First of all, financially. We are finally able to afford Dennis' office visits, medications and equipment because of Medicare. Instead of paying, through my insurance, $1,000 a month for Dennis, we now pay around $200 a month. Medicare covers about 80 to 90 percent of needed medical equipment, where my insurance has $3,000 deductibles in 3 different areas (drugs, office/hospital visits and equipment.
Medical Assistance has helped us save about $2,500 a month in PCA help and we are able to afford the time to cover Dennis while I go to work, and live beyond my work day.
Which leads to number two, my personal time. For the most part, I enjoy my job. But, I am not a person who defines myself by my paying job. I like to think that I am a bit more than a teacher by day and a wife by night. I take women's lib personally - I know that I deserve as much in life as any man (Which could also be held against my need for "me time", based on what Dennis' needs are currently).
For example, I gave up yoga, twice a week, and walking time in the evenings, a couple of years ago. I needed to take care of Dennis - I used him as an excuse? I wanted to wallow in self-pity? A bit of both? Anyway, today I rejoined a health facility. I can, I want to, and I need to.
There is hope, and there are solutions, out there, for those of us that learn to ask the right questions, access the correct places, and, most importantly, ask for and accept help.
Please feel free to pass on to the rest of us, tidbits of helpful information.
Until later,
Ann and Dennis
1 comment:
My sister has MSA in Michigan. She is 61 and lawyers have told her she will not qualify for SSI disability because she didn't work long enough prior to disability. From what I am reading she could qualify for Medicare. Any guidance would be appreciated. She was a LPN nurse over 15 years ago.
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