Medical Stuff Plus

Do you remember Tiffany…

…my housekeeper from several years ago who I introduced to blogging? There have been many changes in her life since I last saw her, many of which she mentions in the email I received from her this morning. The primary issue of her correspondence is about her mother-in-law in Guatemala, who is suffering from diabetes and cancer. She is also what is termed in the U.S. as “medically indigent”—she can’t afford medical care.

I responded to Tiffany by emailing her a list of medical providers for the medically indigent in Guatemala provided by the Medical Missions Exchange. There are also several United Church of Christ congregations who relate to Guatemala. I’m going to make contact with them after the sun awakens. (It’s now 4:00 a.m.).

Tiffany has given me permission to share her email with you. It isn’t easy to read, but I wish you’d exert the effort to hear what she is saying. I publish her message just as I received it:

Hey nick this Tiffany i need your help please do a post for me it is about my husbands mother she lives in Guatemala witch you know is a very poor country i am not saying the USA isn't please don't get me wrong but anyway i am not sure of her age but she is at least 43 she recently found out she has diabetes also he Cancer has came back and has been bleeding for 3 weeks and now she told my husband all of this at one time he is very upset she didn't let him know she also said it is costing to much money for my father in law to take her to the doctor yeah that's right they didn't even admit her in a hospital with out any funds to pay for her stay that burns me up in side so she said she would rather die than have to pay more money that they don't have my father in law is a pastor in Guatemala her husband they are very in to church so i know god will look after her but can u please do a post and ask ppl to please pray for Julia Luis my mother in law also for my husband who is very upset about this Erwin Perez<-----my hubby also we just got back from the hospital our self's he has pleurisy infection in the lungs 2weeks ago they told him he had pneumonia sorry for the spelling as for me i am having a lot of pain in my feet blood sugar is bad 2 months ago i lost our only child together but i still have my 3 to be thank full for sorry to bother ya nick write back and let me know thanks your friend Tiffany Perez

What Gives with My Dental Insurance?

If you remember my last post about my dental needs and seeming lack of insurance, I was informed by a Humana (my Medicare supplement provider) that I have no dental insurance even though the agent who sold me the policy said that I do. Of course, I was upset and have put the root canal that my dentist says I need on hold in lieu of $1050.00 to pay for it.

Yesterday’s mail brought a statement from Humana that reported that over 60% of the charges from my visit to the dentist have been paid by Humana! That was a pleasant surprise and I am not complaining. However, I wonder what is going on: how can Humana tell me that I don’t have dental insurance and then pay my dentist? I am very confused and it appears I have more phone calls to make when the sun awakens.

Speaking of Awakening…

…the furball has been outside catting around since 3:30 a.m. That is why I am awake: Alex, who had been snuggled next to me when I fell asleep, was on my chest clawing the comforter when I awoke five hours later. Or, shall I say, when he awakened me. The purpose of getting me out of bed was to open the back door for him. The last I saw of the furball he was grooming himself while sitting on the railing of the deck in the darkness of the night. Perhaps he read the weather forecast that says we are to have heavy rains (and again possible flash floods) from about 6:00 a.m. today through tomorrow evening and he wants to get his catting about done before that damned nasty water starts coming down from the sky.