Question:
OK so I will try to make this as short as I can... I have a huge problem... I dont know if all of you know but my Derm left her practice to start her own. Actually both of the derms at the practice I went to left at the same time. I spoke to my derm before she left about her seeing me in her new office since I have been a patient of hers for 7 years.... Today is my 7 year anniversary of being diagnosed with psoriasis... isnt it funny how we remember awful times but some of the great things we seem to forget... well anyways I have hardly any insurance and the only insurance I do have is from the state finding me disabled... So at least I have something right???? Thats what I thought.. I got a redetermanation letter for my insurance and I need to have a note from my derm. I called her old office and I was so happy to hear that her new own just opened so they gave me the number. I called there and the receptionist was really nice but when I told her what insurance I said she stated to me that they dont take that. I explained to her that I have been a patient of Dr. A's for 7 years and then she said oh well then I dont see it being a problem she said I will call you back within 15 minutes. This was at 9 am... i waited all day for a phone call and finally in the afternoon I just couldnt wait anymore. It was making me sick and anxious so I called back. I was transferred back to the nurse (who also left the old practice and is now in the new one) so she knew me right away. I told her how I called earlier and what my situation was. I explained to her that in a previous conversation that I had with my derm she stated to me that she wasnt sure that she would take my kind of insurance but that there were a few people in her office that she wouldnt turn away and would see without charging them.. as she KNEW I have NO MONEY!!!!!! She said that she also didnt see a problem and that she would go talk to the doctor as soon as she was done seeing a patient and would call me right back to set up an appointment... that was GREAT right?? I was finally feeling better and getting somewhere RIGHT???? WRONG?? I was so wrong.... I saw their number on the caller ID and I hurried and answered the phone. To what was an unfamilar voice on the other end... She wanted to call me to inform me that Dr. A was not going to accept me as her patient, and that I would have to find somewhere else to go. I was beyond HEARTBROKEN! I have trusted this doctor. I have listened and believed everything she has told me and TAUGHT me. I believed her when she told me she would see me at her new place and THAT is why I didnt go seek out another derm. Now she turns me away... I was in tears I just couldnt believe it. I pulled up all of the derms in CT on the NPF website and much to my suprise NO ONE WILL TAKE ME AS A NEW PATIENT with my insurance. I am losing it. I have 1 box of enbrel left and I am on the double dose so my enbrel will last me this week only. Last time I stopped Enbrel or decreased it I had the WORST flare of my life. Enbrel has no where near helped me as it did when I first started it. I have the WORST rheumy you could get but is the only one that will take my insurance. He has no personality.. does not talk to me when he comes in the room. he looks and touches and then writes things in his chart. He comes back with scripts and sends me on my way. If I have a question he says to ask his nurse on the way out! Im moving to Georgia soon but I am going down there with NO insurance.... and what do I do in the mean time let psoriasis take control over my body? As it is I am 80% covered and getting worse.. My PA is out of control... Enbrel is not working for me but its what my insurance will pay for. It's looking like my biggest dream which is to be clear for my wedding day is turning into my WORST nightmare... and I am LOST I dont know WHERE to turn or what to do...... I have no money so I can't just go anywhere to get treated.... There is nothing more I can say because the only thought that comes to mind is that I am SOOO LOST!!! Any advice would be so much appreciated from the heart!!!
thanks for letting me vent!
P.S. Capital Hill Day is out for me and I know that for sure. I can not afford anything right now... im sorry for letting you all down but I will sure send along my petition :(
Well first let me say how sorry I am. We put our lives in someone else's hands. Only to let them crush it isnt right. I hope things get better. Dont know what all to say im not good at that like Rich or Deb or alot of other people on here. Hope things look up for you!
Oh, Katie. I'm so very sorry. I can't believe that your derm discharged you as a patient! :( :mad: I better not say anything else, because I'll just get myself into trouble with the moderators. That's how angry I am right now. :mad:
Please get in touch with www.needymeds.com. They might be able to help you. Jessica (stormchaser) and Miranda (LadyFrasier) both got Enbrel for free thanks to www.needymeds.com. Both of their stories are in this thread: . (As you will see, Jessica initially got Remicade through www.needymeds.com. She had some problems with it and was eventually able to get Enbrel through them. Here's a link to her update: .)
Another site that you might want to look into is www.helpingpatients.org. We know NOTHING about them, but it can't help to check them out.
