Well, we spent two hours on the phone with the company that is helping us select a new supplemental (to Medicare) insurance policy. For those of you who aren’t aware of it, the Screen Actors Guild, which is one of Don’s unions, told us we would have their union policy, (which was through Blue Cross) and I quote: “for the rest of our lives.” It was a great policy.
This year, they broke the news to union members that they couldn’t afford to do that any longer. Basically, the ‘rest of our lives’ was a lie. So now we have to scramble as this policy ends on December 31st. The company that is guiding us through the process is quite good and I liked the woman we spoke with, but the end result is that it’s going to be more expensive for us. I’ll have to buy a separate Dental Insurance policy, our deductibles will be higher, Don’s treatments for macular degeneration may not be fully covered as they were before.
We can’t afford these changes. But we have no choice.
I am so, so angry about this.
At the end of the conversation, we were both so upset at the realization of just how much is changing that we vowed to take a break and not deal with it until we get the info in the mail.
They promised us and they broke their promise.
I don’t know what we’re going to do. 2020 has been just plain awful.
In other news: we’re going to change the day we start using the dumpster as we now realize it’s going to rain nearly every day for the next 5 days. We think we’ll have them deliver it next Monday instead.
I did another dollhouse update video on Instagram. Just posted it yesterday. So it’s there if you want to see it.
What else? I’m going to work on said dollhouse today and try to finish up on the sanding of the front door, etc. I need to order the wood for the baseboards. As it’s going to rain today, going up to the office/studio sounds like a good thing to do.
As always on Veteran’s Day, I salute all of our armed forces, past and present, including my dad, who fought for four years in WWII.
Stay safe.
Happy Wednesday.
I am so sorry about your insurance. That truly sucks. Brian is supposed to retire in 4-1/2 years when he turns 65. I’m currently covered under his insurance. If he retires at age 65, he can be covered through Medicare. However, I’m two years younger than he is, so then what happens to me? We won’t be able to afford his work insurance plan which costs $25,000/year. But yet the thought of him having to stay at his current high stress job until he’s 67 just so I could be covered through his insurance makes both of us want to cry. He’s already looking so forward to retirement. We simply have no idea what we’re going to do right now.
First step is that we need to find a good financial planner.
As for today, I am now getting ready to go grocery shopping. Our weather just dropped 30 degrees from yesterday, so back to reality.
xoxo
I struggled with the same question when Don went on Medicare before me. There were plenty of years when I had to buy separate insurance because Don was covered through Actor’s Equity and I wasn’t. Then I bought separate insurance through Obamacare. We’ve always had this struggle, but we thought we were finally done with it. Apparently, we’re not.
Stay safe, Melanie.
I am so sorry about your insurance.
My husband will retire next year so this morning I was looking at plans and they are so expensive and they cover less. In retirement we will have less money and the plans cover less. I just don’t get it.
European countries can do it. What about us?
Do you have any idea of what type of plan you will pick?
Not sure yet – it’s one of the Medicare Advantage programs, though.
Stay safe, Linda.
But Claudia, all the Advantage programs being heavily advertised here in AL are featuring a menu of Free Stuff! Some with no premiums, SS money back. Joe Namath and Mike Ditka both say so. (Rolling my eyes) There must be a lot of small print.
Rolling mine, too.
Terrible news about your insurance. Broken promises scar. What do these businesses do with our money that we pay religiously every month? If it can go wrong, in 2020, it will. I’m glad that the woman working with you is helpful. the light at the end of the tunnel seems farther and farther away. Sending love.
It’s a union and the cost of insurance has soared in the past 5 -10 years. I don’t think SAG is making much at the moment as the majority of actors are not working and won’t be until sometime next year.
Stay safe, Nora.
I’m sure SAG is having a terrible time of it. Restaurants and bars have (foolishly) reopened, but I think the theater is the only business that hasn’t had at least some kind of return to work. I could be wrong. We need our artists and entertainers so much and you are all undervalued by society. It’s beyond irresponsible that health care and insurance in this country is still so fragile. I wish only the best for you both.
They are. Nonetheless, they screwed us over. No other way to put it. It’s also because of the soaring cost of health insurance.
There should and must be a better way.
Thanks, Nora.
Stay safe.
Disturbing. I just don’t get the medical coverage situation in the US. There is something soooo wrong. There is a propert y tax deferral program in New York State which would give you extra income. I’ll probably do it come next year. Anyway, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. So many of us are in the same situation although that doesn’t make it easier.
