Klarinet Archive - Posting 000109.txt from 2006/08

From: "Bruce M" <bmcgar@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Clarinetfest
Date: Sat, 05 Aug 2006 21:47:08 -0400

Folks,

Be VERY careful about asking your doctor for Xanex or similar drugs. My
doctor offered TWO tablets of an anti-anxiety drug for use on a flight IF I
decided I needed them (which I never did) a few years ago. A year later,
after I was downsized from a company and my COBRA ran out, and I tried to
get health insurance on my own, I was put in the "high risk" category by
BC/BS because of this prescription, and would have had to pay $1400/month
for insurance.

A letter from my doctor stating that I was perfectly healthy for a man my
age, and would be a very low risk meant nothing. The response from BC/BS
was, in effect, "We don't care. The rule is that, if you're prescribed a
drug like this, you're high risk, no matter what. Ask us again in two
years." I went without any insurance for 18 months because I couldn't afford
it. Thank goodness I didn't get sick!

So be careful about asking for prescription drugs (especially tranquillizers
or other drugs used by psychiatrists). Your doctor's records may be used
against you at some point when you can least afford it.

Now, even though I have insurance, before my doctor prescribes any drug that
may not be absolutely essential, I check with BC/BS anonymously to see if
filling the prescription might put me in a high-risk category, and if it
does, and I can get along without it, I do so.

A sad state of affairs, but insurance companies hate any risk, so they tar
everyone with the same brush.

Bruce

>From: "David Lamb" <dlamb@-----.com>
>Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
>To: <klarinet@-----.org>
>Subject: Re: [kl] Clarinetfest
>Date: Sat, 5 Aug 2006 17:32:11 -0700
>
>
>Mark C.
>
>>Oh. I remembered that you were planning to go and told all of us you were
>>scared _then_. I figurde you should do whatever you've done in the past to
>>get over your fear of flying.
>
>Two words: Take drugs! I would not get on a plane without Xanex. I sleep
>through the flight, and my wife is spared having to sit next to a
>terrified, white-knuckle idiot.
>
>David Lamb in Seattle
>
>
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