Cost on healthcare

bitomato · 15-11-2010, 06:42 AM

How would you go about putting a pricetag on care in terms of what you might need to pay for care- like if you were going to court for support?

roiben · 15-11-2010, 02:49 PM

This would very much depend on what care is needed, whether it is inclusive of medicinal costs and how frequently both are required.

That, and where you are.

It would need to be broken down quite specifically, so that each amount and area can be cross-checked and the full amount justified.

Roiben x

bitomato · 15-11-2010, 04:04 PM

I was advised that the thing about the courts is that they are going to try to distribute the least amount of money possible. So the fact that I pay for psychiatric services monthly...........I can go through public care.
Similarly psychology biweekly- through the hospital. The fact that in both those situations I may competing with in patients and outpatients in greater need and therefore see my almost hourly sessions reduced to 10 minutes every month to 3 months and possibly see a CPN instead............

Also with my meds- I pay for what works, how to make a court understand I cannot just switch to a cheaper/ free generic brand............

I also do other activities like exercise/trainer at gym to stay well...maybe they will not see that as medical?!

I know that I am freaking myself out, but I don't feel happy about having to justify my healthcare to people who do not understand what the consequences of not doing these things are.

Am I spoilt for choice? Do I have a right to fight for these things??

random.swirls · 15-11-2010, 04:43 PM

Where in the world are you?

I presume it's not in the UK?

bitomato · 15-11-2010, 05:47 PM

What I meant to say to Random Swirls was ; why do you ask?

Once upon a time When I was a student in the UK, I got a crash course in mental health services. Didn't like it much and my GP/psych got really ticked off with how I accessed services. They felt I had too much different inputs as I had created this really intricate support network. But in the end I finished my degree, albeit struggling a bit. However, I forced myself to get through my last year with minimal support to prove a point to the occupational health consultant so I could graduate, but I privately disagreed with their take on how much was too much services. My school was the same, where they were really mean about how much help I required (those guys did not understand mental health diagnoses) so I cut myself off from any support to prove a point. It was a long and lonely final year but I survived.

So where am I. It is a place much like the UK of the 1960s. In terms of mental health services that are free there is only hospital. There is no such thing as community care. I got sick when I was younger and lasted all of a day in hospital before my life was ruined for ever. They broke the law by telling my step parent I was in hospital even though I was an adult and my life has never was the same. My family was afraid of me and thought I couldn't do anything and always lied to my face about believing in me. I only found out the truth when my dad died. And even now I see the consequences of the ignorance in how I am treated- I have to fight for everything.

6 months ago I didn't care about whether I only had the clothes on my back, but since my dad's death I am doing all the things I was never allowed to do because I was the crazy one and never thought I had the right or the inner strength to fight to do- and realised I am good at them. Now I risk losing it all again. Lawyers won't answer my calls, or say don't worry about it- but this is my life. Quality of life is basically going down the toilet because I can't even live in the moment like I used to. Some nights I am paralysed with dread.

So where am I: somewhere west of Hell. Don't forget to write.......