Yes, the STAR program. We know about it and held off last year because of the higher than normal income that Don made from Escape to Margaritaville. We’ll do it at the beginning of 2021.
Thanks so much, Ginny.
Stay safe.
so sorry about the upcoming changes to your insurance coverage and costs. breaking promises stinks, especially when done by companies that have enjoyed massive profits over the years. ):(
hope there’s something there that will work for you and don.
i agree with what melanie and linda said about consulting with a good financial planner and how other ‘developed’ countries can help its people (so why not here?). but, here, it seems the policy makers have never had to live under the policies they set for everyone else. maddening!
hope the weather cooperates so you can clean out the shed when you’re ready. and that you enjoy the dollhouse projects and hearing rain fall today.
thanks in advance for the dollhouse video. will go watch it next.
appreciating and echoing your words about veterans. my father is one of them, today is his birthday and i am blessed to be able to spend time with him here (i take my parents’ birthdays off from work), blessed to be one of his kids.
also, what beautiful things you have on that beautiful table!
hope you can take it easy today. stay safe.
kathy in iowa
To be fair, the union isn’t making big profits, that’s sort of the reason they had to drop the insurance. Very few actors are working now, and that means that actors can’t afford to pay dues, etc. Everyone is impacted.
Sigh.
Stay safe, Kathy.
sorry i wasn’t clear. i wasn’t meaning unions. i was thinking about insurance company executives and our elected “representatives” that make decisions about cost and coverage for all of us while they get everything covered or are paid so much money they don’t have to worry about exclusions in coverage, could pay a huge hospital bill by simply writing a check and not have to worry about their bank balances, etc.. and lobbyists that put so much pressure on them that turns people’s health into political tools and favors. ugh.
to lynda’a comment above, i’d say in my job, i’ve heard far more complaints about medicare advantage plans than about the “part d” prescription drug plans … mainly that the advantage plans messed with their original medicare in ways they either didn’t want or understand. it’s not very quick to use, but there is a way to search for and compare options (advantage and “part d” plans) at medicare.gov. i imagine most states have what iowa does … a state insurance division, with publications and websites and agents to help (and their own agendas, of course) … and some neutral people just to help sort things out. hope you have that if you want or need it
good luck on that, claudia, don and everyone else. i hope and pray the best for you all, insurance and otherwise.
stay safe!
kathy in iowa (only four years behind you on the insurance)
Yes. The reason they have to discontinue coverage is because of the rising cost of health insurance. They quoted figures to us and it really is outrageous.
I don’t live in the U.S. but am thankful for your dad’s service to his country. We honor our veterans today in Canada ~ a solemn but thankful occassion.
Sucks about your insurance. 2020 is truly not the best year ….
X Chy
Except for Biden …. now that was good!
X Chy
Yes!
xo
It sure isn’t, Chy!
Stay safe.
Claudia.
We’ve been with United Health Care Advantage plan here in San Diego. We’ve been pretty ok with it for 3 yrs. now. Most of my friends have a M/C Advantage Plan…
Good luck with this mess. I wonder if we’ll EVER have a universal program for every citizen in this country. Imagine being the wealthiest country in the world & we have this mess. Terrible.
Be well.
It’s certainly something Australians can’t get their heads around. We have had universal health coverage, paid for through our taxation system, for many years. Those who don’t earn enough to pay tax are subsidised by those of us who do. Visit to the GP (family doctor) is subsidised, some charge extra, some dont. If yours does charge extra you can always change to another. Medicines are subsidised. Simple, really. The big downside is that dental care is not covered, except in a very limited way. This comes up for discussion every so often.
It all depends on where you live, of course.
I imagine we won’t have a universal program for several years, probably long after I’m gone.
Stay safe.
I am so sorry to hear about this. Nothing worse than sorting through all the comparative details. Well, probably something worse, but it’s definitely no picnic and pretty scary till you know. I hope you can get as many appointments and such taken care of between now and the end of the year on your current better plan.
I can’t remember which one Rick got — it’s some kind of Advantage but I’m not sure which. I am SO lucky to have a pretty incredible retiree policy from the University. I was grandfathered in — new hires don’t have the same deal. It’s always been BC but they’re switching to Humana this year. It looks like a good policy and that, combined with my Medicare (after the $200 medicare deductible) covers almost everything. (Yesterday I got a bill for $11.95 and the one I just paid was $2.92.) Rick would be covered if we ever decided to get married but after 23 years together, I’m pretty sure we won’t. There’s a little dental in there too, no vision. I never for a second forget how lucky I am with this, especially with my collection of serious medical issues and the amount of meds I have to take. I wish they would have a National Health plan. My friends in England have that and also a private insurance so pretty much most of their stuff is covered. Not always all. Same for my friends in Canada. I would be more than willing to pay more in taxes if we had a national policy that would give decent health care to those who can’t afford the thousands in premiums. And even if one can, it would be nice to have access to that money for other necessities.
