Why insurance is good.

Insurance, o insurance, how I do appreciate thee.

Yesterday was my first trip to a gastroenterologist since I moved out here, oh, four years ago. Yeah, yeah, I know. I should have gone in earlier, considering I do have a certain chronic illness. At any rate, my primary care physician thought it might be an idea to go get checked out by a professional butt/gut doctor.

Now, I haven't had a lot of problems with Crohn's. I've never been hospitalized (I'm not counting outpatient stuff), but I have had some definite issues from time to time. Nothing major is going on, so don't worry or anything. Dr. Kittinger does want me to consider medication to prevent future complications. Crohn's is a cyclical disease; there's a good chance things that have happened to me will happen again if we don't begin preventative treatment.

The medicine he wanted me to research was Remicade. It's given by infusion, and is typically administered every 12 weeks or so. I've read some pretty great things about it. Some potential side effects are a bit sketchy, but what side effects aren't? The effects are astounding, based on accounts I've read. My damaged tissue would likely heal. The cost? Roughly $2,500 per infusion.

I checked with my insurance carrier today. The doc has to file for approval, but if that goes through...well, my insurance covers everything.

Everything. Not even so much as a copay.

Now, I'm not entirely sold on the idea, mind you. My health has been pretty good, minus a few bad days, the past six months. But, I'm reminded of the episode six months ago that had me frightened beyond measure. It seems like five years ago, but really...it was last October. I've got to give medication some serious thought.

Eh, I've got time to mull it over. I've got about a month before I see the doctor again (and he gets to see my innards, lucky bastard), so plenty of time to ponder.