Support for Melissa's multiple ER bills & tests
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If you are on this page, I would imagine you know me. If not, my back story is at the bottom of the page.
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Why your help is needed:
I never asked for help during my GP issues, when we decided to sell our home because of my job loss, to rent and follow my husband's job.
But, now I am asking because I can not afford another loss like that (we already live in an RV -by choice) and the ER visits, hospital stay, and multitude of tests are causing a huge financial impact with the poor insurance coverage.
2023 Medical Journey:
- Sept - not feeling good with lots of coughing, to the point I could not lay down. I called for an appointment with my Dr but had to wait until Oct (the first Dr avail).
- Oct - I went to my non-primary care Dr where they did an X-ray of my chest and sent me home with a rescue inhaler (for my newly reoccurring asthma) and a corticosteroid inhaler (speculation bronchitis).
- Nov - The inhaler treatments were not working. I did online chat with the Dr team, but all they could offer me was another appointment in Jan. I explained my wheezing is worse and I need help sooner. Their reply was to go to Urgent Care, if it gets worse.
- Nov 22 - I went to an Urgent Care that I knew has X-ray, CT, etc at the facility. They looked at me for less than 10-min with an EKG. Then told me that they can not treat me - and advised I go straight to ER. I asked why and they thought I had a blood clot in my lungs. NOTE: this bill came the other day for $443. I will fight them on it later this week.
- Nov 22 - went to ER where another EKG was done. After several hours of sitting, blood draws, I got to go into a room. At that point they gave me an IV for fluids and an antibiotic. Once my O2 levels were back up and my heart rate down, I was sent home.
- Nov 23 & 24- Thanksgiving -- I was very tired, but made it through the meal with my family. The next day all I could do was try to rest and needed to get my breathing under control. I was very hard and my 02 was in the 80s.
- Nov 25 - Unable to celebrate 24-years together with my husband. He took me to the ER at 3am on the 26th.
- Nov 26th - Next ER trip. This time my O2 was in the 70s and my heart rate in the 200s. I had all I could do to walk to the car and into the ER. I was rushed back to a room with Hypoxia.
- Nov 26 - 27th - Hospital stay. Where they ran all sorts of tests, like: echocardiogram, CT, advanced lung imaging (looking for blockage found on the CT), breathing tests (how much I can fill my lungs), and all sorts of blood work. I was given around-the-clock oxygen and albuterol nebulizers, among other things.
- Nov 28th - finally stable in their eyes to discharge me. The Dr treating me wanted me to stay 3 nights, but all I wanted was to go home. So, they pushed for as many tests as possible to be done at the hospital before I went home. That way, I did not have to wait for referrals, and then make appointments for everything they needed to get done for me. This I appreciated! Even if it will be an insurance fight.
- Home - I have been on 5 nebulizer treatments, and several pills, all while waiting to get into a Pulmonologist. The referral took a little over a week, then I needed to get an appointment. During the at-home time it has been filled with me being so tired I could hardly do anything (prednisone), nose bleeds, pain all over, the need to sleep upright, dry coughing, headaches, and a fast heart rate. The fatigue has been so great I have a hard time going 100 feet without being tired and my chest hurting.
- Dec 11, Pulmonologist - Lowered my breathing treatments to 1 per day, off Prednisone, and onto a GERD medication as well as a new inhaler. However, the insurance does not cover it and it is $500 out of pocket. The pharmacist put in a dispute for me and we are waiting. In the meantime, I am not getting the treatment I need. It was bad enough in Nov that I had to pay $150 out of pocket for a breathing treatment that was not covered -- but fresh out of the ER I had no choice - I could not wait for the insurance dispute!
- Now we are waiting until my appointment in Jan to get a new CT scan with high resolution to see if the lung plugging (blockage) has reduced. And go from there. The worst case is needing the Dr to go in with a scope to remove the blockage (that is their last option as it is risky).
- Dec 13 - I was too short of breath on the 1 breathing treatment, so I had to up it to twice a day. Still waiting for the other inhaler to be approved (the $500 one) as I know it will help greatly!! It is to reduce the inflation in my lungs.
- Future - will be the CT scan, more lab work, and they want to figure out my heart issue (possible treadmill test) and allergies. All this will be on the 2024 year's deductible.
Poor insurance:
I've been put in this situation of asking for help due to poor insurance. Currently, it's a $10,000 deductible, which will be applied to the 2 ER visits, Urgent Care, Tests, and Hospital stay. Next year another $10,000 deductable for the upcoming tests and possible ER visit. My hospital discharge has a 'high probability' of readmission. The office visit is a $40 co-pay, and then the balance is 100% on us which goes toward the deductible. Testing is 100% to the deductible, then covered at 50%. Some are covered at 0%. Like I said, this plan sucks!
Where the money will be spent:
All the funds raised will be applied to medical bills. I've looked into financial aid with the hospital and we do not qualify for any discounts. When the bigger bills start rolling in, at the end of the month, I will start calling them to try to reduce them. But, on the Urgent Care (less than 10-min in there for them to send me to ER) I did not succeed.
A deep gratitude:
I am one that never asks for help, especially financially. So, this is very hard for me to do. If I did not find it critical, I would never have asked. But, after running some cost estimates on our insurance portal, I know we are looking at a huge amount owed in medical, now, and for continued care. I desperately want to get better, and be able to breathe, so we can go back to walking/hiking and exploring new places. This sitting at home, trying to breathe (and sleep upright) for the last 4-months has taken a toll both emotionally and physically.
Any amount you can give will help tremendously. I deeply appreciate your kindness!
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BACK STORY
I work as an independent contractor for non-profits, about 10hrs a week. I enjoy helping others and kindness is extremely important to me. The reason I work so little is because I had health issues in 2010 which caused me to lose my job as a supervisor (after 10yrs of service). Since then, I have gained much success over my gastroparesis. This was attributed to changing my diet, getting out hiking (walkabouts as I call them), and reducing stress (limiting my working hours) by working predominantly at home.
GP Years (2013):
During my gastroparesis (GP) years, we ended up selling our home and moving to another state to follow my husband's job so he could support us. I worked several part-time gigs while trying to get a handle on GP. What I found was the work stress to be too much of a trigger and slowly transitioned to working remotely. Of course with both PT and WFH, I could only have medical insurance under my husband and no longer had a retirement account.
Next Move:
We moved twice more following my husband's job (as he moved up the corporate ladder), to the point where he knew the company would soon be going out of business (it did). A year before the deserving of the company, we decided to sell the majority of our possessions to embrace living in an RV full-time.
Our goal with the RV lifestyle was mostly to destress. He was starting to have health issues from work stress, too. We wanted to travel around the country to see friends and family we had not in many years. And, to make money from my remote PT job and him with work-camping. However, after a year or so living near my parents (we had not seen in years), then COVID hit - we stayed in place.
Current Situation:
5 years now, we are still living in the RV, my husband is working full-time (so I have medical insurance) and we are working to pay off bills (RV, truck to pull it, and hope to get some savings for a house).
Why your help is needed:
I never asked for help during my GP issues, when we decided to sell our home because of my job loss, to rent and follow my husband's job.
But, now I am asking because I can not afford another loss like that (we already live in an RV -by choice) and the ER visits, hospital stay, and multitude of testings are causing a huge financial impact with the poor insurance coverage.
END
Organizer
Melissa McElfresh
Organizer
Spokane, WA