After my rant yesterday about the insurance issue, I had a thought that somehow people will do what is right. The fact is some people are just driven by  greed and doing "the right thing" just isn't part of their thinking. The lines of right and wrong are constantly blurred by corporations, banks, conglomerates, and government. The question of how to change the broken system is inherently flawed because the belief that doing the right thing isn't as profitable. Many people are well intentioned, myself included and at the end of the day I have what I need. But so many don't and that is not fair. People say that you should work for what you want and quit complaining, and life isn't fair... there again that too is also flawed. Some of us  are not highly educated which leaves us poorer than most. If we somehow manage to squeak by, and get an education and a job with insurance we are almost guaranteed to be in debt for most of  our thirties paying off student debt. If we do get insurance we are still living week to week and one major hospitalization away from financial and economic ruin. And we did the right thing.

So what do we do? We change the way business is done!! People first, and yes it is that simple. We punish those who are without or in need, we treat them  as a lesser people that are not worthy of existence. Why is it so hard to help those in need and do what is right?  We change it... it can be done!

Germany just recently announced that all universities will offer free tuition, Sweden gives maternity leave for a year and  free day care, Australia has a minimum wage of $16.00 per hour and avoided the recession that we sank into, Frances gives it's workers three weeks vacation per year and 30 hour work week, Other countries offer free insurance and invest more in education. Did the countries come unraveled from investing in their own people? No they didn't actually the opposite occurred and they thrived. Not all the the countries have it right but the line in the sand has been drawn and it  clear that we need to do better. We are keeping the division of the "have and have nots" flowing long enough. Doing right for one, does right for all. We will all benefit from doing what is right for humanity instead of doing what is  right for  profit margins. 

I vow to do better and to encourage others to follow, one act of kindness will destroy one act of greed.

Insurance

Insurance the word that sends me into a complete tizzy. I can not for the life of me understand how they come up with the rules and regulations they follow. The thought process of these entities defies every ounce of common sense. I have dealt with (and somehow managed to survive) through illness despite having to deal with Medicare Medicaid and private insurance, because lets face it they don't make it easy. The reason I say "survive" is because of their complete disregard of logic, for example: When I became diabetic I could only have one vial of insulin a month, even though I was a Type 1 Diabetic and that required two diffident types of insulin to maintain, and only 25 test strips. This sets you up to fail which means hospitalizations which cost money. Then  the coverage provider proceeds to complain that health cost are on the rise and cut us back even more on our benefits. Bankrupt Medicare and blame the patients. I'm sick and tired of the continued bullshit. Apparently each of us need to acquire our own personal lobbyist to go up on capitol hill and stand up for us or better yet we all go together and make the politicians answer for the fucking mess they have created.

All the scientific data reports and the like all say it is better to prevent disease than to treat it, yet at every turn we are held hostage by ignorance. Its not hard, if your doctor who is accredited by the state and federal government  that feels  I need a fucking prescription then that should be good enough for the insurance company to approve me for said drug . I can recall several of these episodes the list is infinite, and I'm sure it will continue to grow as long as our interest as patients is not addressed.

Example number one: Dad's scooter

Carrier: Medicare

Condition:  Two time lung cancer survivor, COPD, lung dissection, type 2 diabetic on continuous oxygen, Arthritis in his feet which keep him from walking with out aid.

Problem: Medicare finally approved a motorized scooter for my father, had scooter for 2 years. Batteries started not keeping a charge and tires needed replacement. Dad calls scooter company for maitainace and the company has closed. Dad calls Medicare and ask them who he may contact regarding his scooter to get repairs. Medicare does not have record of the scooter and dad has no paper work because the company failed to give him any are no out of business. 

Result: Medicare has refused to repair because of no record on file, however they will not let him get a new one because they know he already has one. Medicare has refused to honor a new prescription for a new scooter because he can't replace his scooter for five years. In the meantime while this is being sorted out my dad has no way to shop or get his medicine, because this is his only means of transportation.


Status: As of today this is still pending and my dad does not have a operational scooter.

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Example number two: My friend Mita


Carrier: Medicaid

Condition: Diabetic, Double transplant recipient, Neuropathy, disabled

Problem: Accidentally broke her vial of insulin, Tried repeated attempts to get another prescription filled and has been denied by Medicaid each time because it exceeds her allowable amount for the month. Her doctor has provided her with samples of insulin she has to go pick up. Which is problematic because of her disability

Status:  Doctor has resorted to change her type of insulin in hopes of circumventing the system, and get her a prescription of insulin. She currently waiting on prescriptions.

