Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: Yukari-sensei on November 04, 2013, 06:25:28 PM Return to Full Version
Title: There Has to Be a Better Option
Post by: Yukari-sensei on November 04, 2013, 06:25:28 PM
Post by: Yukari-sensei on November 04, 2013, 06:25:28 PM
To begin with, I do not have health insurance... yet. I am a working college student in one of the poorest areas in the United States. I am fortunate enough to have an endocrinologist which I pay around $100 per visit.
The problem is that I cannot move from my anti-androgens to hormones for two reasons... weight and lab costs... (I'm dealing with the weight issue) Most of my labs I can get through the university for a total of $50, but the rest of them total $750! How often is he going to order these labs?! Each round of these tests are 83% of my monthly income!
Should I wait till January to sign on to the student health plan or my wife's health option or does any non-profit help with this? Or am I just screwed... :'(
The problem is that I cannot move from my anti-androgens to hormones for two reasons... weight and lab costs... (I'm dealing with the weight issue) Most of my labs I can get through the university for a total of $50, but the rest of them total $750! How often is he going to order these labs?! Each round of these tests are 83% of my monthly income!
Should I wait till January to sign on to the student health plan or my wife's health option or does any non-profit help with this? Or am I just screwed... :'(
Title: Re: There Has to Be a Better Option
Post by: JLT1 on November 04, 2013, 07:32:51 PM
Post by: JLT1 on November 04, 2013, 07:32:51 PM
Hey,
What tests is your endo asking to do???? That does not sound right. And yes, there are options.
List or PM.
What tests is your endo asking to do???? That does not sound right. And yes, there are options.
List or PM.
Title: Re: There Has to Be a Better Option
Post by: JaneNicole2013 on November 04, 2013, 10:17:31 PM
Post by: JaneNicole2013 on November 04, 2013, 10:17:31 PM
The good news is that you are close to the beginning of the year...only a few months away. I would definitely sign up for insurance.
Title: Re: There Has to Be a Better Option
Post by: Lauren5 on November 04, 2013, 10:20:16 PM
Post by: Lauren5 on November 04, 2013, 10:20:16 PM
I highly recommend student insurance; my school has been a bit slower than I'd have liked with transition process (although that's mostly my fault, being tryphanophobic, and too anticipatory) but overall they have been excellent about it.
Title: Re: There Has to Be a Better Option
Post by: Yukari-sensei on November 04, 2013, 10:41:52 PM
Post by: Yukari-sensei on November 04, 2013, 10:41:52 PM
Tests Ordered:
CBC & Diff, Cortisol, FSH, Fructosamine Level, Hemoglobin Electrophoresis, Hepatic Function Panel, Hgb A1c, Iron Level, Lipid Panel, Lutenizing Hormone, Prolactin Level, Renal Function Panel, T4 Free, Testosterone Free, Testosterone Total, TSH, Vitamin D Level, and US Liver (Ultrasound).
My father, an RN, was "wow! This guy is being really thorough! This is out of my area of expertise though, *pause for contemplation of adjective*... child"
CBC & Diff, Cortisol, FSH, Fructosamine Level, Hemoglobin Electrophoresis, Hepatic Function Panel, Hgb A1c, Iron Level, Lipid Panel, Lutenizing Hormone, Prolactin Level, Renal Function Panel, T4 Free, Testosterone Free, Testosterone Total, TSH, Vitamin D Level, and US Liver (Ultrasound).
My father, an RN, was "wow! This guy is being really thorough! This is out of my area of expertise though, *pause for contemplation of adjective*... child"
Title: Re: There Has to Be a Better Option
Post by: ttim0324 on November 04, 2013, 10:45:55 PM
Post by: ttim0324 on November 04, 2013, 10:45:55 PM
Can't you just apply for Medicaid and let them take over the bills? I'm pretty sure thats available in all of the USA.
My endo ordered those same tests and my health insurance took care of it.
My endo ordered those same tests and my health insurance took care of it.