Finally, Leslie recently took the time to post some information and links to several other assistance programs. . One of the sites that she mentions says that they even has info for Social Security disability applications, so between my information and Leslie's information you'll hopefully be able to find some sort of help.
Fingers crossed!
Feel better.
Mike
What exactly does needymeds do? I got on and couldnt find a straight answer. Im broke with no money or good insurance. And time is running out. Can someone help
I truly feel so bad for you and I'm soooo angry at your derm. I wouldn't know what to do without my derm. I've been with him for 10 years and couldn't imagine going through this disease without him.
However, I'm going to be blunt here so I hope you don't mind. What is done is done. The door is closed, {for now}, to this doctor. Maybe, and I truly hope, that it was done for a reason. Please look around for another open door. I have found that in just about every time a door was slammed in my face, I found a better door with an answer that was even better for me. Maybe God is pushing you to this point so you will find the door that is just perfect for you. Katie, I really hope you find your answer. Maybe it will come from someone here. I wish it was me, but I do not live in CT and do not know any drs up there.
Keep strong, Katie. You are a beautiful person and you are loved by many. I'm sure more people will be here giving you better advice than me.
Take care,
oh katie i am SO sorry to hear this :(
mike gave you some great advice though, i've heard great things about needymeds.
it's scary to realize when some doctors are just in it for $ :( i'm sorry again.
I'm really sorry to hear that too, Katie. Some doctors (and people in general) are unbelieveable! I really would check in to needymeds or one of the other prescription assistance groups. I don't know if they pay for appointments and stuff but with the biologics being so expensive, it would help. There are tv commercials here in WI for several other of the prescription assistance places, but I can't think of any of the names off the top of my head. I haven't used them myself, so I don't know how reliable they are. Did Annie go to the same derm as you did in CT? If she didn't, did you try hers, or maybe she could reccommend some when she gets back online? Drawing for straws for you here ;)
Krys, those places work with drug companies to get you free meds if you don't have insurance. I think it's something about how the independent drug companies have patient assistance programs and these separate companies help you navigate them and figure out whether you're eligible and stuff. Not sure all the details but I think that's the gist of it.
mari
Katie,
I am so sorry to hear about your derm!!! That just isn't right!! I just can't believe someone would do that. I'm also sorry about the insurance problems and not being covered. I understand that as my daughter is now going thru the process of trying to get insurance or medicaid but they have been saying she makes too much for medicaid, yet the other insurance she was on we paid for and we couldn't pay for it any longer and she tried other companies to get ins on her own and they all say that if she takrs another it will be a downgrade and they won't take her!! The systems sometimes is crazy.
We are also looking into the needymeds for her. That seems like a good option. Good luck to you. Take care,
Sandy
Katie,
There may be a small chance that all of the info did not get directly to your derm. BUT, just in case it did, I would quickly write a letter to her telling her of your disappointment with all of this or even copy the one here and send it to her with PERSONAL on the outside of the envelope. Even if this does not help she will have the info about you to think about. If this gives her a guilt trip....so be it.
Juanita
hi katie
i don't have much time. but i feel for you. that just breaks my heart the way poeple can be. i wish i could help. i wish you the best my friend. some thing will work. i pray for you to get a break. life can be hard. but we must keep going.
try and have a good day. i know they are hard to find.
richard
:mad: Cripes! I'm so sorry to hear this, Katie. I agree with Heidiann... time to walk away from this bad situation in order to make room for a new and better one. Please follow the links that Mike has provided. Did you call your insurance company? You simply cannot just stop treatment all together :( . Did they offer you any alternative list of providers? I know you mentioned that you do not like your rheumy, but in this transitional time, at least he can fill as script for enbrel to tide you over until you find a new derm. If not - then needymeds. Please try your hardest not to quit cold turkey.
I hope you find some answers soon, sweetie. Hang in there and keep us posted.
Krista
hi katie,
this is a email i got frome my mom. i wonted to post it for you. i hope it works.
----- Original Message -----
God still sits on the throne, the devil is a liar.
You may be going through a tough time right now but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the faith.
My instructions were to pick four people that I wanted God to bless, and I picked you. Please pass this to at least four people you want to be blessed and a copy back to me. This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let us continue to pray for one another.
Here is the prayer:
Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and email buddies reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of Your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace. Bless their homes, families, finances, their goings and their comings In Jesus' precious name.
