Hi,

I feel like you, reading my updates here on CaringBridge, have been following along through the hardest parts of this cancer journey, and you might appreciate this little bit of 'good news' - regarding my new medical team. So, I thought I'd circle back around and share it with you. 

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First, I'll share some background information - regarding health insurance and medical care here in Florida, and my stretch experience before today.

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(As you read, you might be tempted to give advice. I've worked with local professionals in the social services and health insurance systems, here in Fl, and they were doing their best to find any other solution that was better than this! And, please remember that I'm giving you the gist of the final result, and not every detail of each dynamic.)

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The information I was told - while still living in So Ca - regarding switching my health insurance and transferring my medical care - was incorrect. Which I didn't find out until I was here, in Fl. Had I known, I most likely wouldn't have moved (but I didn't know, so then I considered maybe moving back). The incorrect information was regarding pricing - and the difference is *drastic*! Unlike California, Florida doesn't start Medicare until a person earns at least $15,000 per year. Since there is no way I'll be earning $15,000 this year, I have to pay out of pocket which makes my monthly premium $750! While that sounds expensive - and it is to me! - it was actually an average, there are far more expensive premiums. And, with that premium, I still have to pay co-payments for most services, and for some of my transplant meds. It was shocking, and heavy to process.

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Since I'll be in transplant care for the rest of my life (as most transplant patients are), that's not sustainable for me. I put a lot of thought into all of the dynamics, and seriously considered moving back to So Ca. I would have lost money on the move, but that would have been less than what it's going to be for me to pay this going forward. And, the risk of me working, here, is greater than in SO Ca, since there are no pandemic guidelines. It was big to consider. I knew that I'd have to move by the end of October, in order to still qualify for an apartment in So Ca.

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I decided to stay here in Fl. Mainly because the parts that are working are so different in good ways than what I've experienced in the last few years in So Ca. 

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Moving forward, I can't pay that premium each month - it's not in my budget. Which means I'll need to work. I'm doing my best to hold out through February - when flu season is over, and maybe this new variant has passed through. We'll see. But, I'm here. I'm committed to being present as this new chapter unfolds.

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Now for the 'good news'

With that information, you're up to speed on the insurance part.

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Here's another 'surprising thing'. I didn't have my first appointment until today, December 1st.

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Due to a few mistakes along the way, my new insurance didn't begin until today. And, due to more mistakes, my referral to the cancer center didn't go through. (Admin from my So Ca team contributed to those mistakes; while that was frustrating, all I could do was keep doing my best as I moved through it .) So, what I needed to do was prolong the meds I had to try to get them to last until I can get into the cancer center. Which meant I've stopped some of my respiratory meds and I halved the dosage of my transplant meds (and my body feels that!). (I'm giving you the shortest gist of something complicated and messy.) 

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I finally ended up speaking with the admin team from the local cancer center last week. I worked with two different people and both were so kind and compassionate, and helpful. Such a good change for me. In one call, I teared up, because I was overwhelmed by the woman's kindness, and I told her so. It was truly amazing. She was shocked at the messiness of admin, and patiently explained each step I needed to do to get the referral from the primary care doctor. Then, she made sure to connect with them today, to try to expedite an appointment at the cancer center for me. I was truly touched. 

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The next step was to go to a local primary care doctor to get a referral to the cancer center. That's what I did today. Their admin understood my situation, and fit me in today - which was so helpful!

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It felt like everyone was *working with me*, because they wanted the best for me. That's what stood out - especially because I'm new to them, and they don't know me, so it's not based on my personality, it's simply the quality of care they give!

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And, this is what I posted on Facebook about it: