How One Text Message, Changed my Life Forever

Most Canadians were shocked at how much push back the Americans had for universal health care. We saw some of the false reporting of what our health care was and it was really sad people were so afraid of something that would benefit so many. In Canada our health care system is far from perfect but if I need to go to the doctor or hospital for any reason I can just go. I don’t pay a thing, I just show up.

I’m not entirely familiar with your itinerary but depending on the country you are in it may be wise to not get insurance. I know @RTWDave and @Mobilelawyer, also American, don’t have it. There are many private hospitals around the world, if you needed something it would be a fraction of the cost.

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Alison Garland, Jenny Leonard, LifeMiner, Rick Barton, Nick Laborde and others. Nick Laborde said: A tough situation: RT How One Text Message, Changed my Life Forever http://t.co/Ur4kIFJ via @whereisjenny #rtwsoon [...]

Great post as it has a lot of issues that I’m interested in hearing more about! My husband is self employed, but I’m currently working for a large corporation with benefits. However, I’m wanting to be self-employed and our goal is to move out of the country, at least part time, which will involve leaving behind the benefits. So what are our options? I’ll be keeping tuned to see what you decide.

Wow! I’m so glad you’re OK.

I’m also a solopreneur–have been for six years–and I just have an independent health care policy with BCBS. It’s like $250 a month and my deductible is pretty high, but to get on my husband’s company insurance would cost me $500 a month! Ridiculous. That said, I travel about seven months out of the year and only have medical evacuation insurance from MedJet and also diver’s insurance through DAN.

Our health insurance is totally wack, but I’ve also had TERRIBLE experiences with social health care systems in Holland, Scotland and Denmark (I lived in all three countries and had bizarre occurrences that sent me to the hospital/doctor in each) that wound up costing me thousands when I moved back to the US because of the poor care I received abroad (for free). I don’t know what the answer is.

(Sorry, this doesn’t answer your question at all. I just thought I’d share my own experiences!)

Gosh, I’m SO happy that you’re okay after the accident, how awful!!!

Oh do I feel your pain. I’ve been self-employed and/or small business for nearly 20 years now. While I was in Florida, our little company had a nice group plan. Cost a pretty penny, but never had a problem getting things paid or covered, and received excellent care.

Until one of my employees got breast cancer. Now, no other company would look at our small group to switch plans when my I needed a policy that would be less regionally based as I went nomadic. And, if I left the policy – we wouldn’t have enough employees to keep the group plan. And since that employee was my mother – there was no way I was leaving her uninsured. So, I sucked it up.. kept paying my outrageous premiums for coverage that I could only use if I happened to be in Florida. Which was rare. When I did need major surgery, at least I was able to return to Florida to have it.

Eventually, we found a way to keep my parents insured under the same plan, and let me leave the group to get my own individual plan.

Anyway.. here are some of my understandings:

- Not all individual plans exclude pre-exisiting conditions forever. The one we’re with, Assurant, just excluded them for 2 years, I believe.

- The healthcare changes that did pass, I believe, will eventually phase in coverage for pre-existing conditions for everyone. I don’t remember what year that is.. but, it may be enough for you to let go of your current insurance at some point and get just major medical (with exclusions if needed) while you travel overseas.. and keep your fingers crossed that when/if you come back stateside the changes will be effective and you can be fully insured.

Our healthcare system really really really really sucks. And it’s mega times worse for us small/solo business folks. I was shocked at the attitude of some of my friends who have always had big corporate coverage who had no clue what us small businesses face, and most of them were totally unsupportive of healthcare reform as a result. In my honest opinion, if everyone had to shop, pay for and deal with insurance outside their employer – we’d be a lot further along in fixing our system.

That’s a tough one.

Depending on what you decide on your surgery. I would imagine that it would be much more then $16,000. If you decide to go with the surgery I would keep it until the surgery, then cancel, if it was me. If you decide not to have the surgery, I would drop it and get catastrophic health insurance coverage. You can always open up a health care savings plan to cover your expenses.

It’s all really a gamble, depends on what your risk tolerance is.

Jenny, I’m not sure who’s advising you, but your comment that “if it’s cheaper to send you back home to the USA, they will” doesn’t sound right. I’m an Australian, living in Thailand, and I bought my health insurance from BUPA in the UK. It covers me internationally for everywhere EXCEPT the USA, because of the crazy costs there. If I want to travel to the US more than twice a year and be covered while there, my premium almost doubles!