Amen
I know, I picked more than four, so can you
Hi Katie.
How are you doing today?
First I want to thank you all for your great advice and help.... it all made me feel better!!!! Just a little update on what is going on with me... Well as I said the other day I wasnt too fond of my rheumy and I had an appointment with him on Tuesday. I was almost going to cancel it after everything that happened with me the day before but something told me to go... and Im soooooo glad that I did. I walked in and the nurse brought me right into the room.. I sat there for a half hour contemplating whether or not I wanted to just walk out the door as I saw my doctor walking back and forth past my room. I felt as he was ignoring me... So he FINALLY came in.. I felt like I was going to have a panic attack... he asked how I was and what was going on and I told him about my PA pain and then I got into what my derm did and how I am stuck and to my suprise he was VERY compassionate and very angry with what she did.. he said sometimes when people start their own practice they get on a power trip and he thinks that is what happened.. he was very upset about it... We talked about my different options as far as medicine goes because we both agreeed that enbrel is not working for me as well as it did when the last time I was on it. We talked about Humaira and Remicade.. I explained to him that I was more comfortable with Humaira he listened as to my reasons but thought remicade would work better for me but HE didnt feel comfortable starting me on anything new without a derm following my skin. I explained to him that I have called ALL the derm offices in the state and I got ahold of most of them and either they were not taking new patients or they would not accept me as a patient because of my insurance situation... I also told him there were a few places that I couldnt get ahold of.. he told me about the derms at Uconn Medical center which is about an hour or so away from me and told me they are the best derms in the state.. I told him I tried to get in there and they had a LONG waiting list and by the time I get in there i would have already been married and in georgia.. He was so nice and said that there is no way that I could go that long without seeing a derm so he said he PERSONALLY was calling Uconn himself to get me an appointment.. I was sitting right there when he called and he told them I need to be seen... it was a PRIORITY!! I felt so good at that point that he actually cared... I am waiting for Uconn to call with my appointment tomorrow their computers were down so they couldnt give it to him then... I am anxiously awaiting the call tomorrow.... he told me he is going to do everything he can to get my pain gone and my skin clear for my wedding.... he did say that he wanted me to go back on MTX for now because of how I have been flarring...and my pain level.. so I did agree to that just UNTIL we can decide on what we are going to do..... So I feel much better about what is happeneing and now I DO like my rheumy... ok that is my LONG update. and thank you ALL again for everything.....
Katie;
I'm so glad to hear your good news. We have been praying for you. I'm so glad things are looking better :)
Margaret
Katie,
Good news! Maybe God is opening new and better doors for you after all. You are going to be such a beautiful, pain-free bride!
WHAT A WONDERFUL RHEUMY!!!!
Juanita
hi katie,
im so happy that hings got worked out for you. i hope you get clear and pain free.
try and have a good day my friend.
richard
Katie,
I'm glad to here that your rheumy did that for you. It sounds like he really cares about his patients.
Polly
Katie,
I'm so glad you found such a nice rheummy. That is so nice.
Sandy
Just want to give all of you an update on what is going on with me.. First thank you all again for listening to me vent and for all the support.... This morning around 8 am I got a phone call... I NEVER answer the phone that early in the morning but I was up so I decided to answer it... It was my rheumys office calling to tell me that they got me an appointment on Friday with Uconn Medical Center Department of Dermatology.... I never thought I would say this but I CANT WAIT TO GO TO THE DOCTORS.... so that really made my day.... but what made it even better was I ORDERED my WEDDING DRESS!!!! It was very exciting.... :D Everything is going pretty well with me now except the side effects I am having with such a high dose of prednisone.... but hopefully it will be better as I taper off.... thank you all again!!!
thanks for letting me vent!
P.S. Capital Hill Day is out for me and I know that for sure. I can not afford anything right now... im sorry for letting you all down but I will sure send along my petition :(
Answers:
Well first let me say how sorry I am. We put our lives in someone else's hands. Only to let them crush it isnt right. I hope things get better. Dont know what all to say im not good at that like Rich or Deb or alot of other people on here. Hope things look up for you!
