Before I start my list of complaints I need to reveal a bit of information. I am on Medicaid. I am thankful for the program and feel grateful to have the medical support I need until employment comes our way again. With that said I can now list my complaints:
Medicaid does not cover some very important medication that I need; Néevo®, Folgard and 17 Hydroxyprogesterone shots for pre-term labor prevention. I don’t know much about the Medicaid program and have never needed to use it before, however, I am perplexed as to how Medicaid would deny such essential medications for the health of an unborn child. I just don’t get it. Who makes those decisions? Apparently it is okay with Medicaid that my baby doesn’t get the folic acid he needs? Because I can’t metabolise it myself, hence the Neevo®. And I guess it’s just fine with them that I could go into pre-term labor again and I shouldn’t take the 17P shots? Yeah, no problem. I’ll go into pre-term labor again and they can pay for the HIGH hospital bills. Doesn’t that seem backward. The three medications combined runs about $300 a month, and that is a lot of money when you don’t have any at all. Arg! None of it makes sense to me at all (deep breath, deep breath).
I am having a rough pregnancy. Worse than number one. And it’s not just the medication that is making it hard.
I am not one of those women who:
- feel fantastic right after 12 weeks. I’m still spending hours in bed even at 18 weeks.
- has an endless amount of 2nd trimester energy. I can sleep 9 hours and still take a 3 hour nap during the day. No joke. And don’t ask me to commit to anything. I can’t. I never know how I am going to feel.
- has cravings. I have an aversion to everything but steak. I eat out of necessity.
- look cute while ‘heavy with child’. Whatever! I don’t even look pregnant, just chubbier than normal.
- can have multiple children. It’s just not my thing. I am sick all the time, my medication cocktail makes me miserable, 3 high-risk factors are enough for me and I’m getting to old.
I am one of those women who…
- endures through a tough pregnancy because the outcome is truly miraculous.
- loves children and feels blessed to have the opportunity to be a parent.
- can’t wait to throw away maternity clothes
- will enjoy the babies God has blessed me with, because He knows best and if that means 2 little ones then I’ll gladly take them both.
I really do feel blessed. It’s amazing what modern medicine can do, and has done for me. I’m almost half way there and I am willing to make the necessary sacrifices to bring this baby in to the world, love him, and be the best Mommie I can be
Steph darling, please PLEASE call me. And also, for cash drugs, Costco is almost always the cheapest option. I’m sure you’ve shopped around but as an example, a med The Boy needs occasionally is $71 at Target, $64 at Walgreens, $34 at Walmart and $11.74 at Costco. Hello. I <3 Costco Pharmacy.
PS Appeal letters are awesome.
I need a compounding pharmacy for one, but I’ll try Costco. Thanks for the tip! Never thought of them for cheaper medication too!
Steph,
I know it has been rough for you. It’s really hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you’re in the thick of it. Know that I love you, your family loves you, and your little one you are doing all this for is already in love with you! You can get through these next five months. You are amazingly strong…God given.
Love you.
P.S. Medicaid needs an overhaul!
I totally missed your last post, so first off…CONGRATULATIONS! That is so exciting!! Second…that is completely crappy of Medicaid to deny that. IF it makes you feel any better though (it won’t), insurance companies aren’t much better. For example, they like to tell me that I am only allowed 12 Zomigs every 3 months. I average 8-10 migraines a month. Awesome. That medicine runs almost $25 a pill.
I hope you are able to appeal that and get what you need! Good luck!
Yes — Costco has been my saving grace many a time for RX’s that are otherwise COSTLY! (like a 30-day supply of a pill that’s $60 a pill! Costco was $120 for 30 days total!
And I sorta know what you mean about being sick. Each of my pregnancies were horrid. Hospitalized too many times “morning” sickness all day, every day for the first 4 months and the last 3, heightened anxiety, needing to rest as much as possible, etc. I always said that while some lucky women got that pregnancy glow, I got the pregnancy “ugh”. And I knew it wasn’t just me either, because whenever I’d go somewhere people would ALWAYS ask, “are you okay?” Also, by the time I was pregnant with Kienna — like 6 months and people would say, “You’re pregnant? I couldn’t tell!” I’d answer with, “yup — she’s just nestled in the fat.”
I will say a little prayer for you! Hang in there! {{HUGS}}