I got some serious cancer 5 years ago, and the entire treatment (and I survived) cost me about $40,000 in Thailand, with a 6-star hospital and the best surgeons and most modern facilities in the world. I’m told the same treatment and surgery in the US would have cost closer to $250,000. My pain specialist here (I have chronic pain from the surgery), costs me only 30% per visit than what I would pay over there. And what’s cool here is that if you need to see a specialist it’s always RIGHT NOW. You never have to wait for specialists or surgeons. The best hospital in the world, in my opinion, is Bumrungrad International in Bangkok – http://www.bumrungrad.com – they’ve saved my life twice.

Might be an idea to get your butt over here as soon as you can Oh, and check with BUPA in the UK for cover while you’re traveling overseas (http://www.bupa-intl.com/) – they’re incredible, and have never argued or denied one single charge.

Yeah. The news can skew things however they want. I wish that more people would open up their eyes and see that a universal system would really help out.

My only worry is that if I let my health insurance lapse, and I later decide I want the surgery, I’ve got a pre-existing condition that won’t be covered or won’t be covered for 2 years. The surgery will likely be around 50-100k… I can’t pay that out of pocket.

I may decide that I’m going to have to have the surgery at the end of 2011 (after my USA skate tour). Then I only have to worry about follow up care and it’d be cheaper to not have the insurance at all.

Thanks Heather. It’s a huge problem in the United States for solopreneurs. I’ll decide when the time gets closer, but I think I’ll just have the surgery at the end of 2011 after my skate tour is over and before I head abroad. Then, I can just pay expenses out of pocket. Hospitals around the world are much cheaper than the US.

Thanks for sharing your experience. It’s tough and it’s good to see that I’m not alone in my struggles. Every health care system has it’s issues, I just wish ours could figure something out so the little guys quit getting so reamed.

Thanks. It’ll be a struggle for the rest of my life, but I’ve learned how to deal with it. Took me several years to find that answer, but glad I finally did.

Thanks for the great reply. I’m sorry about your mom’s experience with cancer. I don’t wish that on anyone… terrible disease! I’m lucky that my insurance is nationwide, I don’t have to worry about that, luckily. However, it’s definitely not worldwide and I’m going to eventually drop it. I just think I’ll have to have the surgery before I do.

The insurance companies that I’ve talked to about my condition say that they’d exclude the pre-exiting condition indefinitely/forever. I’ve read about some that only do 2-years, but I’ve yet to find them for me, personally.

I’m hoping that the health care changes will help me out in the future. I think the pre-existing condition law takes effect in 2014… That gives me a few years, but what if I don’t have health coverage during those years, does that exclude me? Many of them require you to have constant coverage for enrollment.

I’m hoping that more and more people realize the struggles that we (freelancers/self-employed/solopreneurs) go through and we can get some insurance laws changed. Currently, they suck. In a really bad way.

Thanks for chipping in on the discussion.

I think I’m going to have the surgery at the end of 2011. I’m not ready for it, but hopefully at the end of the year I will be. That way I won’t have to worry about it. I need to suck it up and go for it anyways. The cost to maintain my injury isn’t that bad and definitely not 16k per year. The surgery however will be 50-100k. It’ll be worth it to keep the insurance until then… I suppose.

Thanks for the reply Colin and for adding to the discussion. If you look at World Nomads (travel insurance not health insurance), they reserve the right to send you home in a catastrophic injury if you’re able to travel. Then they are no longer responsible for payment. They either pay for your treatment where it happened or send you home and your health insurance takes over. If you don’t have health insurance, then well, you’re stuck with a big bill.

I’ve looked at worldwide policies but they would still exclude my condition and if I choose not to include the USA and I’m not there for more than 60 days per year, it’s about half the cost, you’re right on that. I think I remember the policy being around $300 for me. Not sure on the company name though.

I’ve heard so much about health care overseas. Not only how much cheaper it is, but the quality of the care as well. I am definitely going to keep in mind having things done overseas. The doctor however that needs to do my surgery is in the USA and I don’t trust anyone but him to do it… especially since another doctor already messed it up.

