The Holidays

Today we're having some sleet, rain and snow. Christmas was last week and was a nice quiet Christmas this year. They are talking about another major nor'easter for this upcoming weekend. What a way to bring in the new year, 2K10!

Christmas Time is Here

We've had some snow already and it won't be long before Christmas and the new year.

Merry Christmas to all and may God bless everyone and their families!

The Holiday Season

The seasons are changing again. We just had Thanksgiving and in only a few more weeks we'll be into the Christmas week, followed by New Year's and 2010.

Two Thousand Ten...sounds strange, but time does keep ticking and waits for nobody. It's a particuliarly memorable time for me because at this time last year I was entering my final month of chemotherapy.

Aside from some stubborn neuropathy in my feet, I'm doing well and will be going in for my next PET scan in April. Winter 'could' be over by then if we're lucky!

Season's Greetings!!!

November - 2009

With this first onset of somewhat colder weather, I'm noticing some neuropathy (numbness) in some of my toes on my right foot. I guess that it takes quite a while for all of the chemo meds to exit your system.

We went to another memorial service. This time it was my sister's brother-in-law. I sure hope that these occasions end for awhile soon.

Still disputing hospital bills that go back to when I had my surgery last year in June of 2008! Latest letter says the my healthplan had *revised* the amount they were to pay which leaves me with more of a co-pay. I've already paid $250 for this one bill. Oh well, it is what it is?

The *new* Healthcare Options

Well, we only have about another week left in October and our healthcare administrators have decided to switch our HMO Blue to an 80/20 plan. This means all tests including bloodwork, xrays, scans, even a flu shot would only be covered at 80%and we pay the 20% balance. This is not a good deal with my frequent bloodwork, tests and scans. My next PET scan in April will cost me approx $2200 out-of-pocket, yet there are people who have just come to this country with no healthcare who get free medical coverage. What's wrong with this picture?

My gut feeling is that this is just the tip of the iceberg of what will be soon forthcoming if the government tells us which doctors we can see and when.

HMO Blue is also changing their name to New England Network Blue and will be sending out "new" cards which will confuse the billing people even more.

I'm still contesting a bill that I received as a $100 co-payment because it was coded wrong by the hospital (so my healthcare administrator says).

Other than that, The Patriots play Tampa in London tomorrow and the World Series (Baseball) might even start in early November...brrr.

Have a good weekend! Next weekend is Hallloween...stay tuned for chilling videos!