Oh The Frustration

     Health care for sick folks stinks. If you are healthy this matters not. Be thankful. This Podunk hospital out here bills each department separately. One department returns my payment because I am paid in full. The next day I receive 5 new bills - other departments = $10,649.61. Let me just write them a check.   Last time I was at this facility I was sent to Shelley in financial hardship office. I explain I live on disability and have no insurance. She tells me she is not allowed to work with patients on disability.  That is discrimination I say. She says take it up with the board. Picks up her newspaper and that is that.
     I call the number on one of these five bills. Lady was rude. Why don't you have insurance? I go through story including Shelly's role. Oh, she says, I am Shelly and I would not have said that. That is discrimination. Yes, I agree. I told you that when I was in your office.
     As you can imagine, Shelly is not wanting to help me. Swears she never would have said any such thing. I tell her, I was not alone, I have a witness. Deny, Deny, Deny!
     Finally, I say look I just want to set up some type of payment plan so this does not go to collections.
     Well have you applied for Medicaid. Yes, I was denied. Have you applied for Fidelis, yes, it was $532.00/month. Not quite affordable. Well have you contacted Debbie at Adirondack Insurance - Nope, never heard of Debbie.
     Then I offered to make a payment. Unless I could pay $10,000 they would take nothing. Can I set up a payment plan.  Well, we have a 5 year limit on payment plans and you don't sound like you could pay enough each month to meet that criteria.
     I don't sound like I could meet the criteria? What do I sound like you pencil pushing, paper shoving, ignorant, biased, moron? Seriously, what do I sound like?
     You did discriminate when you said you couldn't help me because I was disabled.  Should have hired a lawyer over that. Now, now you don't think I sound like I can pay of $10,000 in five years.  Hell, I won't be alive in five years you stupid ignorant wanna be!
     It is like this all the time. I will not go to anymore doctors or hospitals. Wherever and whenever this ticker stops ticking it won't be in a hospital. Screw that. It is not my fault I don't have insurance. I tried. I researched, called dozens of brokers - most are scams. No fidelis would not accept me. Healthy NY, sorry. Obamacare - that is just a joke.
     This is the marginalization I speak of. This is what makes an intelligent, accomplished woman go off the deep end. I literally exists in a void between a hundred dollars too much this way and a hundred dollars too little that way.
     Paid my dues. Followed the rules. Fought as long as I could - for what? So some person living an unhappy existence calls me a liar - judges me because I am on disability. Speaks to me like I am two years old.
     Worked so hard for so damn long - to what end? This? Nope, not for this.
     Marginalized member of society. Of no use. Dismissed, looked over, talked down to - YO' Shelly I am not deaf or dumb you did not need to speak slow and loud. What a nummy-nut! If it wasn't a gazillion degrees below zero I would march right over there and punch her in the face. OK, no I would not punch her, but I might share a piece of my mind. Oh, the frustration!