You may also want to talk to Gary Arndt, he just came back from a medical press trip in Thailand and seemed really impressed with things – at least seemed so on the This Week in Travel podcast.

I can somewhat relate to the health insurance frustration. I have colitis, which is a chronic digestive disease, and I have to take expensive medicine for the rest of my life. The cost is manageable right now b/c I work for a corporation, but if/when I decide to travel long term, getting my own insurance will not be fun. I’ve already found out it will be difficult, if not impossible, to find an individual plan that will cover the colitis. I’m really not looking forward to having to deal with that. For me, I don’t feel comfortable not having health insurance, but I’ll se what happens once I start researching it more. I’m really glad you recoverd enough from the accident to still be able to skateboard, and you seem to be such a positive person, I can’t imagine you letting something like this hold you back. I’m curious to see what you ultimately decide about the insurance.

Insurance can be difficult when you don’t have a policy through an employer. Here in Korea there is a national health plan, where I pay half and the employer pays half. However, if I get sick or have an accident that coverage will not come close to paying the bills.

I had an accident in Thailand last year and was covered by a travel policy through AIG, which I bought at the airport. My injuries were minor, but I have to say I was most impressed by the high level of treatment I received at the hospitals in Thailand and the cost of treatment. I made 5 or 6 visits and the entire cost including treatment and drugs was under 200.00US. If I was in Canada and was still covered by our government plan the treatment would have been free, but I’m not, so that’s a moot point. In the U.S. I would have been out several thousand dollars. Perhaps do some investigation into Thai hospitals and if there are any treatment options for you there. Good luck!

Hey Jenny, have you checked into the new health laws that were passed under Obama?

It is my understanding that all Americans will be required to be insured by Jan 2012. And, that insurance companies cannot deny for a pre-existing condition.

Since I have not stayed current with this legislation, I am not sure if changes have been made or if they are allowed to “accept you,” but require that you pay anything related to the pre-existing condition.

Might be worth looking into nonetheless.

Wishing you the best regardless.

Health insurance in America sucks! sorry to say that I love America and all but that was the biggest downfall to us living there. It is such a killer to so many people. American friends of ours who were a couple, never paid for health insurance .They figured it would work out cheaper if anything happened for them to go to Thailand for treatment. At least they would get a holiday out of it. They often flew over there to get treatments done. They absolutely raved about the quality of the hospitals there and the treatment they received. Just as good as, if not better than the States at prices far far lower. It might be worth checking out. I hope it works out well from you, from the sounds of things, you definitely deserve it.

I would advise keeping your insurance until you finish your USA leg of your trip, then getting travel insurance with a good health policy. Healthcare overseas is incredibly cheap (I got world class care in South Korea for less than 1/10th the cost, even without insurance), and paying for insurance in the USA when you’re not even sure you’re going to come back here seems like a waste of money. I’m assuming that you’re going to be traveling for at least two years, and thus by the time you come back, you’ll be covered under the new national healthcare here.

You could always wait until the US’s national healthcare kicks in. Or, you could get the surgery done somewhere else in the world.

I’ve heard good things about Thai healthcare. FWIW, the care I received in South Korea was excellent. I had 4 cavities filled for a total of less than $50 at a place much fancier than my own American dentist. I have acid reflux and I looked at getting the relevant surgery for it and I was quoted only a couple hundred dollars from one of the top surgeons for that specialty in the country.

“I’m hoping that the health care changes will help me out in the future. I think the pre-existing condition law takes effect in 2014… That gives me a few years, but what if I don’t have health coverage during those years, does that exclude me? Many of them require you to have constant coverage for enrollment. ”

You’re covered under the “high risk” category. They’re still required to cover those conditions.

Yep, folks with pre-existing conditions will be covered under a “high risk” category. Insurance companies are required to cover you, and though they can charge you more for being in that category, you’re also simultaneously eligible for government assistance with the costs.

I’ve done a lot of research into that plan because I have bipolar disorder. I’ve been uninsured for the last year and a half or so, and at this point, I’m just going to wait it out until 2012 when they *have* to cover me.

Another solution: moving to a country with good health insurance. Like Canada, UK, France, Germany (ok, i agree, it’s becoming bad there). E.g.: In Germany the public insurances have to take you by law. In Canada and UK everybody is insured more or less automatically.