Title: Re: There Has to Be a Better Option
Post by: Jamie Marie on November 04, 2013, 10:46:56 PM
Post by: Jamie Marie on November 04, 2013, 10:46:56 PM
My endo did these at the University of Michigan
ESTIMATED GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE
PROLACTIN
COMPREHENSIVE METABOLIC PANEL
ESTRADIOL
TESTOSTERONE
It was $712.00 so I don't know about the average cost but it can be pretty high.
Jamie
Oh if your staying in college for awhile i'd go for the student insurance.
ESTIMATED GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE
PROLACTIN
COMPREHENSIVE METABOLIC PANEL
ESTRADIOL
TESTOSTERONE
It was $712.00 so I don't know about the average cost but it can be pretty high.
Jamie
Oh if your staying in college for awhile i'd go for the student insurance.
Title: Re: There Has to Be a Better Option
Post by: Yukari-sensei on November 04, 2013, 11:34:22 PM
Post by: Yukari-sensei on November 04, 2013, 11:34:22 PM
Quote from: ttim0324 on November 04, 2013, 10:45:55 PMTexas... Governor Rick Perry blocked Medicaid expansion...
Can't you just apply for Medicaid and let them take over the bills? I'm pretty sure thats available in all of the USA.
My endo ordered those same tests and my health insurance took care of it.
Title: Re: There Has to Be a Better Option
Post by: TaoRaven on November 04, 2013, 11:44:24 PM
Post by: TaoRaven on November 04, 2013, 11:44:24 PM
Quote from: ttim0324 on November 04, 2013, 10:45:55 PM
Can't you just apply for Medicaid and let them take over the bills? I'm pretty sure thats available in all of the USA.
My endo ordered those same tests and my health insurance took care of it.
and AFAIK, no new Medicaid claims are being processed until the first of the year.
Title: Re: There Has to Be a Better Option
Post by: ttim0324 on November 04, 2013, 11:53:54 PM
Post by: ttim0324 on November 04, 2013, 11:53:54 PM
Quote from: Yukari-sensei on November 04, 2013, 11:34:22 PM
Texas... Governor Rick Perry blocked Medicaid expansion...
UGH. So sorry!
Might wanna follow the other advice given here and go ahead with student insurance, probably the best course of action.
Title: Re: There Has to Be a Better Option
Post by: Yukari-sensei on November 05, 2013, 12:21:45 AM
Post by: Yukari-sensei on November 05, 2013, 12:21:45 AM
Quote from: Jamie Marie on November 04, 2013, 10:46:56 PMWell at least I know I'm not being gouged... January is looking better and better...
My endo did these at the University of Michigan
ESTIMATED GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE
PROLACTIN
COMPREHENSIVE METABOLIC PANEL
ESTRADIOL
TESTOSTERONE
It was $712.00 so I don't know about the average cost but it can be pretty high.
Jamie
Oh if your staying in college for awhile i'd go for the student insurance.
Title: Re: There Has to Be a Better Option
Post by: Ms Grace on November 05, 2013, 02:09:10 AM
Post by: Ms Grace on November 05, 2013, 02:09:10 AM
My blood tests are similarly thorough, but I'm in my 40s so I guess the endo needs to make sure nothing is going into meltdown or shutdown.
Wow, those costs though! In Australia we have Medicare (have had it for over 30 years now) a universal health care system that covers the cost of blood tests. Hope you can find a good cheap solution!
Wow, those costs though! In Australia we have Medicare (have had it for over 30 years now) a universal health care system that covers the cost of blood tests. Hope you can find a good cheap solution!
Title: Re: There Has to Be a Better Option
Post by: Cindy on November 05, 2013, 02:34:24 AM
Post by: Cindy on November 05, 2013, 02:34:24 AM
Quote from: Grace_C on November 05, 2013, 02:09:10 AM
My blood tests are similarly thorough, but I'm in my 40s so I guess the endo needs to make sure nothing is going into meltdown or shutdown.
Wow, those costs though! In Australia we have Medicare (have had it for over 30 years now) a universal health care system that covers the cost of blood tests. Hope you can find a good cheap solution!
Same, I pay $36 for all of this, but the USA doesn't like universal health care, they seem to have problems with the 'socialization' of health care, it is a contradiction of the 'free' society. Possibly a case of not seeing the 'would' for the 'decrees'.
<goes into hiding>