How much do you know?

September 12, 2011

What’s the biggest outside influence on your health?  I’d argue it’s politics.

 

It’s easy to get a bit self-absorbed when you’re sick.  That’s fine to do occasionally.  Then when you want to reach out, you probably turn to family and friends, right?  That’s good too.  But I hope everyone takes some time to educate themselves on local, state, and federal politics, because they do affect you.

 

Massachusetts has a lot of potential ballot questions coming up next year.  Some will affect me more than others, and I don’t know which.  Some of the questions could be about medical marijuana, doctors prescribing life-ending drugs, and changes to state health insurance regulations.  I’m sure each of these will eventually have an effect on me or on someone I know.  What are the laws in your state?  Is anyone looking to change them?

 

I’m not suggesting a Big Brother role here, but politics affects all of us.  Some of us may end up on Social Security Disability Insurance one day.  Some of us may need to stop working and rely on food stamps.  If you’re reading this, I’m pretty sure that health insurance matters to you.  Of the many health insurance changes that could come about as a result of President Obama’s plan is stopping health insurance companies from excluding someone based on a preexisting medical condition.  That means I could get health insurance anywhere in the U.S.!  For someone reading this in Canada or Sweden, that may sound strange.  For anyone in the U.S. with a health issue, it sounds like a fantastic safety net.  We’ll still have to pay for it (unless you qualify for Medicaid) but at least we’ll have it!  And what about legalizing medical marijuana?  I know that’s controversial.  I also know that when I took some in California last year, it was the first time in years that I wasn’t queasy.  I could even eat without feeling queasy!  That was a fantastic feeling, and one I’d like to have again from time to time.

 

My point is simply that politics affects us all, whether we want it to or not, so we might as well get educated and learn what is about to have an influence on our lives.

 

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Leave a Comment » | Decisions, Educating, Politics, Rants, Raves | Permalink
Posted by chronicrants

No, we’re not all the same

September 8, 2011

I saw a story on the news the other night about a woman who went to McDonald’s with her two autistic sons and their service dog.  The store manager was there (though not working at the time) and told the woman that the dog was not allowed because they weren’t blind.  The mother offered to provide documentation, but the manager insisted that they leave.

There’s more to this story, but I want to focus on the common misconception that only people who are visibly disabled would need a service dog.  Invisible disabilities can make life easier in some ways, because you can “pass” for healthy.  On the other hand, invisible disabilities mean that people often don’t believe you have a problem.  And visible disabilities that are misunderstood?  You’re out of luck there too.  We need more education.  We need people to understand that service dogs are for people who are blind, and also for those who are autistic or suffering from PTSD or who have epilepsy.  There are many many more reasons why someone would have a service dog.  People need ways to learn this.

When I was in elementary school, maybe around 4th grade, we had a program on disabilities.  Someone came in and spoke to us.  They taught us how to sign the alphabet, and we had to communicate with each other that way.  We were blindfolded and led through the hallways by a classmate, trusting them to guide us safely.  We had our dominant hand tied behind our back, then were told to write with the other hand.  We learned what to do if someone has an epileptic seizure in front of us and what to do if a diabetic needs insulin.  This was long before I had any health problems of my own, and as far as I knew, none of my friends or family had any problems either (I was wrong, but hey, I was a kid – what did I know?)  Still, I paid attention.  Obviously this program had a real affect on me, because I remember it all these years later.  Imagine what would happen if we offered programs like these in each grade, adjusting the material for each age group.  Imagine how much more understanding the next generation would be!

People make a lot of incorrect assumptions.  Sometimes the person is at fault, but very often they just lack the knowledge needed to make informed decisions.  Let’s help them by giving them the knowledge they need.  Let’s educate them!

 

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Leave a Comment » | Educating, Expectations, Frustration, Insensitive, Politics, Rants, Unpredictable | Permalink
Posted by chronicrants

Wanting solid info from the RMV

September 7, 2011

It’s not like I want to have a handicapped placard.  I would like nothing better than to be healthy enough to not need one.  Since I do need the placard, I use it.  I just wish I knew more about the laws around it.

After a lot of searching, I finally found some info here and here on the MA RMV web site.  After all that searching, the site doesn’t inspire confidence.  For example, it provides information on handicapped plates, but when I tried to get one years ago, I was told they aren’t offered anymore, only placards are offered.  Either I was given wrong information, or the site is very out of date.  Both seem very possible.

