Do NOT take this entry as being an opening for discussing politics in the comment section.  I’m dead serious.  If you talk  politics in the comment section I will delete you faster than you can say, “Nance is in a bad mood again.”

I did something yesterday that I never, ever thought I would see myself doing.  I made an appointment with my family doctor in order to sit down with him to discuss medications.  The sole reason for the discussion was to find cheaper alternatives to the medications I am taking right now.

Yeah.  Better living through chemistry has now turned into better living through the chemistry that you can afford.

Jesus H.

At my last appointment I had mentioned this to my doctor because I knew Rick’s place of employment was changing insurances.  We were in the Blue Cross/Blue Shield network and they were going to raise the company rate a ridiculously high 29%.  There was no negotiating a better rate and the decision was made to go with a more reasonable insurance plan.  I was familiar (through my job) with the company that they had decided to go with and I knew the change was going to hit my wallet in a hard way.  The good doctor blew me off that day and I understand why.  Doctor’s practice medicine.  They do not and should not practice financial medicine.  The medications that were chosen for me were working and to suddenly make a change for no valid medical reason is ridiculous.

I take  medication for an under-active thyroid, Adult ADD, and depression.  I also take two other medications for a health issue that I haven’t discussed online.  You can just imagine how much money I dish out in insurance co-pays every month.  Especially when the ADD medication needed prior-authorization because I preferred to take one that was a non-stimulant.  You know how they call Ritalin cocaine for kids?  Yeah, I didn’t feel that I needed to deal with that particular noise.

I wanted to cry when I found out what the cost of my medication co-pays were going to total.  One prescription alone went from $25 to $100…A MONTH.   So I sat down and researched the shit out of all of my meds and came up with possible alternatives that would cost less and give me as close to the same help as the meds I was already taking.   I actually had the information all typed out and ready to go for the appointment (NERD).

Fortunately, I have been with my family doctor for a long freaking time.  I won’t go into the boring details (like this other drivel is any more interesting), but he’s been very good to me and I trust him.  He has always listened to my ideas regarding my treatment and has let me try just about anything (within reason).  He’s also smacked me down (sometimes hard) when he thought I was wrong (Oh, the day I didn’t want Trey to get the chicken pox vaccine will stick in my memory forever!  And yes, Trey got the vaccine and I’m glad that he did).  I will now be going on straight Ritalin for the ADD (yikes!).  I am also changing my anti-depressant to one that I hope will not only work as well as my current one, but maybe even better.  The thyroid medication (totally cheap at $4 a month) will stay the same.  And I am only going to be taking one medication for the other health issue since there is no cheaper alternative for the one and I feel like I can live without it for the time being.

I just hate the fact that I have to nickel and dime my medical care, but I’m still glad that I am fortunate enough to have coverage.  So, I think I’ll just shut my piehole about the whole mess.  Meanwhile, Ritalin.  Oh, boy!

Moving on…

A while back someone sent me an email (SPAM) about coffee filters.  I have no idea why I bothered to read it, but something made me skim the list.  I was fascinated (must have been a slow day) to see that someone had taken the time to list the benefits of using coffee filters during a typical day.  I decided to try out a few of them and I’ve been on a coffee filter kick ever since.  I use them as bowls, to cover things in the microwave and to clean glass.

Pretty freaking cool and they’re cheaper than paper towels. Woot!

I’m outta here.