(no subject)

[popkin16]

Sorry for the lack of daily McShep. I've been struggling lately with being interested in...anything. I've mostly just been devouring fic, because I haven't felt up to much more than that. I was sick a week ago with a touch fo the flu *sigh*

We hit a deer the other day with our car. We're okay! And the car still runs, but it completely broke the driver's side headlight. We have to replace the whole assembly too and none of the local stores seem to carry what we need, so I'm resorting to looking online. I have to be quick because I work late some nights and we'll get pulled over for not having a working headlight.

I also got my medical bills for my incident back in November, and - if I'm understanding this right - the hospital wants me to pay $10k, and the individual doctors want me to pay about $1300. I didn't have insurance at the time so it has to be paid out of pocket and it's like HAHA STRESS.

Luckily, it looks like I'll be participating in a mini-squee in Cleveland at the end of May. A desperately needed break - some days it feels like I'm hanging on by the skin of my teeth. It's making me worry a bit about money - do I have enough PTO for this and for October without shorting myself on bill money, etc.

I'm working on getting the next werewolf au chapter out so I can start working on my fic for the atlantisfilmfestival. But as with everything lately, it's been a struggle, and I find myself turning to fic to disappear for a while.

Joe posted to instagram, which inspired brumeier  to write a cute little fic. I keep giggling at how skinny Joe's legs are.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practicing my squirrel-whispering skills when Fido reminds us of the food-chain

A post shared by Joe Flanigan (@joeflaniganofficial) on Mar 23, 2019 at 6:26pm PDT

I'm going to post this before I bring myself down any further and go read some McShep fic. And maybe redesign a house for sim!John-and-Rodney. And try to write, lol. I promise to post McShep stuff to mcsheppers tonight!

Comments

[runpunkrun]

All I got for you is some *hugs*

[popkin16]

Hugs are welcome *HUGS*

[esteefee]

*hugs you lots!* I just got some scary doctor bills so I know where you're coming from. ugh! hang in there, cupcake.

[popkin16]

*HUGS HUGS* Thanks, bb! I'll keep moving forward - maybe I'll take a leaf out of Rodney's book and complain the whole way, but I'll keep going.

[juniperberry]

Oh, man! That hospital bill is insane! Can you call and ask if there's any way they can reduce it? sometimes they can finangle things and get you a bit (a tiny bit) of a discount. And push comes to shove you can always see if you can pay them a little bit each month until you can afford larger payments (like, five dollars, or ten, or thirty--whatever you can afford). If you explain that you're working but not making lots of money they may be more lenient, especially if you show willing regarding paying them back.

*hugs and good writing vibes*

(also, devote yourself to fic if you need to for a while! Sometimes it's what the fandom ordered.) ♥

[popkin16]

There WAS a woman while I was in the hospital to talk about financial assistance, though I was kind of out of it at the time. I wonder if her info is mixed in with my discharge papers or something? If not, on the bill it has some numbers for me to call.

I think part of me is afraid because I've had medical bills before, and when I called to make payments, they wanted me to pay $120 a month, which is WAY WAY outside what I can afford. So now I'm intimidated, and you add in my phone anxiety...

Thanks for the hugs and the writing vibes ♥

[juniperberry]

Definitely see if you've got that contact information! When my dad died I had to go in and sign a bunch of forms, and it was basically to make sure the debt didn't fall on me--he was in a weird space, because he was 64 and died a week before his birthday, which was when Medicare would have kicked in. :/ Given that the debt was equivalent to my last four years in graduate school, I'm glad those ladies helped me out!

They may want you to pay a certain amount, but you can simply say, "Look, I only make so much a month, and I do want to pay this back, but all I can afford right now is this amount. I'm willing to pay it, but I cannot pay (higher amount that they may want)." If they still refuse to work with you, send them the lower amount anyway--they shouldn't be able to send you to collections if you're paying, even if it's not a lot and not what they want.

Anytime!

[popkin16]

Every time they send a bill they include a "way to pay" at the bottom, like a check. I could fill it out and send it in for $10, though I'm afraid if I write my account info down or whatever they'll take more than that (they can't do that, right?)

[juniperberry]

I don't think that's legal, but I think I'm in a different state, so I don't want to assume.

The best thing to do would be to look for a customer service-type number on the bill they send and do your best to talk to an actual person. They can clarify what can and can't be taken out of your account; they should not be able to withdraw anything other than what you authorize, no matter how much you owe them. But if you get a person on the line, you can explain to them what your situation is. If they refuse to agree to a payment of what you can afford, just clarify the rules around what they can and will take out of your account, and pay them what you can afford anyway. They can take it or leave it at that point.

[popkin16]

That is really good advice! Thank you so much, this helps me feel less overwhelmed. Like I have a plan of action lol.

[timespirt]

Can't see the vid/pic?

Have you tried the junk yards. They sell the stuff way cheaper than the dealers or stores.

Talk to the hospital billing office and see if they will let you make payments. They usually will work something out with you when you don't have insurance. I had to do that because I couldn't pay.

"HUGS"

[melagan]

Before I moved here I knew every junk dealer in a fifty-mile radius. Door-handles, radiator, transmission....

[timespirt]

We have them all over but there is one long road that has many a few towns over from me. I go to that road to get parts for my car.

[popkin16]

You might have to click the link to view it.

We have! Nobody nearby has something we can use, so I just ordered it online. It's not for the right year, but some research suggests the parts I need are interchangable, so my fingers are crossed...

This woman came in during my hospital stay to talk about financial assistance - I really need to talk to her. I'm just worried that at this point, it's too late and she can't help. I need to overcome my phone anxiety....

[timespirt]

I doubt it's too late to make a deal with them but you might have to speak to someone in the billing office now instead of the social worker that you spoke to in the hospital. The social worker usually makes arrangements before you leave.

If the year is close it might work. Fingers crossed for you hon.


"HUGS"

[popkin16]

Thanks bb *HUGS* The support and encouragement really helps :)

[melagan]

Ditto on talking to the hospital about reducing your bill. There's money out there for that but you'll have to ask. It's not as painful as it sounds.

Mini-squee! It's taking over my brain!

[popkin16]

Next day off, I'm going to call! I looked over one of the bills last night and it had a phone number I can call for financial assistance, so we'll see...

Now my mini-squee is associated with anxiety too because of the stupid time-off thing. SIGH.

[amycooper]

Have you tried calling the hospital to see if you can get your bill down? Sometimes you can negotiate or get on a reduced payment plan, but they usually do not advertise that at all and it will often taken a few calls to do it.

*hugs*

[popkin16]

I haven't, though I vaguely recall a woman coming in to talk to me when I was in the hospital. I'm worried it's too late now to make that call, but it can't hurt to try, right? I have phone anxiety but I'm just going to have to push through~

[rachaeljurassic]

Crap :( Massive hugs coming across the Atlantic!!! Hang in there and keep thinking of the squee <3

[popkin16]

Thanks bb, I appreciate all the hugs! I really need them. The squee always gets me through :D

[rachaeljurassic]

Yes, squee good :D

I've not been around that much - I got sick, got better, had a school inspection :((((((, sore throat again :((((((( this is one that seems to hang around for ages.

At least it's not bankrupting me though! I hope you can work that out!!

<3 R

[popkin16]

I did notice you weren't around much for a while there. I'm glad you're back, because I've missed you! Sorry you had to go through so much, damn.

[rachaeljurassic]

Well, hey, it's almost the Easter holiday :D

And Michigan State in the Final Four, so that's nice lol