I just left my therapist and my shrink voice mails about this whole insurance not covering my current therapist thing. I talked to four people at the insurance company last week, and they all told me that BCBS won't cover my therapist. But, I can appeal the decision. Although, I was told by two of the people that appealing in this situation is not likely going to end up with the coverage that I'm wanting. See, my therapist is a trainee, and according to BCBS, she's not qualified to be treating me. They're not likely to change that decision. But, I left messages for my treaters anyway. Letters must be written to the appeals department. Then it will take about 30 days for a decision.

So, I'm stuck in a holding pattern for 30 days. Do we start looking for another option? Do we wait? Who pays for my appointments during the 30 days? It's all a little bit too much for my brain to handle right now.

Depends on how much you like your therapist, I guess. I was fairly lucky in that when I went for counseling I made my choice solely based on finding a therapist who my insurance would cover (and who was within driving distance) and I had a really good relationship with her from the start.

Maybe your therapist herself can recommend another provider, for at least the time until the insurance gets sorted out?

I do like her, Raquel. And there's a little bit of history here that you're probably missing. I'll try to sum it up so you understand why I'm going to this trouble.

This is my third therapist in a year. I'd rather not make it four. Last May my therapist of two years (who I loved and worked really well with) went on maternity leave. I worked with a covering therapist for three months till R was supposed to come back. About the time that R was supposed to come back, she called me to let me know that her husband had been transferred to DC, so she wouldn't be able to continue to work with me. I didn't get too worried, 'cause I thought I could stay with the covering therapist. Well, that wasn't to be. M's responsibilities with the hospital were changing, and she was going to have less time to devote to one-on-one therapy. Plus, she was also pregnant. The team didn't feel it would be fair to me to stay with M. So, they had me start working with E in September. It was a really rough start, but we were finally just getting in a groove over the last month or so.

December 18 I found out that my health insurance would be changing from Tufts to BCBS as of January 1. I didn't get too concerned, because the hospital with all my treaters takes BCBS. Except, when I casually mentioned the switch to my therapist, she was all, "That's gonna be a problem. They won't cover me because I'm a trainee."

It would be really bad if I had to switch therapists at this time. I'm not doing very well to begin with, and chances are really good that if I had to do a switch, I'd end up in the hospital again. Also, I'm in a very specific kind of therapy (DBT - Dialectical Behavior Therapy). There are only a certain number of DBT therapists at the hospital, and as far as I know, no one else is taking on new clients right now...or at least that was the case in September. If no one at the hospital can take me, my best bet is at the main psychiatric hospital, which is in the suburbs. There's just not a lot of good options.

HI HEC!

Hi Kristin! Your Christmas card is sitting on top of books in the bedroom so I've been looking at you and your husband and your menagerie a lot this week.

I don't know why I felt the need to do that just then.

Was there liquor involved? Punchiness?

Hey Raquel! I always feel like "Score! Raquel!" when I see you post.

vw, in lieu of therapy perhaps you could walk over to Nora's house every night and stop her from having that fifth beer.

Feh. Up early and stressing about work. Apparently I have to go in and do some. Who thought up this capitalism crap anyway?

Poptarts:

Shrink just called me back. We're going to write the letter together at my appointment tomorrow. But, he's also going to call the medical director at BCBS, because he thinks that may be even more effective. Yay for a shrink that's high up at one of the most respected hospitals in the country.

ETA:

vw, in lieu of therapy perhaps you could walk over to Nora's house every night and stop her from having that fifth beer.

Yeah. Good point. I could drink it for her.

I remembered that you'd had to switch therapists, but didn't know how much upheaval you'd actually had - jeez! I can fully understand why you don't want to switch, even without being in a specific type of therapy.

Could you use that (limited number of available DBT therapists) as an argument for BCBS to cover this? I mean, I'm not a big fan of BCBS and they are a huge bureaucracy and therefore not flexible, but they might have some rules in place for specific therapy needs.

Alternately, my niece has found some way to get insurance for medical and psychological treatment independently (since she is neither working nor going to school). It's more expensive than getting it through an institution, but cheaper than paying out of pocket...although I don't know what the coverage limitations are.

Does there seem to be something screwy with a health care system that forces you to deal with opaque bureaucracy at exactly the times you are least able or interested in doing so?

Yeah. Good point. I could drink it for her.

It's a win win!

Peanut Butter Crunch:

Hey Raquel! I always feel like "Score! Raquel!" when I see you post.

(glows)

Could you use that (limited number of available DBT therapists) as an argument for BCBS to cover this? I mean, I'm not a big fan of BCBS and they are a huge bureaucracy and therefore not flexible, but they might have some rules in place for specific therapy needs.

I'm hoping.

Does there seem to be something screwy with a health care system that forces you to deal with opaque bureaucracy at exactly the times you are least able or interested in doing so?

Yes. Very, very screwy.

On a related note, I remembered yesterday that I had a packet from Social Security Disability that needed filling out to keep my benefits in place. I pulled it out to take a look at it. It's due back to SS by January 9. It's about 30 pages of paperwork. I need to attack it today. Thing is, it is so totally and completely overwhelming. The last time I had to fill this out, we hired a lawyer to take care of it, 'cause I just wasn't up to it. Unfortunately, that ended up costing $1,000, which I don't have right now, so I'll be filling it out myself. Here's to hoping I find the energy and don't screw it up.

Feh. Up early and stressing about work. Apparently I have to go in and do some. Who thought up this capitalism crap anyway?

Hec, how's your minion, post-op?