If I want a long term travel health insurance I pay around 100$ worldwide – except traveling to US. If I want one which includes US, I have to pay 50-100$ on to of the 100$ and it’s limited. I never understood it.

Oh, I can recommend the movie “Sicko”, even if there is too much propaganda and “everything sucks” in it. But if you experienced the health system in US and other states, you know that there are huge differences. The one system is for the companies, the other one is for the people…

Hi Jenny-
This is my first time reading your story, blog. I have no idea what you maybe having surgery for, But I must suggest alternatives to this most invasive -last resort- technique- surgery. You may have tried this or many other things but please I would like to advise Water Therapy. You are a skateboarder, what about surfing, be in the water everyday, I have seen miracles from car accident victims from this powerful Natural element- water.
kindest wishes in your healing*

There is only one doctor who can do my surgery. Can’t go to Thailand for it.

Sweet.

Yeah. It’s tough. Because of the cost of my medical bills, I really don’t feel comfortable not having health insurance. However, should we get Universal Care, maybe I’d feel a bit better about things.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Everyone seems to love Thai hospitals!!!

I’m definitely going to do more research on the health care changes. Could be a solution for me… maybe.

Thanks! Everyone here is raving about Thai hospitals. Unfortunately, there is only one doctor who can do my surgery and he’s in Denver. The system sucks here. I hate it with a passion. It makes me so angry, the things they do to me!

Thanks for your reply Kara. Surgery is my last resort. It’s been 7 years now. I need it. Tried everything.

This is just terrible Jenny. I can’t believe things are so difficult when it comes to health in America. I am so so sorry that you have ended up in this situation. You are the one the health insurance companies should be taking care of! I’m not sure what the solution for you is. I know some other people have suggested that you move to another country, but that of course is a big step and you might have many reasons not for doing it. It’s a terrible decision to make to have decide whether to get the surgery or not… in medical dramas they always portray it as an easy snap decision with Patrick Dempsey standing over looking concerned and advocating the surgery. It certainly isn’t though. It sucks that only that one guy in Denver can do it. People don’t seem to understand that this is sometimes the case. I have a chronic pain syndrome which not much is known about and pretty much the only places for treatment are in Australia (there is one guy) and I think some in the US. I tried to find someone here in Sweden but nobody knows anything about it and have been more harm than help. And I wanted to move here to live with my boyfriend so I had to choose. I know it would have been fixed with long term treatment in Australia. It is getting a bit better these days on its own though, so I am not trying to complain. I just know that it can be really hard to find someone to help you.

I would like to come and live in the states for a while (I love visiting), but to be honest… I am a little afraid. I am extremely accident prone and seem to need medical attention for weird stuff fairly often. Living in Sweden at the moment I don’t even have health insurance since every single person is insured anyway. If I have to have an operation, the most I will ever pay is 270kr (which is about $50). You do have to be employed in some way to get that though.

I was really shocked at the cost when I actually had something medical happen to me in the states on my last trip there (I got Lyme’s disease). I decided to risk it and wait till I got back to Sweden to be treated.

I really hope things work out for you. If I come across any ideas I’ll pass them on. Maybe as many people in the comments have suggested, waiting for the new healthcare plan to kick in is a good idea. Good luck!

Hi Jenny,
Been reading you off and on for a while now, but this post while disturbing has also hooked me more into yourself.
There’s a lot of good info in the comments here, and I hope previous posters are able to help you make up your mind.
As to the insurance question- you’ll need to make the choice best suited for your needs.
As to having the operation and chances of success… there’s a wee mental technique I use for making all those great life decisions that may help you.
It’ll sound weird, but for me it works and has placed me and my family in a lifestyle others dream about. It’s how to find that inner intuitive guidiance that I believe we all posses but just don’t use.
It’s a quickie Meditation method, allowing your inner intuitive response to tell you what your future is.
Go somewhere quiet,relax, sit down, you can do a lotus position if you want but I find that unneccessary, free your mind of all other thoughts and influences, then ask yourself the question that is facing you.
And what is the immediate response inside your self?
A positive or negative feeling.
Anticipation or apprehension?
Joy or fear?