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Example number 3: Me

Carrier: Private Insurance Medicare Supplement

Condition: Former Diabetic and double transplant recipient

Problem: Cut off within a week of acquiring insurance because Medicare did not report my transplant. Reinstated insurance the following week. Tried to make me pay a penalty for getting insurance at time I was not eligible, which was not true. Threatened a second time to cut me off because of they stated I had no drug coverage for more than 63 days. Billed me a late fee for not paying in September even though  I could not pay till the policy was processed ( I acquired insurance on 9/1/2014. )

Solution: Countless phone calls between the agents and the carrier and a trip to the doctor to get a statement signed to reinstate my insurance.

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These are just a few examples of the complete chaos and stupidity that spews from these agencies that are supposed to care for us. Clearly Obama care has fell flat on its collective ass, and I know there are issues and I certainly do not pretend to know how to fix it, I do know however that they can not remain as they are. Times they are a changin'.... And the sooner the better!! Clearly it boils down to money......Perhaps that's why I can't grasp the way these angencies think, because I value people more than money. My only hope is that we can somehow get these insurance angencies to see us as people not a meal ticket.

Harvest

Living the Life

Every now and again I grab a cup of coffee early in the morning, and I sit and watch as the the darkness is slowly replaced by soft sunlight, and have this moment of peace. It's amazing, but if  I had never became ill I would have never have done anything like this before. I never had the time. Sad that it took a life changing experience for me to appreciate the sunrise. God has a way of making us see things  that we tend to overlook. Perhaps that's why  he made me go through these hardships, so I would stop and look at what beauty was right there all along. Whatever the reason may be,  I'm glad I got to witness it.

I realize now that I was so busy with my life, that I really didn't have time to live it. That's where I screwed up. I was missing my own life. I suppose now in hind sight I needed to find balance, and because I never did my life suffered. I put myself last, and by doing that I failed to live up to what life had to offer. What I learned is that when I stopped living and just went through the motions of my everyday drudgery, that my EVERYTHING was affected. My health, my marriage, my job, my faith, my judgement and most of all my sense of self.

I wasn't wounded I was numb. I think that's why I became ill, my body tried to tell me when it was time to slow down. There were signs, but I chose to ignore them. I had to prove that I was stronger than anyone else and diabetes didn't hold me back. So I would do what everyone else was doing and act as though nothing was wrong. It was normal for me to keep going and to be as strong as I could be. Then it all came to a screeching halt. My declining health and facing the possibility of dying changed everything.

My days no longer run toghther in an unending meaningless line of nothingness, they are now filled with joy happiness understanding and at times hardships. I feel them and experience them wholeheartedly and enjoy every minute as a gift. The gift of life, the gift of a second chance not to take my life for granted.

And after everything I went through, I sit....I sit  and watch the sunrise and I'm thankful and blessed to do so.

Keep Moving Forward

Every now and again we hit a bump in the road. Its not the bump that we hit as much as how we handle the bump. I'm learning to enjoy the ride and not let issues that are beyond my control creep into my mind, and set up camp there. Although it is hard to do I'm getting better with practice, and it really does make me feel better about myself and the power I have to let go. The only thing you can control is your attitude, and it will make or break you. I constantly say to stay positive and keep moving forward (its harder to hit a moving target)  its been my mantra for a while now and at times my sanity.

 Moving forward is a concept of change, whether we like it or not things change. Now you can lay down and play dead like a possum or you can be a warrior for yourself and keep a positive and strong attitude and KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

Its clearly all up to you, how you want to deal with your situation. As a spiritual person I believe the best tool to use is your mind. Your mind can harness power we have yet to even understand, you will learn by letting go of the negative how resilient your mind and spirit will be. You can do so much more when you believe in the power of your own self. Everything I have ever been through I had a positive mind set and inner strength to push me farther than even I thought I could go.

That's what I'm all about positive mind, positive spirit, and trusting your instincts. You must do whatever it takes to persevere your spirit and motivation. It doesn't matter how you arrive in your positive space as long as you get there. You will never move forward and heal with negative thoughts. If you pray then pray, if you meditate then meditate whatever you need to do to arrive at your space of positivity and peaceful thought without this inner strength of self you will lose a battle that may well be saving your life. Connect with who you are, and make friends with you, and love you and who you have become, and who you will be. Move forward survive persevere and remain steadfast. You will keep your spirit alive, and in turn your spirit will reward you with inner peace, and inner love that projects outward to the world. Move forward and you will survive and so will your spirit.

Cooking Together

Bill and I are like peas and carrots.
Sometimes we are tossed in a bubbling stew, and others times we end up in a cozy warm pot pie surrounded by crust, and sometimes we  just enhance the dish!!