Automatic Denial of Health Insurance

I used to have Blue Cross Blue Shield around 2004 and developed some seemingly 'minor' health problems. I decided not to pay for the Cobra Health Insurance plan and was uninsured from 2004 - 2006. I thought I was young and in great health. After 2006 I ended up on Govt Health Insurance, because I was making very little money. I did some traveling and random work till 2008. Now that I am working again and making about $1500/month I don't qualify for Govt Health Insurance (you need to make less than $800/month to get AHCCSS). I wanted to get my own private insurance through Blue Cross or Cigna and I was told by them and everyone else that I called that I was automatically denied coverage because of my condition and the medication I take. I was shocked, because I get my medication free from the Govt for life. My medical condition would obviously be uncovered for the first few years by the insurance provider, but I couldn't believe it. It appears that I don't have any access to Health Insurance being self employed. I love my current job, because I have extreme flexibility and can sleep practically any time I want. I get tired on my medication. I sleep 12+ hours per day. Stress causes my condition to get worse, so this low-stress job is great. I feel like I am being punished for working. If I truly can't obtain Health Care I also don't see any other option than Bankruptcy if I do happen to become ill in the future. Sure I can try to get a real job with real group Health Insurance coverage, but for the time being I don't know how that is going to work. I am well educated, but consider all this stuff difficult to wrap my head around. What do other less sophisticated people do?

I was diagnosed as Bipolar in 2004, but didn't really completely trust the diagnosis was accurate. Now that it is 2008 and I have studied all the science materials I am convinced I am bipolar. I kept asking the companies why they wouldn't cover me. What if I paid you $10,000 per month in premiums? They said they automatically deny bipolars, because of the high suicide rate. I said: "What do you care if I kill myself? You get to keep my premiums and don't have to take care of me in my old age!". They said that most Bipolars fail at their suicide attempts and they don't want to pay for the aftermath. Other than that my medication Lamictal costs $300 a month. But like I said I get that for free. Anyway I am in the process of trying to figure out what my options are.

I am working and I don't have that much time to research all this garbage. It doesn't help when you get hit by a drunk driver while you are working either. I was a Republican since I could vote, but now I am definitely considering voting Democrat. I figure if the Govt is busy paying for our Health Insurance, they might not be able to budget in senseless wars or projects like Guantanamo Bay.

Stephen Fry 2006 Manic Depressive Bipolar Documentary

In this two part documentary we follow Stephen Fry and his fight against the ignorance that surrounds Manic Depression. We get answers to the questions we have about Manic Depression (also called a bipolar defect or bipolarity). What are the symptoms of the disease? What kind of treatments are there? Should you get treated? What are the outcomes of treated and untreated bipolarity? And the most important question of all: How do you cope with bipolarity? We get the answers through interviews with patients and specialists. Stephen Fry has the disorder as well and we will see how he copes with it. This is a splendid documentary that everybody should watch.


Stephen Fry - The Secret Life of a Manic Depressive 1 (part 1)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkvS8xGKhOk




Stephen Fry - The Secret Life of a Manic Depressive 2 (part 1)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrr-5GurudA

Bipolar Educational Resources

Bipolar disorder has a curious effect on my life. My condition has allowed me to experience, learn and do things only a few people in history will dare to, that's nice. I felt like all that experience I developed was worth more than a wife, kids, family, money or relationships and it is true, but now that I have accomplished my goal I don't really have anyone to share my experiences with. That sucks. If it turns out that I can't ever have a wife or a serious job, then I will be a bit bummed, but right now my goal is to avoid trouble and to maintain longterm health. My hope is that my condition becomes very stable so that I could maintain a decent relationship and lifestyle. The final thing that makes it easy to accept, besides the mania, is the fact that the research the scientists are doing is out of this world amazing. They are learning so much and are developing such sophisticated medicine, that we are lucky! to be alive in this age. I hope they can keep developing breakthroughs and am considering studying science myself.

Here is some info that helped me learn more about the Bipolar Manic Depression than anything else:

Here is a podcast series (probably 8 different programs and more coming) where patients and Doctors are interviewed about different themes every month or so. It is called Health Talk and you can listen to it on the web or get the Podcasts through Itunes

http://www2.healthtalk.com/go/mental-health/bipolar-disorder/audio-video


Oh and PBS or Nova did a special about Bipolar in kids that was also very informative. It is called "A Medicated Child". You can watch it online right now. They'll show you all the most modern procedures they are using to develop their understanding. We are talking cutting edge stuff.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/medicatedchild/







Documentaries about the DNA Research - Lay Person Documentary
They will show you the basics of how DNA works and how they discovered it
as well as what they are working on. The first 4/5 videos are amazing. The last one is a little boring

http://www15.alluc.org/alluc/documentaries.html?action=getviewcategory&category_uid=47576&from=&partner=no

If you have never heard of the Teaching company, then check this out.
Get world class college lectures for free at your local library, buy and sell
it on ebay whatever it is worth it. The first link is the 18 hour Neuroscience DVD set. Each section is in great 30 minute segments that can be watched independent of each other. The last DVD has the most relevant stuff about Mania, Depression etc. This will give you some insight into the science of it all.

Neuroscience ($90 new, sell it on ebay for $85)
http://www.teach12.com/ttcx/coursedesclong2.aspx?cid=1580

(More Brain Stuff)
http://www.teach12.com/SearchV2/searchttc.aspx?ct=TTCWebSearch&xr=t&site=www.teach12.com&PageSize=20&MaxPages=200&SearchKind=AllWords&FilterUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fttcdevweb&MediaType=&PriceRange=&Subject=&SearchPhrase=neuroscience&imagefield.x=0&imagefield.y=0

Here are the Science Lectures

http://www.teach12.com/ttcx/coursedesclong2.aspx?cid=1100&pc=Science%20and%20Mathematics

Any of the Biology lectures would probably be helpful for instance

48. Gregor Mendel, Founder of Genetics
49. The Discovery of DNA
50. The Genetic Code
51. Reading the Genetic Code
52. Genetic Engineering
53. Cancer and Other Genetic Diseases


I love the documentaries and movies, because I find it easier to learn visually and with audio as opposed to reading. Also when I am 'low energy or 'depressed' I can't concentrate on a book, but I can watch all day long. I highly recommend everyone learn as much about your condition as you can. The doctors don't have the time and probably don't want to educate you, because you can then second guess what they are telling you. They are lazy like anybody else. Don't let your treatment be second rate. Get informed.

Sorry this was so long, I got way into it. I need to start my own blog or something. I was just so happy to finally find a cool bipolar forum that actually had interesting posts. I never synthesized all my info till just now. Thanks again.