The bowl of acorns looks so pretty on your table. I collected quite a few at the lake this fall which are currently on display but soon to be added to Bushy’s toss once the ground is covered and food is harder to find.
Take a deep breath and wait for the mail. You have today off.
Totally understand. Taught 18 1/2 years…retired when I was Medicare age. Did not get to keep supplement insurance. I pay a fortune for supplement to Medicare and for prescription one also. No dental or eye…used money when sold house to buy a vehicle and get crowns/root canals etc…just not equitable. Work all our lives and end up owing so much to insurance and Medicare. Just received email that there will be a Social Security raise again…this time almost 10.00 month…alas…and so it goes…I worked age 17 to 70 plus when I quit subbing…now I tutor…good luck…I do like my insurance though…Veteran’s Day-prayers to the Vets…thank you…
It’s very upsetting and I’m quite worried about the whole thing.
Thanks, Jeanie.
Stay safe.
I retired in December and am now on Medicare. It costs me more per month than I paid when I was working and had an income. Our system makes no sense. I have friends in Canada, Sweden, and Spain who are simply horrified by it, and I’ve seen firsthand how a strong social safety net enhances your life. Hopefully Biden will get the Senate he needs to even begin to fix the mess.
I thought we had that strong social safety net and, unfortunately, it was taken away from us.
Thanks, Di.
Stay safe.
I really feel for you and your insurance issues. I keep wondering if I’m getting the best deal now but I also am afraid of pre-existing conditions exclusions by changing. I’m fairly happy with my ins so far. Enjoy working on the doll house. I ended up so tired and hurting last night I took one of my pills and it knocked me out. I feel better today but the day is half over and I’ve done nothing. So I tell myself to just Breathe!
Thanks, Linda.
Stay safe!
I worked in insurance for the last nearly 20 years of my working life. I have never understood the Your Job= what kind/ if/ you have insurance equation. If you hate your job & it is stressing you out and making you sick, you have to stay with it to keep your insurance. If you look for another job, not only do you have to look at the job itself, but the type of insurance that is offered with the job, and if it even has the doctors and facilities available to you which you are accessing and are familiar with using. And based on a diagnosis you or a family member might have, that IS important. Young healthy people don’t always understand that piece. It all seems ridiculous.
Glad you are taking a time out and clearing your brain for a bit. That usually helps!
It IS ridiculous. Something has to be done.
Stay safe, Chris.
Insurance issues are such a headache. We have a Medicare Advantage plan that works well for us. I hope it works out ok for you.
I enjoyed the dollhouse video. The detail on the furniture is amazing to me…little drawers and doors that open. So fun!
Thank you, Marilyn.
Stay safe!
I am so sorry to hear about your insurance. Are you on Medicare? Then what you are shopping for is supplemental insurance? We talked to a Senior Insurance Specialist. She negotiated the many plans available for us at the time when we became eligible. She was a terrific help to us. I hope you can find someone in your area who can help you.
Working on the dollhouse seems like a terrific distraction. I’ll have to watch your video…I’m behind on Instagram. Stay safe! ;)
Yes. It’s the supplemental insurance. We’re already talking to a specialist, that’s the person I referred to. Nevertheless, we’re getting screwed as we’ve gone from employer insurance, which has more benefits, to a supplemental insurance policy not backed by our employer/union.
Stay safe, Donna.
This is just awful about your medical coverage. I swear, there is increasingly just too little we can count on these days and these kinds of hits in older age on fixed income are devastating; I’m so sorry. (I always nail-bite over the fate of Social Security benefits, which my husband and I cannot live/exist without. I had a CPA friend try to talk to me when I was in my 30s to save, save, save and never rely on SSoc as even a supplement to retirement income; but, did I listen(?), no.) So is it because nobody in the entertainment world has really worked for like nine months, so nothing is going into the coffers, yet the insurance company would have so many claims to pay on an ongoing basis; what a mess, the well run dry. Nobody in their wildest dreams expected this pandemic (except people like Bill Gates and these other infectious-disease specialists we’d never heard of until they got on TV with Covid; not enough people were listening and I was pretty much clueless).