Now, try finding info on where you can use it!  #7 in the FAQ seems to be the place, but it’s incredibly vague (and wrong.)  Can I use it in HP Van spaces if I don’t have a van?  It doesn’t mention that.  I can disregard some parking meters but not all – that’s NOT HELPFUL!  Why can the MA Port Authority manage to not exempt placards?  Do others do it too, or is it just them?  Please be specific!  And about all U.S. States recognizing the MA placard, well, maybe that should be more specific too.  Parts of Washington D.C. didn’t, the last time I was there.  I also stumbled upon a city in Connecticut this summer that didn’t recognize them.  Why is this?  And why doesn’t the web site mention it?  And according to the FAQ some parking rules must be followed but not others.  What if there’s a 2 hour parking limit?  Do I need to obey that?  If so, doesn’t that run counter-intuitive to the exempt meter rule?  If not, then say so!

I know many people who have had the same frustrations.  When I call to ask questions, I can’t seem to get someone on the phone who knows what they’re talking about.

These placards are provided by the state RMV.  Many rules apply to them.  Would it be so horrible to let us know what those rules are?

 

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Leave a Comment » | Educating, Expectations, Frustration, Limitations, Pain, Parking, Politics, Rants, Unpredictable | Permalink
Posted by chronicrants

Why wouldn’t you use an FSA?

September 2, 2011

No, really, I’m asking, why on earth wouldn’t you use an FSA if you have access to one?  I don’t get it.  I love my FSA.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, an FSA is a Flexible Spending Account, and this links to more info on it.  As a quick summary, it’s offered through some employers.  An employee puts aside a certain amount of money pre-tax.  This money can be spent on medical expenses.  Some offer a dependent care FSA, in which case the pre-tax dollars can be spent on dependent care.  There’s a catch, of course.  You decide at one point in the year how much money to set aside, and that gets taken out of each paycheck.  Whatever isn’t spent on medical needs/dependent care by the end of the year, you lose.  If you put aside $500 and you only spend $350, then you lose $150.  That’s a big catch, so you have to estimate very carefully.  But if you do have leftover at the end of the year, you can always use it to buy a new pair of glasses, or get an acupuncture treatment.  Still, you’re spending your money pre-tax, so that can add up to huge savings.

I started a new job last year, and it was the first time I had access to an FSA.  My main complaint about FSAs is that they are not offered to everyone.  I understand that the government depends on companies to handle the burden of managing these accounts, but it is incredibly unfair to offer this tax advantage to only a portion of the population.  Now, if you are lucky enough to be someone who does have access to an FSA, use it!

[Note: My other complaint is that the government added some crazy hurdles for nonprescription meds this year.  Now you need a doctor’s note to get reimbursed for cough drops or aspirin.  But that’s a rant for a different day.]

When I started my job last year, I asked co-workers about the process for getting reimbursements.  I was shocked by how many didn’t use it.  Yes, some people are healthy and don’t need it, but even if you’re on just one prescription, or need just one dental procedure, it’s worth it.  If you are reading this site, you likely spend more than that.  I use this money for medical visit copays, medical visit parking, prescriptions, vitamins, and random needs.  Last year I used it for physical therapy.  I use it for orthodics.  I used it to buy a new air conditioner this summer (because my health condition worsens in hot and humid weather, a/c is a medical necessity for me.)  I used it to buy new glasses, both distance and reading (yes, in my early 30s I need reading glasses.  I blame the many hours on the computer.)

So what does this mean?  I put aside $1000, and it looks like I could have put aside more.  I’ll remember that for next year.  But this year I put aside $1000, which means I’ll end up saving about $250 in taxes.  That’s huge!  That’s money that I’ve been spending every year, in addition to my health insurance premiums, and in addition to medical-type expenses that aren’t covered by the FSA (like the sneakers I buy because of my knee and back problems, but that aren’t technically a medical expense.)  What would you do with an extra $250?  Spend it on more medical stuff?  Save it?  Go to a fancy dinner?  Good, now go set up your FSA!

And if you don’t have access to an FSA, let’s brainstorm on how to get access to everyone.  It’s not right to offer this federal tax advantage to only some citizens.  It’s bad enough that health insurance is so often tied to your employer, but federal tax benefits shouldn’t be!  I know many healthy (and some not so healthy) people who think it is a waste of time to save receipts for an FSA.  For those of us who spend thousands and thousands of dollars every year on our healthcare, above and beyond premiums, those few minutes of effort can have huge payoffs.  Everyone deserves a shot at those payoffs.

Leave a Comment » | Educating, Job, Politics, Raves, Symptoms, Unpredictable | Permalink
Posted by chronicrants

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