Unfortunately, I have had to make a rather critical decision to cancel my Medicare supplemental insurance because I just cannot afford 354.00 per month on Social Security Disability. This will mean having to forgo mental health therapy for the rest of the year as I just will not be able to afford it. Literally it has come down to being able to afford food and rent or talk therapy. I think food and rent are far more important than therapy at the moment. I hate this country.
There is some back story to all of this. Back when I went out on Social Security Disability for the second time (April of this year), the first mistake I made was to follow my father’s advise and contact United Medicare Advisors for assistance in choosing a Medicare supplement plan. These “advisors” are scammy. They want to sell you the highest cost plan so that they earn the highest commissions. The second mistake I made was to actually trust the “advisor.” Had I done a little shopping on my own, I would have discovered a Medicare Advantage plan that would have only cost me 39.00 a month and would have covered everything I need through Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.
I know Medicare Advantage is often buyer beware but I did my homework (after the fact) and this would have covered all of my medical needs and more. So I will have to restart talk therapy after the first of the year when I will be able to afford it again because of the lower cost Medicare Advantage Highmark Freedom PPO. Poverty is so difficult. The choice between seeking care for mental illness and basic life’s necessities is a difficult one.