The Disorder Nobody Wants To Talk About

[Shana A]

The Disorder Nobody Wants To Talk About
May 23, 2011 Avery Jenkins

http://www.averyjenkins.com/?p=567

Imagine, for a moment, a disease that affects 1 in 10,000 people. That is a fairly common disorder; about the same number of people that are affected by glaucoma or deafness, and three times more frequent than brain cancer. Add to that image a mortality rate of 41%. That's a pretty serious disease, isn't it?

Let's add a bit to that picture. The treatment for this health problem is not terribly expensive, nor difficult. It requires some common, inexpensive drugs. It also requires some surgery, in the price range of $12,000. None of this treatment is particularly unmanageable or experimental, though as with any medical procedure, research would no doubt find room for improvement, and it does take a certain level of specialization.

What would you say if you found out that there is no insurance coverage for the treatment of this common, deadly disorder?

[Julie Marie]

When you put it THAT way, I'm feeling kinda discriminated against!  Maybe I should send that article to my local union reps, the ones who keep finding new ways to deny me ANY medical coverage, even when they require medical examinations and tests.

[Julie Marie]

After thinking about it more, I think this presentation has "potential ad campaign" written all over it, though I would prefer using "condition" rather than "disorder".  That way it can be presented as a medical condition that can be treated medically instead of a mental disorder that can be treated through psychotherapy and medications.