Sick Kids Denied Specialty Care Due to Obamacare in Washington

This article scared me because Seattle Children's hospital is one of the two hospitals in the US that has experience in doing bone marrow transplants in Shwachman-DiamindSyndrome, the disease my kids have.  The video and article can be found at this link: http://m.weeklystandard.com/blogs/sick-kids-denied-specialty-care-due-obamacare-washington_776030.html 

"Administrators at Seattle Children's today said they predicted this would happen, and it's even worse than they expected," says the local news anchor. "Patients being denied specialty treatment at the hospital by insurance providers on the Washington health benefits exchange. Children's filed request on behalf of 125 of their patients. Of those, they say they got only 20 responses, eight of which were denials. Dr. Sandy Melzer says all this comes after reassurances of certain unique specialty cases would still be covered."

Dr. Sandy Melzer says, "Well, some of the patients who were denied are ones who clearly would fall into that unique category. A two-year-old with new significant neck mass that was being evaluated for infection or malignancy, an older child with a chronic severe medical condition requiring multidisciplinary care here, a baby that had a skull abnormality."

The anchor explains, "Children's went ahead and treated those cases anyway, but Dr. Melzer said they can't afford to keep doing that it way."

We Feel the Pain of Obamacare

IThis is the envelope containing all the medical bills we've paid in 2014 already. We feel the pain of the drop in FSAs, higher deductibles and higher OOP Maxes.....

We also paid $195 for the first shipment of urinary catheters this year. Obamacare isn't working out for our family

More unAffordable Care Bills Rolling in

First catheter shipment of 2014: $195.00

Ordered Pancreatic enzymes for son today: copay increased

Another medical bill for $137.39 came through and we still haven't met any one family member's deductible much less our family deductible. 

This update wouldn't be possible without Barack Obama, Kay Hagan and their Democratic cohorts who rammed the affordable care act down our unwilling throats and the Republicans like Richard Burr who refused to support the defund Obamacare movement. Thank you all for destroying my family. We may not be solvent by the end of 2014.

Jan 24: $3,120.44 in OOP Medical for 2014

With this bill posting yesterday, we have $3,120.44 in OOP medical already in 2014. With 2 appointments still pending. We visited the docs and have yet to be billed, for those who don't know what "pending" means. We still have 2 more appointments to go in January, as well.

I'd like to thank Barack Obama and all the Democrats who shoved Obamacare down out unwilling throats thereby increasing our medical costs while decreasing our flex spending limits and the amount of medical we can deduct. 

Adding insult to injury, the portion of the higher premiums our employer pays is now taxed as income. But America was sold Obamacare as having no new taxes on the middle class. Democrats lied. 

March for Life 2014

If you only watch the main stream media, you might have missed that several hundred thousand people descended upon Washington, DC in 10 degree weather to march for life.

I had a great time. These are some of my photos from the day. The last photo is one of my son and his cousin. I never saw my son at the march, he rode up on the bus with his college, Belmont Abbey and his cousin came all the way from Louisiana. I thought it was amazing that they were able to meet up, even if only for a few minutes. 

Good morning ..... It's going to be cold for the march:

The shirt I wore, though in 10 degree weather no one saw it. 

The temp as we headed to the march: 

Ready to head out:

Here we are with our signs:

This cute boy was standing near us as we waited to enter the march: 

Snapped this as the march was beginning: 

The march ends and the Supreme Court:

My oldest with his cousin. Amazed they found each other. 

Someone else took these pictures:

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Pharmacy Dropped from Our Insurance

Got home from the March for Life and found a letter on my desk saying Cincinnati Children's Hospital Pharmacy will no longer be a participating pharmacy after January 27, 2014. For the last 9 years, we've been able to get prescriptions filled at Cincy Children's. What's next? Will my children no longer be able to receive medical care at Cincy Children's? Will they no longer be able to see the bone marrow failure specialists there? 

Obamacare is wreaking havoc on our entire medical system...it's causing dropped coverage and limiting coverage. We are VERY concerned about losing access to our boys' specialists. We've never had a pharmacy at a hospital dropped.... 2014 is full of anxiety. 

If you aren't sick or don't have sick loved ones, count your blessings that you aren't sitting here waiting for the other Obamacare shoe to drop.

I wish people (on the left) understood how anxiety provoking it is as we lose coverage and such....wondering what we will lose next. As if life with chronically ill kids isn't freaking stressful enough, the idiot Democrats in Congress passed a plan that makes every other aspect of our lives more difficult.

March for Life is Wednesday

I will be going to DC on the 41st anniversary of Roe v Wade to the March for Life. If you tweet or use hashtags on Facebook, be sure to join us by using #marchforlife #whywemarch in your posts and tweets. I loved this meme and had to share.

Leftover 2013 Medical Bills...

Some of these will be added to accounts we already have set up... The debt keeps mounting. These are some of the bills we still owe from 2013. Remember we already paid over 21K for medical in 2013 (flex, cash, credit card) We ignored them over the holidays because we have no money to pay them. Still don't. 

