by jen stark
It's hard to believe that I have to write this post right now. I didn't want to say this, but I'm back in debt.
It's a medical bill so that makes me feel a little better about it, but debt is debt is debt. It still hangs over my head taunting me.
It says, “You thought you beat me. You thought you said goodbye. But, I'm here, and we're hanging out.”
Like an ex that won't get the hint, like an itch that no amount of scratching will remedy, like a demon from Paranormal Activity. It's back.
I've got allergies. Really really bad allergies. They're the kind of allergies that make everyone I see think I'm sick with something contagious. People step back. They wash their hands. They pump that hand sanitizer an extra time. You know, those kind of allergies.
Red, watery eyes, runny nose; the whole deal. For years they have gone on and for years I've taken prescription medication for them. At one point my voice sounded so nasally that it even annoyed me.
Here are some things I learned while visiting the allergist:
- If you're around something and then you have symptoms, you're probably allergic. Profound, right?
- Allergies can change every 7 years.
- The waiting room at an allergy clinic is full of Epi-pens and people with Epi-pen stories. There is never a shortage of these stories.
I found out a while back that I'm allergic to everything outside. Everything except for pine trees. If it wasn't for the pine trees I'd just get myself one of those hamster bubbles (human-sized) and just live in there. Because there's just no point if you're allergic to everything. But, the pine trees, they give me hope.
One day I was at the doctor talking (again) about my allergies and he mentioned this thing called Rush Immunotherapy. He told me “It's two days in a row and we inject you with everything you're allergic to.” To which I replied, “That sounds completely terrible. Sign me up!”
I had never really entertained the idea of allergy shots because of the time commitment, but this two day intensive thing, I could get behind that.
I called my insurance, and made sure they would cover it, and went forward with the allergy shots. Two days of getting shot up with every single thing you're allergic to is exactly as fun as it sounds.
Fast-forward to today. My allergies are better. The maintenance shots seem to be working, and I no longer scare people away with the length and frequency of the amount snot leaving my nose.
After many calls to the hospital and many calls to the insurance company to make sure all the claims had been submitted and to make sure it was all correct so that I didn't pay for anything that was actually covered, I'm left with a bill for $2,556.96.
The medical world is elusive. I asked how much it would be. I wanted to add it up, weigh it all, and make sure it was going to be worth it. I had learned my lesson with getting into trouble with debt in the past, and I was not going to be making the same kind of mistakes again. I was determined to be responsible now. I thought I had it all sorted out. The hospital couldn't (or wouldn't) give me an exact price for the allergy shots, and I was instructed to call my insurance company. The insurance company told me it was a covered thing so I went forward with that knowledge.
I guess it's good to know that even though “life stuff” like this happens that there is a way out. That I can start the Spending Fast on an as needed basis to get out of debt fairly quickly. It's good to know that it works. That it is an option today.
Since I got my debt paid off I've been able to put a little bit of money into a savings account for emergencies. I don't see this as an emergency so I'm going to leave that stash stashed away. I've got a payment plan set up with the hospital and I told them I'd pay them $150 every month. The payment plan starts in November so I will finish out October with the Spending Diet and start the Spending Fast up again November. That's a tricky time of year to start it up again with the holidays coming but it's got to be done.
P.S. Ready to get out of debt ASAP? Check out the Spending Fast Bootcamp!