The recession has finally caught up to my employer, who has painstakingly tried to shield us from it as much as possible. However, next month may bring a restructuring that may include layoffs. No one knows yet who may or may not be on the chopping block.
 

I’ve been unemployed before and it sucks. And I don’t want to do it again. But then, I didn’t have diabetes. Then, I didn’t rely on an insulin pump to stay healthy. Now, I think being unemployed would be a much worse situation.
 

When I heard the news about what may happen next month my first thoughts were about how we would continue to pay the two mortgages (no, the house in Missouri hasn’t sold yet!), buy groceries and continue to provide the basics for our family without losing our minds. The thoughts of how I would continue to pay for my health care needs were delayed, strangely.
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First, let me tell you that I used my very last sensor in February, and didn't even get a full life out of it. I decided to try to different spot on my belly and it wound up being a crap spot because the readings would come in sketchy and after about twoish days I realized most of the adhesive had come off. So I begrudgingly yanked it.

But I was in the midst of fighting my insurance company for coverage of my sensors and I was certain that the situation would be resolved soon and that it wouldn't be long until I had replacement sensors. And then one day, like magic, I got word that the sensors were covered. It was like an enormous weight was gone.

I quickly took care of the other weight on my shoulders: paying my deductible from the last batch of pump supplies I received. Medtronic said I only needed to pay it in full before I ordered supplies again so I was taking my time.

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When I met with our new CPA for the first time, I brought him everything I could think he would need. In 2008 my family and I lived in two states and between me and my husband we had five jobs.

As we sat down to talk taxes, he asked the obvious, normal questions. And then the biggie: he wanted to know if I kept receipts or records from doctor's office co-pays or any other medical treatment. No, of course not, because I had no need to. Well, in Arizona, he said, you can write off your medical expenses, right down to your office co-pays.

Well, hot damn, I thought! I have tons of medical expenses!

"Co-pays, really?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Prescriptions?"

"Yes."

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A kink already.

I told Mom this morning about my new schedule. The one where my retired mother doesn't have to get up so early any more to be to my house by 7:15 a.m. to take care of the kids before school so The Mr. and I can get to work on time. She loved it, by the way. Also because she knows I need and want to exercise.

Not long after she left the house, though, she called to remind me that my plan to start my new schedule on Monday (I hate starting on Mondays) may need to be rethunk. (rethinked? reconsidered?) No. 1 and No. 2 start their two-week spring break on Monday and they are going to day camp. Camp that's on *my* way to work. Camp that *I* was planning to drop them off at around 7 a.m. on my way to work. Camp that I'm not sure I can convince The Mr. to take them to because it's slightly out of his way and will require him to give up driving his motorcycle to work for two weeks. (READ MORE)

I should have known. I should have known it wouldn't have been as easy as "Now your sensors are covered. Call XX Medical Supply company to order. Call me with questions."
 

So, last time I wrote about this, I was getting some much loved satisfaction regarding finally thinking my insurance company had come to its senses about this disposable coverage crap. I mean, really, they'll pay for the machine but not the parts that make it work? Ugh!
 

So the last email I got from my health advocate, L, said the Medical Supply company had called her and said the disposable sensors were covered under the plan. She broke down the costs based on my deductible and 20% responsibility after the deductible was met. And then basically left it at that, thinking her job was done. And for all I knew it was.
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Yesterday when I left work I was ready to rip through the computer because I was so annoyed with a certain medical supply company.
 

I have taken a backseat to figuring out if my insurance company will cover my Dexcom sensors since I got involved with a company (paid for by my employer) who helps patients sort through these types of situations. I believe my rep is also a nurse, because she is quite often out of the office. So when I'd send casual emails if I hadn't heard from her, I frequently got an auto response saying she was out of the office. This kind of annoyed me, actually.

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