We needed an increase in flex, not a decrease. We needed to increase the medical deductions, not decrease the amount we can deduct.... We don't need what our employer pays in health benefits to be taxed as income now. 

If our situation doesn't overwhelm you, you haven't been paying attention. Obamacare is destroying families like mine across the nation. This could happen to your family.... All it takes is one illness that leaves a chronic condition behind. 

First Medical Bills of the Year Rolling In

These are in addition to the medication copays I posted earlier. Still have 5 doctor visits and an X-ray not yet processed. With the Obamacare higher deductibles, OOP Maxes, decreased flex spending limit and decreased ability to deduct medical from taxes, 2014 is going to be another hard year. 

Welcome to 2014

As of January 14, 2014 we already had $775.12 in medication copays! Welcome to 2014! The drop in flex spending from 5k to $2,500 hurts families like mine whose kids need many meds. 

The picture below is the screen shot from the 14th. You can see the insurance has paid out $24,791.79 for meds in 2014 and we've paid $775.12 in copays. 

We have had 6 doctor visits and several post op X-rays already as of today, Jan 15, 2014. Yes, you guessed it. Our flex spending will be gone before January ends again this year. 

Butterbur for Migraines

This was something else that was too interesting not to share. The neurologist also started my son on 75-100mg of Butterbur BID. We found 75mg capsules at Whole Foods after the appointment today.

Who knew!?

I found this info at Natural News: http://www.naturalnews.com/028866_butterbur_migraines.html#

(NaturalNews) New research into the causes of migraine headaches reveals that a little-known herb called butterbur offers tremendous promise for migraine headache relief. Clinical trials also indicate that butterbur, discovered originally in Germany, can prevent the recurrence of devastating migraine headache pain.

Butterbur's Two-pronged Action for Migraine Headache Relief

Butterbur acts on migraine headaches in two ways. It removes painful migraine headache symptoms by lowering the inflammatory effect of chemicals like leukotrienes and prostaglandin E2. The second active benefit found in butterbur is its ability to function as a natural beta blocker whose action results in the normal flow of blood to the brain. This helps control blood pressure and spasmodic capillary action, which can also contribute to the onset of migraine headaches.

Wondering how well butterbur works? In a study of 245 people conducted by the Department of Neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 68% of participants saw the incidence of migraine headache symptoms reduced by at least 50%. This is a huge breakthrough for people suffering from migraine headaches and the results are better than those of many dangerous over-the-counter and prescription medicines.

The May 2000 issue of the journal, "Headache", states that butterbur is gaining recognition in the US as an effective alternative migraine headache treatment. Additionally, the report confirms its ability to reduce active migraine headache symptoms and prevent future migraine headache attacks. The best part is people taking butterbur reported no significant side effects and only infrequent, mild stomach upset.

Buy Specially Processed Butterbur at Health Food Stores and Online Herbal Pharmacies

When buying butterbur as a migraine cure, be sure to choose a brand labeled PA-Free. This means the product was processed to remove potentially harmful, toxic chemicals found in the butterbur plant. The special butterbur extract is prepared by having all liver-toxic alkaloids removed. Purchase butterbur at most health food stores and online herbal pharmacies.

Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Butterbur for Migraine Headache Relief

Double-check with a healthcare practitioner before using butterbur as a migraine cure. Clinical guidelines for using butterbur for migraine prevention include documenting the frequency of migraine attacks, determining the recurrence of migraine headache symptoms and whether they interfere substantially with daily routines, and charting the patient's use of conventional medications and how well they are tolerated.

The recommended adult dosage is 50-100 mg twice daily to reduce migraine headache symptoms and to prevent future migraine headaches. Take butterbur for an adequate amount of time to observe its efficacy. A three month trial is suggested for this assessment.

If conventional medicines or other herbs are taken for migraine headache treatment, consult a doctor for a timetable to wean the individual off those other preparations to avoid interactions between medicines. Avoid using butterbur if the person is allergic to ragweed, daisies, chrysanthemums or marigolds.

The use of butterbur as a migraine cure and to prevent future attacks of migraine headaches is on the cutting edge of alternative treatment for this debilitating condition. Speak to a holistic doctor to find out how butterbur may be integrated into an individualized treatment plan for migraine headache relief.

Sources:

http://www.petadolex.com/
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA281222
http://science.naturalnews.com/pubmed/156236...

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/028866_butterbur_migraines.html##ixzz2q320i400

High Dose Riboflavin for Migraines

Who knew? The neurologist increased S's Riboflavin to 400mg BID today for his migraines. Even his mito doc had not heard of it.... I did a quick search and it turns out that they have done many studies on using Riboflavin to treat migraines!

He's had migraines since he was around 6 and been treated for them. We are also adding Magnesium Oxide and Butterbur along with abortive drugs to stop the migraines he does get. Figured I'd share this info in case there are other people like me who didn't know about this migraine treatment.

