Health update

My parathyroid cancer surgery scheduled for July 19 (see here and here) has been approved by my health insurer at the in-network rate.

This is a huge weight off my soldiers. I faced the prospect of having to pay a considerable sum to cover the out-of-network deductible. Now, that worry is behind me. I can't begin to thank the doctors, surgeons and their staffs who went to bat for me to get me over this hurdle.

For any of my readers in a similar bind, here are the steps that worked for me in dealing constructively with the insurance company. I pass them on for what they're worth:

1) Be kind
2) Be humble
3) Be flexible
4) Be persistent
5) Be patient

I found years ago that screaming at the person on the other end of the line causes far more setbacks than victories. It's counterproductive. People tune out pretty quickly when they're screamed at or made to feel inadequate. Plus, they've got your health care in their hands. They can make things happen, or not.

A wise owl doesn't shit in his own nest, so to speak.

Often, you'll speak with several people at the insurance company and get several conflicting answers.
This is where those five steps come in.

So ...

No more paperwork, nothing else to do but show up at the hospital on the appointed day and hope for the best. Meanwhile, I'm due for a final intravenous infusion of medication next week. I'm looking forward to it because the headaches I'm experiencing are getting more intense and less responsive to Advil, as they do when my serum calcium level reaches a certain point. But the IV drug has some pretty potent side effects of its own. It's a trade-off.
So it goes.
One moment at a time ought to do the trick.