is great. My dx is under parity law so they have to cover it like medical. I can't figure out any limit. For a while I was using nearly 3 sessions a week and it was picking up more than half. So I'd pay cash for a while, then an ins payment would come in, then I'd go for weeks and weeks without paying a cent. I don't know exactly what the coverage is, but I've been getting a heckuva lot of free sessions to balance out the full price ones. The therp said I'll do even better if I stick to a 2 session per week limit, which I think is feasible.
It's still a big chunk of my budget, but I also tax deduct the out-of-pocket, so that's like getting 28% back.
I think I'll hang onto this insurance as long as possible. The last plan I had evaded parity law by having a separate carrier for mental.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.