A Happy Ending...

So for the last 3 months, health insurance has been a huge thorn in my side. We found out in December that the Blue Shield plan we were on, which we happened to LOVE, was going to raise their monthly premium by 65%!! It would have ended up costing our family over $700/month.(Eric's coverage doesn't cost us anything - so that would actually be just for me and the girls) That would be $700 we don't have. So, we went on the dreaded hunt for new insurance - the dreaded hunt that we have been on once a year for the last 3 years. Ugh. So, I spent some time on the phone with the insurance representative for Eric's company. She helped us find the most economical plans for what we needed. I would be on an individual Kaiser plan and the girls would be on a Blue Cross plan. Eric would be on the Blue Shield plan provided through his work. So, we submitted the applications for Kaiser and Blue Cross. I was accepted without any problems, Haylie was accepted with no problems, but Anna was denied coverage through Blue Cross because of her iris cyst - a pre-existing condition. This was very upsetting to me because her cyst is sooo nothing. We have been going in for regular checkups since she was diagnosed and everything is fine. The cyst is not impairing her vision, it is not growing, it is just there. I sent in an appeal and got denied again. Anna's ophthalmologist (Dr. Lanier who is amazing) even took time out of her incredibly busy schedule to call Blue Cross directly to tell them that they were ridiculous for denying her and they wouldn't even talk to her. They will only go off what they see on the medical record. Oh, and the people reviewing the medical record AREN'T EVEN MEDICALLY TRAINED!!

So I was so discouraged and worried - how in the world were we going to pay for them to be on Eric's plan?? I was talking to a friend and I said "I just don't understand - maybe they are not meant to be on the Blue Cross plan, but why would the right plan be the sucky expensive plan??" My friend said "If they are not meant to be on that plan, then something else will present itself to you." At the time, I knew she was right, but it didn't seem like we had any other options. So a few days later, still discouraged, I called Eric's insurance lady practically in tears and told her to put the girls on Eric's plan. That is when she asked me if I had looked into the Kaiser Child Health Plan. The what? Well, she proceeded to tell me about a health plan through Kaiser that is much like California's Healthy Families plan for "low income" families. The only requirement is that you fall into their income guidelines. They did not ask for any health history whatsoever, my girls were accepted - no questions asked! And the best part? Are you ready for this? It is going to cost us $16/month for both girls!!!!!!!!!! I am so stinking excited about this - I cannot even put it into words. Is it fun to be considered low income? No, but if it gets us good health coverage for practically nothing? I'll shout from the rooftops that I AM POOR!! Ha! You are probably wondering, like I did, what the catch is...where's the hidden fee? Where are they gonna get me to pay? Well, there is no catch! Doctor visits are $5. Prescriptions are $5. Hospitalization is FREE. Hearing and vision tests are $5. Labs and x-rays are FREE. The list goes on.

The moral of the story is this: Heavenly Father knows each of us. He knows what we need. He is mindful of every struggle we have. I was nervous about going on a Kaiser plan for myself, but I have met my doctors and so far I LOVE IT. I was so stressed out about money, but Heavenly Father knows our situation and He helped us to find a plan that would work for us. He doesn't leave us hangin' - if we're doing everything we can to live righteously - if we do our part, He will bless us. Who would have thought that Anna being denied by Blue Cross could have been such a blessing? Oh, and she still gets to see her same awesome ophthalmologist because she has a relationship with Kaiser - all I need is a referral from the Kaiser doc. :-)

I am just so grateful for my faith and my belief in God. It is so amazing to constantly feel His love and to know that I am being blessed constantly for my efforts.

I'm putting this out there so that if any of you are paying up the yinyang for health insurance - go check out the Child Health Plan and see if you qualify. (No, they are not paying me for this endorsement) hehe.