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dhbrug
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| Posted: April 05 2005 at 10:05am | IP Logged
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Hmmpphhh. All the children are sick with some sort of Strep throat. We took in the sickest one and he has some antibiotics ($40) and now they will all need to go in.
With 5 more children at $40 each plus the doctors fees of at least $25 per child, we are up for $325 at least!
How do you all handle these costs? I am stunned at the high costs of anything medical in the US and figure there must be ways you all work around this for the regular viruses and infections. This is one of the few unavoidable areas where a large family is at a MAJOR cost disadvantage in the US. In most other areas you can get bulk discounts.
Your advice would be appreciated.
Regards
David and Lana
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Bridget
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| Posted: April 05 2005 at 10:16am | IP Logged
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Oh, crud! We have good health insurance, thanks be to God. It is worth asking your doc to prescribe for the other children based on the diagnosis of the first.
If your doctor has a good relationship with you and trusts your judgement he or she may be willing to do this. It would certainly be nice to forego an office visit for each child.
Our's has been willing to do this, especially for something like strep, which is so contagious.
The nurse or receptionist who you first talk to may not be very co-operative about taking your request to the doc, but push for it. I've found most doctors to be very understanding about these kinds of issues.
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Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
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Courtney
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| Posted: April 05 2005 at 10:24am | IP Logged
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I only have 2 children, but I took one in last week for pink eye. We've used up all the drops b/c my ds got it after dd, then I got it. Today my dh woke up with really red swollen eyes. I just called the pediatrician and he's calling in more drops since it's spreading through the family. Like Bridget mentioned, I think many doctors are willing to do this if it's something that they know is very contagious like strep or pink eye.
We had wonderful insurance that we paid nothing for when my husband was with his last job. Now we pay almost $800 a month with his new job and the coverage isn't as great. It pains me to pay this but makes me extremely grateful we had such good coverage for 15 years and that at this time have relatively low needs for it.
I hope your family is all feeling better soon!
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Courtney in Texas
Wife to Mike since 3/94 
Mom to Candace 10/97 ,Christopher 4/00 and Connor 11/11
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amiefriedl
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| Posted: April 05 2005 at 10:50am | IP Logged
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We have always taken some comfort, fwiw, in the tax deduction at the end of the year for medical expenses. At least it is something. We take the mileage deduction for trips to the doc too. It is amazing how many miles trips to the doc can add up to in a year. And we aren't very sick very often. But it all adds up to help relieve the tax burden. Don't know if that is an option for you or not, but thought I'd mention it.
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In Christ the King through Mary our Mother,
Amie
Blessed with an awesome hubby and Mom of ds10, dd7, dd3 and dd 10months.
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dhbrug
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| Posted: April 05 2005 at 10:54am | IP Logged
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We have good health insurance, but we still have a co-pay of $25 for a doctors visit and then prescriptions are $10,$20 or $30 each. This is after the health benefits. From my chats with others that have moved to GA from elsewhere, apparently that is fairly typical here.
The problem is really the VOLUME. With 6 children, it doesn't take much to build up.
We will negotiate with the Doctor and see what we can do.
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dhbrug
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| Posted: April 05 2005 at 11:03am | IP Logged
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That's a good idea Amie.
However, for us, with no Mortgage interest (that is all back in Australia) we won't make deductions over the standard. But that is one way to offset the costs.
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MEBarrett
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| Posted: April 05 2005 at 1:14pm | IP Logged
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We have a co-pay of $30 per child and a per drug co-pay on meds. Since Ryan takes a minimum of 8 pills a day for his siezures, this can run into money. The good thing is that the insurance is very good and that is all we pay for. Hospital is free, so when Ryan has to have his yearly sedated EEGs it is all covered.
My pediatrican is a lovely lady with two children the same ages as my older two. Generally when someone gets something contagious she will give me prescriptions for everyone and if possible combine them. For example since Kelli and Kevin are so close in age and size it is possible for them to have the same dose of antibiotics so she just gives me one prescription in a larger size. Same with Katie and Erin (good thing they are so close together). She is also good about letting me know when an OTC medicine will do just fine or if it is better to just wait it out. There have been occasions when the kids are not too sick yet so she will give me a prescription and tell me what to look out for and if needed fill it then. That avoids the whole second visit cost and if the symptoms go away no med cost either. I also hate to medicate with anitbiotics unless it is REALLY necessary.
I think a good relationship with the pediatrican can make things a lot easier, you need someone who can keep the kids healthy while recognizing your need to not be in the poor house.
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Mary Ellen
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Tales from the Bonny Blue House
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momtomany
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| Posted: April 05 2005 at 3:47pm | IP Logged
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MEBarrett wrote:
| We have a co-pay of $30 per child and a per drug co-pay on meds. Since Ryan takes a minimum of 8 pills a day for his siezures, this can run into money. The good thing is that the insurance is very good and that is all we pay for. Hospital is free, so when Ryan has to have his yearly sedated EEGs it is all covered. |
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My John takes 11 pills per day for his seizures. In case of a seizure we have a medicine that works well, but is $100.00- $200.00 per dose. Plus he gets speech therapy twice a week. All costly, but the state of Pennsylvania has a prorgam of medical assistance that is called "diagnosis only". Doesn't matter what the parents'income is. It's for kids with serious, chronic health problems. I know this won't help with the strep throat that runs rampant throughout the house, but if anyone has aseriously ill child it might be worth it to look into your state programs.
BTW, I'm married to the pediatrician so I never go in to the office for ear exams and the like. And we get some medicine samples too.
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Mary Ann in PA
wife to MIchael, mom to Elizabeth, Becca, Tim, Peter, Andrew, Sarah, Matthew, John, Leah and Joseph
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dhbrug
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| Posted: April 05 2005 at 7:49pm | IP Logged
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Well, Lana has returned from the doctors. Rose (10 mths) and Clare (4) have ear infections. The doctor looked at all the children at the same time, but only charged for two. We got a BIG bottle of cough medicine with instructions on appropriate doses for all of them. Phew! That saved a fortune. I suppose having 6 kids in a small office, all looking a bit pathetic added to our case.
So now we get down to another sick week.
Thank you all for your advice.
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jdostalik
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| Posted: April 06 2005 at 7:57am | IP Logged
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David and Lana,
Having just recovered from awful colds (most of us) and an ear infection (6 mo. old!), I commiserate! I will pray for you all to recover quickly!
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God Bless,
Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
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MEBarrett
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| Posted: April 10 2005 at 6:41pm | IP Logged
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David and Lana:
I am so sorry about all the illness. I love those big bottles of cough syrup. Especially the sleepy kind. I find that if the children can just get a good night's rest they often feel so much better (me too  ). The trouble with the cough thing is that it is so exhausting to be coughing all day then up all night with it. Ear infections are just miserable. Especially for the baby (poor little Rose).
This is our first year homeschooling and I have to say it is the healthiest year we have ever had. For the first time since having children, no ear infections, no stomach virus (thank you God, thank you God)and no serious coughs. Just mild sniffly stuff.
I love homeschooling  !!!!!!!!!!!
We'll say a prayer that the germs leave the Bruggemans alone soon!
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Mary Ellen
Mom to seven beautiful kids
Tales from the Bonny Blue House
O Night Divine
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Topic: When they all get sick