Answers:
Oh, Katie. I'm so very sorry. I can't believe that your derm discharged you as a patient! :( :mad: I better not say anything else, because I'll just get myself into trouble with the moderators. That's how angry I am right now. :mad:
Please get in touch with www.needymeds.com. They might be able to help you. Jessica (stormchaser) and Miranda (LadyFrasier) both got Enbrel for free thanks to www.needymeds.com. Both of their stories are in this thread: . (As you will see, Jessica initially got Remicade through www.needymeds.com. She had some problems with it and was eventually able to get Enbrel through them. Here's a link to her update: .)
Another site that you might want to look into is www.helpingpatients.org. We know NOTHING about them, but it can't help to check them out.
Finally, Leslie recently took the time to post some information and links to several other assistance programs. . One of the sites that she mentions says that they even has info for Social Security disability applications, so between my information and Leslie's information you'll hopefully be able to find some sort of help.
Fingers crossed!
Feel better.
Mike
Answers:
What exactly does needymeds do? I got on and couldnt find a straight answer. Im broke with no money or good insurance. And time is running out. Can someone help
Answers:
I truly feel so bad for you and I'm soooo angry at your derm. I wouldn't know what to do without my derm. I've been with him for 10 years and couldn't imagine going through this disease without him.
However, I'm going to be blunt here so I hope you don't mind. What is done is done. The door is closed, {for now}, to this doctor. Maybe, and I truly hope, that it was done for a reason. Please look around for another open door. I have found that in just about every time a door was slammed in my face, I found a better door with an answer that was even better for me. Maybe God is pushing you to this point so you will find the door that is just perfect for you. Katie, I really hope you find your answer. Maybe it will come from someone here. I wish it was me, but I do not live in CT and do not know any drs up there.
Keep strong, Katie. You are a beautiful person and you are loved by many. I'm sure more people will be here giving you better advice than me.
Take care,
Answers:
oh katie i am SO sorry to hear this :(
mike gave you some great advice though, i've heard great things about needymeds.
it's scary to realize when some doctors are just in it for $ :( i'm sorry again.
Answers:
I'm really sorry to hear that too, Katie. Some doctors (and people in general) are unbelieveable! I really would check in to needymeds or one of the other prescription assistance groups. I don't know if they pay for appointments and stuff but with the biologics being so expensive, it would help. There are tv commercials here in WI for several other of the prescription assistance places, but I can't think of any of the names off the top of my head. I haven't used them myself, so I don't know how reliable they are. Did Annie go to the same derm as you did in CT? If she didn't, did you try hers, or maybe she could reccommend some when she gets back online? Drawing for straws for you here ;)
Krys, those places work with drug companies to get you free meds if you don't have insurance. I think it's something about how the independent drug companies have patient assistance programs and these separate companies help you navigate them and figure out whether you're eligible and stuff. Not sure all the details but I think that's the gist of it.
mari
Answers:
Katie,
I am so sorry to hear about your derm!!! That just isn't right!! I just can't believe someone would do that. I'm also sorry about the insurance problems and not being covered. I understand that as my daughter is now going thru the process of trying to get insurance or medicaid but they have been saying she makes too much for medicaid, yet the other insurance she was on we paid for and we couldn't pay for it any longer and she tried other companies to get ins on her own and they all say that if she takrs another it will be a downgrade and they won't take her!! The systems sometimes is crazy.
We are also looking into the needymeds for her. That seems like a good option. Good luck to you. Take care,
Sandy
Answers:
Katie,
There may be a small chance that all of the info did not get directly to your derm. BUT, just in case it did, I would quickly write a letter to her telling her of your disappointment with all of this or even copy the one here and send it to her with PERSONAL on the outside of the envelope. Even if this does not help she will have the info about you to think about. If this gives her a guilt trip....so be it.
Juanita
Answers:
hi katie
i don't have much time. but i feel for you. that just breaks my heart the way poeple can be. i wish i could help. i wish you the best my friend. some thing will work. i pray for you to get a break. life can be hard. but we must keep going.
try and have a good day. i know they are hard to find.
richard
Answers:
:mad: Cripes! I'm so sorry to hear this, Katie. I agree with Heidiann... time to walk away from this bad situation in order to make room for a new and better one. Please follow the links that Mike has provided. Did you call your insurance company? You simply cannot just stop treatment all together :( . Did they offer you any alternative list of providers? I know you mentioned that you do not like your rheumy, but in this transitional time, at least he can fill as script for enbrel to tide you over until you find a new derm. If not - then needymeds. Please try your hardest not to quit cold turkey.
