We always hear about the uninsured. Who are they? Some answers. (h/t, Dr. Helen)
Comment from Dr. Bliss:
A recent exchange with a new consultation, after three office visits during which we had established some good rapport and understanding:
"My recommendation to you is that we begin a course of psychotherapy to deal with all of these issues, which I believe are connected and which I think we can do something about."
"OK, I knew that, and I guess I have known that for a long time. But will my insurance cover it?"
"I don't know. I would need to meet with you two times a week to do this properly. But whether your insurance will or will not help you with that, I will expect you to pay me from your own pocket, beyond and above whatever your insurance reimburses you."
"You will? I have car payments, credit cards, tuitions, vacations planned - all sorts of expenses. If insurance doesn't cover it, I don't want do it. I don't see how."
"Well, it's a matter of priorities. I'd suggest that you think it over for a little while to decide how important dealing with these things is to you. If something is valuable enough to you, you will find a way to pay for it."
Life is like that, isn't it? Everybody is now trained to want a free lunch... but when they get it, it is no darn good, because the free lunch is a baloney sandwich on Wonder Bread. Life is filled with tragedy, is it not? These sorts of situations sadden me deeply, but reality is about limits. It is useless to pretend that it is not.