This link had a lot of info: http://migraine.com/migraine-treatment/natural-remedies/riboflavin-vitamin-b2/

Riboflavin (vitamin B2) for the treatment of migraine headaches: an introduction

Riboflavin is a B vitamin that is essential for growth. Riboflavin, also known as Vitamin B2 or B₂, can also be produced synthetically. It is often used as food coloring and to fortify foods including baby foods, cereals, and cheese. Riboflavin is destroyed by light, so food containing this vitamin shouldn’t be stored in clear containers.

Food containing Riboflavin

• Milk
• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Turnip greens
• Spinach
• Eggs
• Almonds
• Yogurt
• Cheese
• Whole grains
• Poultry
• Lean meat

Riboflavin and migraines

Riboflavin supplements have been used for more than three decades as natural remedy for newborns with jaundice and ariboflavinosis (riboflavin vitamin deficiency). More recently, Riboflavin, in high doses, has been identified as a vitamin that can help migraine sufferers.

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) and migraine headaches

Riboflavin is necessary for growth and for the production of red blood cells. Riboflavin also plays an important role in how our bodies gets energy from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Migraine sufferers may not have enough Vitamin B2. This makes Riboflavin a potential treatment option. Because migraines can be caused by many events in the body, Riboflavin is often used in combination with other migraine treatments.

Studies on Riboflavin and Migraines

One 1998 study of 80 patients who suffer from migraine with aura or migraine without aura found that 400 mg of Riboflavin worked better at preventing migraines than an inactive placebo pill. After three months, patients in the Riboflavin group experienced fewer migraines and deceased severity of migraines than those in the placebo group. Here’s a breakdown of how many patients benefitted:

• Riboflavin cut the number of headache days at least in half : Riboflavin 50% , Placebo 15%

A 2004 study, which didn’t compare Riboflavin to a dummy placebo pill or any other treatment, found that patients who took 400 mg of Riboflavin daily experienced significantly fewer headaches and used fewer migraine pain killers or abortive medications for migraines. However, total headache hours and headache intensity did not change significantly. Here’s a summary:

• Headache days per month : Before Riboflavin 4 days , After three months of Riboflavin 2 days
• Pain killers used per month : Before Riboflavin 7 units , After three months of Riboflavin 4.5 units

Formulations of Riboflavin available

Riboflavin is available as:

• Capsules
• Tablets
• Tablets, Enteric Coated

 NLH article:  "Possibly effective for...    Preventing migraine headaches. Taking high-dose riboflavin (400 mg/day) seems to significantly reduce the number of migraine headache attacks. However, taking riboflavin does not appear to reduce the amount of pain or the amount of time a migraine headache lasts."   http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/957.html

Obama is a Laughingstock Once Again

They mayor of Toronto is more competent than Barack Obama will ever be. Even on crack, the mayor has more common sense.

In a move to save face, Barack tells the American people they can keep their old cancelled policies without regard to how it would ever work out. You can now have your old policy for a higher cost, if your insurance company decides to reinstate that which Obamacare made illegal and that which will become illegal some 8 months after they spend millions on administrative fees to reinstate and enroll people in their old policies. Right. Smart move Obama. 

Do you think this lady will forget you canceled her policy next year come election time? Do you think she'll forget the stress of receiving her cancelation notice? *IF* her old policy is reinstated, she's gonna be in the same situation all over again next year....... How's that Obamacare hope and change working for you? 

Unemployed Man Can't Afford His New Obamacare Plan

A man shared this photo on my Catholic Tea Party Hippie FB page. He writes that he lost his job because of Obamacare and that his old, affordable insurance plan, is no longer legal because if the ACA. He can't afford the new Obamacare option. 

Don't Talk to Me About Corporate Greed

In 2013, the insurance company, hubby's employer since they are self-insured, paid out $389,095.94 for medications for our family. When you add in medical claims, the total gets close to half a million paid out. Don't talk to me about corporate greed. Thank you. 

We are very blessed that he works for a compassionate company! His company has taken on the cost of the increased premiums, and we are grateful.  We completely understand that our costs (deductible, copays and OOP Maxes) have gone up because of Obamacare. I pray for those who work for companies who simply could not afford Obamacare. Hubby's employer sent letters out saying they expect their costs for healthcare to increase 7.4 million, yet they are still providing coverage for their employees. Amazing!!! 

Anxiety Over 2014

It's hard not to have anxiety over 2014 when 2013 brought us $27,171.94 in OOP medical and more debt than we could ever have imagined. Prior to Obamacare, we would average 10-12K a year in OOP medical. When our flex was $5,000, it helped us greatly. Now that our costs have more than doubled under Obamacare and our flex has dropped to $2,500 because of Obamacare, we find ourselves struggling as our debt mounts. Our debt seems insurmountable.

I have great anxiety over 2014. Our credit is limited, what will we do when we can't pay for our children's medications and our credit limit is maxed out? 

We are back to school today and I am finding it hard to concentrate on homeschooling. Worry, fear and anxiety have consumed me as we have some 10 appointments this month and one medical test waiting to be scheduled. I look at my children knowing we cannot afford to help them with college costs. Obamacare is removing the ability for my family to achieve American dream. 2014 will be a year of anxiety.... will we even have insurance in 2015?