I’ve practiced this in every situation I where I need to make a decision….and no decision based upon this has ever been wrong. It’s taken me in unexpected pathways. Threw up a management career and became a custom shoemaker. Invested in property others would never touch, and sold them for twice the amount. Made a million bucks. Can travel the world now.
It’s all about finding, revealing and utilizing that inner intuitive sense that you can nurture and develop as a guide for life.
Perhaps it may help you.
PS for what it’s worth I see you doing it. And it will be good. But you have to make that decision.
Best.
Yeah I was going to blog on my site about all this mumbo jumbo… been a couple of blogs leading there on my site.

I am glad you survived Jenny, and disgusted that you’re stuck with a possible lifelong affliction because of the accident. The mafia, the accident…it’s just unreal that you were injured so severely from one idiot’s negligence. Your story is powerful, and I hope it drives home to everyone who reads that they simply CANNOT text and drive. If you do decide to undergo another surgery, I hope and pray that it is successful and you are able to walk away from it pain-free.

Car accidents freak me out – there aren’t many people who make me angrier than irresponsible drivers and i’m sorry you hae been the victim of one. stay well

so sorry for your injury and the decision you have to make jenny, but applaud you for writing about it. this is something that location independent folks face (just not with the same urgency as you) whether to take a gamble or shell out $$$. so hard to know what to do! i’ve been a freelancer for the past 7 years and am just fortunate that francisco has health insurance i can be on or i’d be SOL and paying up the wazoo too. truthfully, it makes me sick just thinking about it- and i’m sure that works in their favor- ha ha…uggh.

Simply awful. Still can’t figure out why so many are against a health care system that works far better than the one in the U.S. So sorry for the position you are in.

What an awful situation. As a Canadian, I knew that health insurance in the US was not easy, but I had no idea it was so very bad. I have no idea what to recommend, but I hope it works out. Sending you good vibes lady!

Thanks. I got a lot of messages from people who said they would think twice before they text and drive… that made sharing this story (and very personal photos) worth it.

Thanks Robin. I hope I’m never in a car accident again. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, it absolutely sucks.

One of the reasons I wrote about it is because it’s a huge problem for American location independents. I debated writing about it because it’s extremely personal. I just hope that enough people can see that the system is broken and there needs to be some change.

Right? Thank you.

Thanks Amy!!!

Thanks for your kind words and advice.

This post actually helped me get my thoughts out there and gain some clarity.

I think I’d rather just be done with the surgery and not have to worry about having health insurance pay for it in the future anymore. I’d be free of at least some of the ball and chain. Plus, the surgeon is way more awesome than the one that botched me so hopefully everything will go smooth.

Thanks for your awesome comment. I know how it feels to be afraid to make a big move so don’t feel alone in that. However, don’t hold back on living a dream based on a fear of X happening. You don’t know what will happen in the future so better to live, have a blast, and deal with any situations as they come.

I really do need to see Sicko. I’ve heard a lot about it, but have yet to see it.

I’m sorry if this is a ridiculous or obtuse question, but isn’t the insurance company of the guy who hit you required to pay for all this stuff? Or did you accept a final settlement at some stage?

And yeah, US health care, as state several times over, is a mess. Wonder what the immigration requirements for Thailand are. I might need to go there and have my body adjusted and healed, too!

You’re awesome and I appreciate you being willing to share this. Best to you, Jenny.

It’s a completely valid question. Maybe I had a lazy lawyer, but there were three different avenues of getting payment. 1. Insurance 2. Company (It was a company car that hit me) 3. Person

1. They were underinsured so I didn’t get shit. It actually went to my underinsured motorist policy, but my health insurance put a lien on the settlement. My lawyer took the rest.
2. The company went out of business and had no assets
3. The guy who hit me just got out of prison for murder. He was in some mafia. — Sorry not suing that guy.

[...] now with the mystery tale of “Where’s my rib?”.A Little Back StoryIn 2003 I was hit by a driver on the highway and pushed into a stopped vehicle at 60 MPH. I sustained an extremely rare injury called Thoracic [...]

Have you considered having the surgery overseas? I know there are lots of stories about medical tourism but what if you investigated swapping to a cheaper fund that didn’t cover the existing issue, but having that issue fixed in somewhere like Bangkok? Worth getting some quotes perhaps from overseas hospitals!

ps..oops..just read more carefully the other comments and saw it mentioned!

Insurance for those who own there own business is expensive! I am lucky to be married and under my wifes insurance will i run my business (not an option for everyone). I was also in a car accident but luckily surgery wasnt needed.