Tax write-offs, cuz WLS is gettin' spensive. (And, kids.)

Bob came home from work with the RX's I dropped off last Friday.  Well, half of them.  It seems the medication for the blood sugar wasn't in - and he really didn't think to ask.  But, I do have 150 glucose freaking strips now.  Still, even with insurance, $50.00.  The endocrinologist wrote "to test five times daily" on the prescription, so what's that - six weeks worth?  (Can you see me doing the math on my fingers here?  That's sad.)  Five times thirty days.  I thought they would be cheaper with insurance, but whatever, I've got a supply and tomorrow I'm going to do it.  AS LONG AS I REMEMBER TO.  I will be testing.  It figures that I only really remember to prick mahself when I start to feel like poop.

The medication is going to cost $40.00, and I will be taking it three times daily, after a few days of once daily, assuming I do not have any oddball reactions.

I called and canceled my appointment with the pdoc.  (With nine minutes to spare for the 24 hour rule.  And, the secretary DEFINITELY called me on that one.  She said, "You just made it, you know."  After calling the billing department, whom said that I would need to come to the next appointment with the "missed appointment" fee of $100, and I also owe a copay, and this weeks copay - which means the appointment would be costing me $170 this week.  I do not have $170 to "spend" on the pdoc.  After living 28 years without a pdoc, I can probably deal without one for a while.  This doc said that they'd never make me choose between groceries and therapy, but, come on.  I can't go back without cash, so, what choice do I make?  Therapy is not in my budget.  I'm sorry.  There's no concrete validation for it right now.

But, cavities are! C has four, NOT three, so that's $200.00.  N has three, that's $150.00.  Juli hasn't been checked, because she wouldn't open her mouth. :x  Then, C is having a neuro-behavioral re-evaluation at the end of September, and we can be liable for up to 10% of that testing, also, about $700.00.  I guarantee she'll be put in therapy, and that, I won't complain about, but it's another cost, $35.00 a session, probably weekly.  Not to mention, they'll suggest drugging her up, too, at about $50.00 a month, along with my p-meds, which have done nothing?! and are $50.00 a month.

Imagine if we had serious medical issues in our house?!  How does anyone afford it?  If you do not qualify for any sort of assistance and have a serious medical need, What Do You Do?  Do you go without?  (I know many do.)  This is the kind of thing that makes you wonder why we can't just have some sort of universal health-care coverage, but then again, those who have it hate it, don't they?