My husband, who has tried hard to limit ‘news’ and stay calm, in a good part for ME who’s always worried even with the relief of a Biden win, is internalizing the latest stuff coming out about OM and his very-dangerous shenanigans (and I think also the alarming uptick in the virus with, who knows, the possibility of further lockdown, and what do we need to scurry to do this week in case we get stay-home orders for two weeks upcoming [two weeks or more?]); well, Husb is out there in the sun on the driveway, shellac-ing the h*ll out of 15 boards of a shelving unit he wants to put up (a cheap kind of thing, and the MDF/formaldehyde smell is so NOT good; he’d read that if he shellacs them, it’ll smother the bad offgassing, so we’ll see, but it ain’t coming in my house til it’s safer for my breathing, that’s for sure). He’s playing LOUDest, acid-rock music which I know so well with him is a symbol of his pent-up frustration and fear and anger that he otherwise sometimes can’t express right away (as if he’s that younger guy in the 1970s and letting the music represent all of his teen/young-adult angst). So, I’m not saying anything; let him be out there in the air and the healing light; then, pretty soon, the music will be back to soft jazz; but, of course, it’s a little hard not to think now that joy is a bit tempered until Biden is inaugurated although it’s very reassuring to know he’s setting up and announcing his new teams as we go along, helping us keep the faith til OM is gone from our lives for good.
Smart move to resched your dumpster; just regroup and come up with other projects for those rainy days (indeed a doll house is a wonderful distraction!).
I feel like I need to make a shaky sigh. Sigh. Breathe. Peace.
Maybe I just need a cookie. Chocolate.
Last night, I made the mistake of (the habit) of watching more TV news and realized I’d eaten, all by myself, an entire 14-oz container of ice cream. This is something NEVER do I do. Gotta get a grip; sheesh. So cliche, to turn to food when stressed!
It’s because the cost of health insurance is sky-rocketing and the union will be out of funds in a few years if they keep supplying it. And also because so many actors are out of work and will be for a while. But the main reason is the first one.
Stay safe, Vicki.
What a setback. I’m so sorry you have such a worry on top of everything else. I know I would not react very calmly to any more bad news at the moment.
We had a frank discussion with our employer during the first wave. Had we shut down at all, the insurance company gave him the option of suspending our benefits while there was no money coming into the business. The government here provides medical coverage for everyone, but the extra help with dental and prescriptions is much appreciated (my heart meds are pricey). We were deemed an essential business and didn’t close at all, but he said he would have continued our benefits in any case which I thought was awfully decent. We work very long hours, but in return he has always paid 100% of the premiums. Fingers crossed you can find an affordable solution that works for you both.
Thank you, Barbara.
Stay safe!
wow … pah …
you are sure painting with a broad brush. and, worse, you’re seriously wishing that people in a certain age group will have to live in a long-term care center and “get abused and treated like garbage”?!? i will pray for you.
kathy in iowa
Kathy, I think whoever is posting this (repeat) comment is a troll. I’m seeing this nasty sort of thing pop up on a couple of UK blogs I like to read. Why they don’t use their time to do something worthwhile is beyond me. Meant to answer you the other day about my whereabouts in the north – north of 50 (strictly latitude, not age). Hope you are doing well, Barbara
replied … just didn’t post it in the right place.
kathy in iowa
It popped up here a few days ago. I blocked it. I’ll block again. xo
I knew I had read this same comment in the last day or so. If you google “everyone hates boomers now,” you will find it posted word for word on at least seven web sites.
This is the same kind of comment that went around a few years ago about ‘American women.’ Not to worry. I blocked it a few days ago and I’ll block it again.
This is a troll. I’ve deleted and blocked. The same comment came through a few days ago. This is like the comment that went around a few years ago about American women, which was also vile.
Not to worry. Don’t give it any of your time, Kathy.
xo
hej, barbara w …
thanks for the info. i get being angry and bored, but i do not understand intentionally being mean. i make mistakes/sin every day, but try to do better.
you are up there! had much snow yet?
thanks, too, for your kind wishes. all things considered, i am doing okay. i miss my family so much, plus am now dealing with horrible back pain (been to a doctor, medicine not helping). wouldn’t wish it on a troll.
how are you? i hope you and your family are well and safe and stay that way!
kathy in iowa
Claudia, Has Don’s retinal specialist given you information about Good
Days which provides financial assistance for the medication injected monthly – at $2000. per injection it has been a god send. Good Days picks up balance after insurance determination. My balance per injection is $10.00 Their website for application is http://www.mygooddays.org and phone is (877)968-7233.
Oh thank you, Barbara! I will pass this on to Don. That would be an enormous relief!
xoxo