Last Minute Use of Health Insurance
 

I only have 2 weeks for my health insurance before it expires.

I'd had this crap deducted from my paycheck for way too long and never used it.

Anyone have any ideas, short of breaking my own bones, on how to get my money's worth in the next 2 weeks? :)

-Rudey

Get a thorough exam and a flu shot. Blood work can be expensive.

Get pregnant.

Stupid question. But how do I get that? I can go to any doctor so that's not an issue. Can I just call a hospital and ask for it? I also want one of those tests where they make you run on a treadmill like in the movies. I have no idea what it is.

-Rudey

Pick a doctor and call them up. Say you need a complete physical with blood work. Be sure to explain your time frame. Also ask for the flu shot at the same time.

The running thing is a stress test - not sure they would do that for someone under 40 who doesn't have a history of some sort...but I'm no doctor! Just ask them and see.

Blood tests, especially for cholesterol, C-reactive protein and all that stuff. You can find any primary care physician, say you want a physical, and just have them do a full blood panel on you.

Flu shots are a good idea as well.

You should go to a pulmonologist.

Make sure its one of the guys that does the high tech breathing thing. They put you in this little glass tube thing, and you have to breathe into some little valve thing. Then you get some kind of thing to trick your lungs into having an asthma attack. Finally, you get an impressive graph of your breathing abilities.

I had the graph hanging up on my wall for awhile. I had no idea what any of the lung function capacity things meant, but it was really awsome looking.

I need to find those graphs.


ETA: Ask for a scratch test too, so you can find out what you are allergic to.

How about allergy tests? They aren't fun, but may be worth getting them done.

Stupid question, but are you sure your insurance doesn't run out at the end of the month? Most places I have worked the insurance was still good for awhile after I stopped paying (because I always seemed to have to pay at the beginnig before I was covered.).

If you have dental, go get your teeth cleaned and whatever else needs done.

What insurance do you have? As someone stated earlier, have a complete physical done by your PCP While you're at it, see a few specialist(s) as well - have an echocardiogram, chest X-ray, get your eyes checked.

Make sure you are in network (PPO) and do not require referrals or else you will find yourself without insurance and paying out of pocket expenses

Schedule an appointment for a yearly exam. If your insurance stipulates that you must be ill, make up some ailment - hasn't your back been hurting lately?. Maybe you'll get really 'sick' on the weekend when your doctor is closed and have to visit the ER. ;)

Teeth cleaning is a good suggestion. My personal favorite was the pregnancy idea. :D

Re: Last Minute Use of Health Insurance
 

My PPO covers counselors, acupuncture, and chiropractors -- that's a good way to test the limits of your plan.

I second the teeth cleaning idea and really wish I would have taken that advice. :(

And bless your soul for being a healthy person. COBRA is a bitch and half.

Rudey,

you need an FeLv and FIV test and a fecal-I can help you out;)
I then can vaccinate you for rabies.

edit to add: are you interested in a neuter as well?

My insurance covers massages if done by a "liscensed massage therapist". It is hard to find someone who takes the insurance, but if your policy covers that then go start getting massages. I have to have a "reason"--headache usually qualifies. You could have a massage every day until your policy runs out.

Get that STD test you so desperately need and get that rash checked out too.

Perhaps go see a dermatologist for your bad acne. Also talk to said dermatologist about hair plug/transplant options.

Does your insurance laser hair removal? Might want to figure out if they would cover getting your back hair taken care of.

I agree with everyone else about the dental cleaning if it's covered. Also what about vision? Do you have eye care coverage on your plan? If so, go get your eyes checked out too. And I agree with whoever said that COBRA is a pain. Been there, done that.

do the world a favor and get a Vasectomy. the world doesn't need anymore Rudeys

If your insurance allows you to go to specialists w/o prior approval, definately go to any necessary specialists that you can get into within this time frame (i.e. dermatologist, Allergy & lung specialists, etc). Also, get the Dr. to prescribe any prescriptions that you many need (um...that are medically needed - don't go in asking for bottles of Vicodin - that'll land you in rehab! - :D ).

Rudey, I'm not sure how your insurance works, but I had a medical exam on Tuesday. I called the insurance company first and then the doctor they had as my PCP. I told the receptionist I needed a physical asap so she saw me a few hours later. I gave her some basic info about my health and my concerns. She checked my blood pressure and weight, listened to my heart and lungs, etc. and ordered some blood work. She said that I didn't need a flu shot since I am healthy which surprised me with all this talk about the flu.

If you really want to max out your insurance, go to the ophthalmologist and dentist. You might want a chest x-ray and to update your immunization if needed. If you have any aches and pains, get those checked also. You might need a referral from the PCP to see a specialist.

Rudey, it's like we're twins! I had a hematology/oncology appt yesterday, a opthalomology appt today, an urgent care visit tonight, and next week: dental!

I say get all the regular stuff done (physical w/ bloodwork, dentist, eye doctor) first. Just cause you'd have to get that stuff done anyway.

And they're right about the bloodwork - the bill for mine would've been $400 w/o insurance. Wow.



Just watch out for the copays. Some insurance companies (especially if, as I suspect, you're on a standard plan vs. a high plan, where you pay less out of each paycheck) require REAL high copays for specialists. And the eye doctor explained to me that they can take a picture of your retina for you, but only some insurance companies cover it. So yeah watch out for that.



Also maybe you could give some homeless people your ID and let them get treated for trenchfoot.

A good "give me a through workup" item is compaining of chronic fatigue. I've been run down lately, it's hard to get out of bed, sleeping a lot, loosing weight but my appetite's normal, etc. Just steer clear of depression symptoms.

Get someone to prescribe some medical marijuana.

I've scheduled the physical with blood work.

They are refusing to give me an MRI of my brain. I just wanted it as a souvenier.

They also can't give me an appointment for running on the treadmill on such short notice. I really wanted something like that to know my max heart rate and get all the freaky stuff that the Russian boxer gets in Rocky IV.

I've got dental coming up.

I already had allergies done as a kid and from what I remember my arms itched for a week so I'm OK with not taking them on that one.

I am looking into chiropractors tomorrow. I want all that alternative shit if I can get it.

If I can't get a vision appointment, can I walk into the ER and ask for it? It would be at a nice hospital so it's not like people are going to be dying and I'd be taking their spot.

-Rudey

Thats really too bad they won't let you have one. Those suckers are expensive!

I had to get one when I was in a wreck and it was $3,500. I'm still paying for it since I wasn't covered by any insurance.

Dont ask for a prostate exam.

If you do, make sure both his hands arent on your shoulders while he's doing it.

lol, i'm "talking to" a physician's assistant.... there have been numerous jokes already about prostate exams. Haha

How would he give me a prostate exam if he only has 2 hands?

-Rudey

Rudy, I'm not even going to take the bait...

lol.

Rudey-
Tell the dr at your appt that you are having headaches--- ALOT. Complain, tell your dr your ins is ready to run out and you want to be safe- they will do an MRI.
As far as getting it for a souvenier-- most won't release the films to you, but if you needed to take it to your dr's office then you can usually do that. (then keep it!)

Oh go get some accupunture done too!