Monday past I got some bad news. Medicare has decided to quit paying for my hormones because they believe me to be a man and in spite of my doctor's prescriptions I guess they feel it is their duty to protect me somehow from the prescribed and relatively tried and true solution to my life-long conundrum. They also refuse to accept California's laws under which I am legally considered to be female even though while I reside in Calif. I am required to conform to the state laws. Why is it so f-ing difficult for people to get past such arbitrary and archaic issues as gender!
I get so tired of people that do not even know me telling me what I can and can't do and what is proper and healthy. Why do they even care about my gender - my doctor is quite capable of determining what is proper and necessary for my health maintenance and for corrective medical measures. I am so angry at these fools that I can't even think clearly about what I should or even can do to fight this new battle right now. With even fewer resources now that I will have to pay out of pocket for my monthly needs - obviously I am not going to stop transition, but it sure will make my goal that much harder to reach. Maybe I should start begging for donations.
I will also be spending a week in Riverside, away from my computer and e-mail (and trying to calm my outrage at Medicare and idiot "gatekeepers" in general by doing something totally new for me) so things will be quiet here in my corner for a while. If anyone happens to come into Riverside for the Dickens Festival, please come around to the First Congregational Church (on the corner of Mission Inn and Lemon in downtown Riverside) especially for Sunday service at 10 AM or maybe "The Queen's Tea" or one of the other events in the olde English style held there over the weekend and ask around for me - I will be around somewhere (maybe even in period costume serving tables) would love to say hi to you in person. Hopefully I will have a bunch of new pictures to post when I get back too
Have fun but don't get caught. (And play nice)!
Hugs,
Eva-Genevieve!
I get so tired of people that do not even know me telling me what I can and can't do and what is proper and healthy. Why do they even care about my gender - my doctor is quite capable of determining what is proper and necessary for my health maintenance and for corrective medical measures. I am so angry at these fools that I can't even think clearly about what I should or even can do to fight this new battle right now. With even fewer resources now that I will have to pay out of pocket for my monthly needs - obviously I am not going to stop transition, but it sure will make my goal that much harder to reach. Maybe I should start begging for donations.
I will also be spending a week in Riverside, away from my computer and e-mail (and trying to calm my outrage at Medicare and idiot "gatekeepers" in general by doing something totally new for me) so things will be quiet here in my corner for a while. If anyone happens to come into Riverside for the Dickens Festival, please come around to the First Congregational Church (on the corner of Mission Inn and Lemon in downtown Riverside) especially for Sunday service at 10 AM or maybe "The Queen's Tea" or one of the other events in the olde English style held there over the weekend and ask around for me - I will be around somewhere (maybe even in period costume serving tables) would love to say hi to you in person. Hopefully I will have a bunch of new pictures to post when I get back too
Have fun but don't get caught. (And play nice)!
Hugs,
Eva-Genevieve!
Sorry to hear about Medicare screwing you over like that. WalMart I hear has a $4 prescrip plan that last I checked included spiro and estradiol for that price.
ReplyDeleteWal-Mart/Sam's Club discount prescription plans does cover estradiol and spironolactone as Lori noted. In fact, there's a whole host of generic drugs that cost $4 for a 30 day supply or $10 for 90 days. No co-pays, no annual fees. All you need is a prescription. Check out the Walmart website. You can download a PDF listing of the covered drugs. It's saved me well over $200 per month since I won't even try to pass an HRT claim through the health insurance gestapo.
ReplyDeleteAs I wrote in my blog, the insurance industry needs to get with the times & get real. The AMA is behind us, but health insurer's look for any way to disqualify coverage.
Good luck.
Hi ladies,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lead on Wal-Mart and the concern. I will see if they can transfer my existing prescriptions. I am good for a few weeks except for a transdermal estradiol gel I was getting from the one place where the probklem began (I think they purposely screwed up the billing myself, though I can't prove that yet). I can live without that one if I have to, but it did seem to be very efficient, but it is expensive.
When I get back home next week I will put in a call to the Transgender Law Center and see what they recommend doing. there may be some other troubles coming in the wake of this so I need to be prepared.
Thanks and Hugs,
Eva-Genevieve!
Sorry to hear about this Medicare bs. I had a hard time finding drugs that would be covered, my doc switched to a few different ones, and I had to get him to fill out a special dispensation type of form, then it worked. I'm in BC though, but the point is I guess, covering all the angles. Sounds like drugs are cheep down there.
ReplyDeleteHave a good trip - better days ahead!
B.
Hi Eva. Can't you request a hearing with Medicare? It's ridiculous with all the crap you have to put with.
ReplyDeleteWhat is this festival all about? It sounds interesting. Tell me about it when yo get back home.
Genevieve
Nice postt thanks for sharing
ReplyDelete