I hope you find some answers soon, sweetie. Hang in there and keep us posted.
Krista
Answers:
hi katie,
this is a email i got frome my mom. i wonted to post it for you. i hope it works.
----- Original Message -----
God still sits on the throne, the devil is a liar.
You may be going through a tough time right now but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the faith.
My instructions were to pick four people that I wanted God to bless, and I picked you. Please pass this to at least four people you want to be blessed and a copy back to me. This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let us continue to pray for one another.
Here is the prayer:
Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and email buddies reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of Your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace. Bless their homes, families, finances, their goings and their comings In Jesus' precious name.
Amen
I know, I picked more than four, so can you
Answers:
Hi Katie.
How are you doing today?
Answers:
First I want to thank you all for your great advice and help.... it all made me feel better!!!! Just a little update on what is going on with me... Well as I said the other day I wasnt too fond of my rheumy and I had an appointment with him on Tuesday. I was almost going to cancel it after everything that happened with me the day before but something told me to go... and Im soooooo glad that I did. I walked in and the nurse brought me right into the room.. I sat there for a half hour contemplating whether or not I wanted to just walk out the door as I saw my doctor walking back and forth past my room. I felt as he was ignoring me... So he FINALLY came in.. I felt like I was going to have a panic attack... he asked how I was and what was going on and I told him about my PA pain and then I got into what my derm did and how I am stuck and to my suprise he was VERY compassionate and very angry with what she did.. he said sometimes when people start their own practice they get on a power trip and he thinks that is what happened.. he was very upset about it... We talked about my different options as far as medicine goes because we both agreeed that enbrel is not working for me as well as it did when the last time I was on it. We talked about Humaira and Remicade.. I explained to him that I was more comfortable with Humaira he listened as to my reasons but thought remicade would work better for me but HE didnt feel comfortable starting me on anything new without a derm following my skin. I explained to him that I have called ALL the derm offices in the state and I got ahold of most of them and either they were not taking new patients or they would not accept me as a patient because of my insurance situation... I also told him there were a few places that I couldnt get ahold of.. he told me about the derms at Uconn Medical center which is about an hour or so away from me and told me they are the best derms in the state.. I told him I tried to get in there and they had a LONG waiting list and by the time I get in there i would have already been married and in georgia.. He was so nice and said that there is no way that I could go that long without seeing a derm so he said he PERSONALLY was calling Uconn himself to get me an appointment.. I was sitting right there when he called and he told them I need to be seen... it was a PRIORITY!! I felt so good at that point that he actually cared... I am waiting for Uconn to call with my appointment tomorrow their computers were down so they couldnt give it to him then... I am anxiously awaiting the call tomorrow.... he told me he is going to do everything he can to get my pain gone and my skin clear for my wedding.... he did say that he wanted me to go back on MTX for now because of how I have been flarring...and my pain level.. so I did agree to that just UNTIL we can decide on what we are going to do..... So I feel much better about what is happeneing and now I DO like my rheumy... ok that is my LONG update. and thank you ALL again for everything.....
Answers:
Katie;
I'm so glad to hear your good news. We have been praying for you. I'm so glad things are looking better :)
Margaret
Answers:
Katie,
Good news! Maybe God is opening new and better doors for you after all. You are going to be such a beautiful, pain-free bride!
Answers:
WHAT A WONDERFUL RHEUMY!!!!
Juanita
Answers:
hi katie,
im so happy that hings got worked out for you. i hope you get clear and pain free.
try and have a good day my friend.
richard
Answers:
Katie,
I'm glad to here that your rheumy did that for you. It sounds like he really cares about his patients.
Polly
Answers:
Katie,
I'm so glad you found such a nice rheummy. That is so nice.
Sandy
Answers:
Just want to give all of you an update on what is going on with me.. First thank you all again for listening to me vent and for all the support.... This morning around 8 am I got a phone call... I NEVER answer the phone that early in the morning but I was up so I decided to answer it... It was my rheumys office calling to tell me that they got me an appointment on Friday with Uconn Medical Center Department of Dermatology.... I never thought I would say this but I CANT WAIT TO GO TO THE DOCTORS.... so that really made my day.... but what made it even better was I ORDERED my WEDDING DRESS!!!! It was very exciting.... :D Everything is going pretty well with me now except the side effects I am having with such a high dose of prednisone.... but hopefully it will be better as I taper off.... thank you all again!!!
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