Vladimir and the Ukraine

Some quick thoughts to share, and we will get the big ones out the way first. Should we send U.S. troops: NO! Do I like Vladimir? No, though I have had professional respect for him in some areas, and personal in one. If you are not mature enough to differentiate between respecting someone and liking them, bugger off.

My heart bleeds for the Ukraine, and I’m moved by the willingness of its people to resist the invasion. To watch those who now live elsewhere, or are the children/grandchildren/etc. of those who immigrated return to defend it is amazing. What they have accomplished in resisting the invasion is nothing short of amazing. We should do all we can to support their efforts. Governmentally, this means sending them all the anti-tank, anti-air, and other arms and ammunition they so desperately need. It means providing humanitarian aid via public/private means. It does not mean providing troops on any level. That would be the worst thing we could do. On multiple levels.

That said, I have no problem with allowing U.S. Citizens to go there and fight. To join the Ukrainian Foreign Legion that has been proposed. In fact, I’m reminded of something the late (and much missed) L. Neil Smith wrote in one of his books, about an American staunchly opposing the U.S. taking a stance in a European conflict, and then leading a 1,000 airship volunteer armada to do just that. It is the difference between official action and non-official action, and is something we haven’t done much with since the Spanish Civil War. While that is a bag of worms for another day (and a nasty bag it is), we must not get sucked into this on an official level.

A good bit of that has to do with the rather obvious mental deterioration in one Vladimir Putin. It’s been obvious for a while that something was off with him. Multiple parties are talking about it now, but what brought it home for me was his meeting with Macron at the ultra-long table. While this was, no doubt, in part a way of snubbing him, there was something more to it. Then came the night he castigated a major cabinet member of live television — not a bright thing to do in the current return to the politburo level of operations. Then came is tirade against the Ukraine and justification for his actions. That was when a LOT of people began comparing notes and sharing concern over his mental well being. When the photo came out of him using the ridiculously long table to meet with his own defense leaders, well… While unconfirmed, it seems he doesn’t like to have anyone who is not part of his innermost circle behind him these days, or to let any such even close to him. Given that he is quite familiar with concealed weapons that can induce apparent heart attacks, much less spray nerve agents, the close thing is understandable. As for behind him, he is also quite familiar with leadership at various levels committing suicide by shooting themselves in the back multiple times.

In about three weeks, we’ve seen a Vladimir who was “off” go from chess to raising on a busted flush in something that is well beyond “off.” The nuclear escalation is not exactly unexpected, at least if you know a bit about the Soviet playbook for such things. What matters is if he still has full control, and/or the extent to which Dead Hand has been brought online. All I will say is that if his ability to give certain orders has been unofficially curtailed, it would not be the first time. If it hasn’t, it is not a good idea to poke the crazy man with the button via official actions.

And there are a lot of official actions out there that are not going to help in regards the deteriorating man. Among others is Switzerland deciding that they are neutral, but not that neutral. Add to it firm allies who have told him no, even after he just helped them out literally a few weeks ago… Even Xi has said no on some fronts. None of this is likely to slow down the deterioration. Or provide enough of a reality check to get through to him as he rages in his bunker with his captive oligarchs.

And while we are at it, let’s look at the attack itself and the absolute fuck up that it, and subsequent actions by STAVKA (call it what it is), truly are. It was billed as a demonstration of the new Russian way of war, their version of “Shock and Awe.” Problem is, S&A or any other form of blitz is heavily dependent upon superior logistics, something the Soviets nor the Russians have ever had. You need massive amounts of ammo, fuel, parts, and replacement troops to pull it off. Replacement troops not only because of losses, but the need to detail out troops to hold key points as you go. It also requires highly trained troops who know land nav inside and out.

From what I am learning, the order went out to make this happen. The actual order, however, may not have even approached what would be given for a small-unit special ops strike. Contingency plans? Decap. No? Then try for decap again. Decap. Decap. Try it again damnit! There are differing reports on the number of Wagner troops killed or captured, but a good number were sent in on assassination missions. They were not alone. Problem was, they were all alone as the original push down got bogged down; the efforts to do airmobile and airborne ops were shot down (literally in some cases); and, the public is now on high alert to the saboteurs and assassins roaming major cities trying to mark targets, etc. Don’t expect rules of war for those caught marking civilian buildings for strikes. For now, expect a return to grinding Soviet bombardment, civilian casualties be damned.

The fact is, Vladimir has already lost simply because he didn’t win. He is committed, and is committing Russia and all its people, to a long, grinding, bloody slog that is going to have severe economic impacts. Just replacing ammunition, gear, people, is going to have a severe impact. Add to it the growing official and unofficial sanctions? The Russian people are going to feel this one, in ways they never have before. Current Vladimir does not care. He’s lost to that. He has no way to go in and control the country, or even the parts he’s tried so desperately to annex. Even those are likely to slip from him given the current state of “uppitiness” on the part of the Ukrainians.

The Ukrainians have not won. At best they have pushed things into a long grind with some chance of a stalemate. Yet, by doing this they have won. They have prevented the cheap and easy victory on which Vladimir counted. They have forced him into committing military and economic resources he does not have over the long term. Heck, even the short term. Russia’s economy was already teetering, current operations and responses are going to crater it unless something major happens. I’ve lived through a couple of power struggles in the Kremlin; under these circumstances, I hope we all do live through what is to come. A quick clean change of leadership seems unlikely given the Keystone gang we’ve seen so far, but it may be our best hope.

All we can do is wait and see what happens. While current circumstances are not new or unique on many levels, I will note that in my lifetime I’ve never seen a situation like this where key leadership was this insecure. Xi is in some ways hanging by a thread, and knows his enemies in the CCP are looking for any excuse to bring him down. Vladimir we’ve discussed. The Europeans, particularly the Germans? They are not secure either, especially since the Green policies have caused them to firmly place their mouth around Putin’s, er, finger, in regards energy. To see them decide to fund their own military, back off on the idiocy of green (maybe), and truly support the Ukraine strikes more as a desperation move than a rational push. Johnson is a non-entity right now, and not to be taken seriously. Our own dementia patient? Hell, he’s just waiting for his ice cream and to be allowed to go back upstairs to watch Matlock. Those behind him, however, are desperate beyond belief. Not one major stable leader anywhere in the world. That’s a new one and I thought I had about seen it all after watching the Soviets/Russians for more than 40 years now.

Oh, for those still focused on the opening paragraph and gasping with indignation that I have had some respect for Vladimir (at least in some areas)? The one personal area was with food, as it was through him (though he didn’t know it) that I tried his favorite restaurant in St. Petersburg. It became my favorite too. Too bad I’ll never get back there again in this lifetime. Oh well, I’d rather find something better in the Ukraine anyways.

If you like what you are reading, hope you might help me out. You can hit the tip jar in the upper right, or I’m also working on A New Life. Thanks.

Well, I’m Typing

I think that may be the most I’m willing to commit to at this time, given that every time I say I’m still alive and/or doing well it seems to be taken as a bit of a challenge. I don’t want the following to come across as sacrilegious, but: I know God does not give us more than we can handle, but Lord, I am not even close to being the badass you seem to think I’m capable of being.

In the latest out-of-the-blue health issue, I’m now recovering from what I am told is a diverticulitis flare. The last two colonoscopies (the botched one a few years ago, and the great one two years ago) had no mention of diverticulitis that I remember. So, imagine my surprise at finding myself in the local ER (again) with what I thought was a blockage but the CT scan says was diverticulitis. Need to do more research on the condition, but the one thing I can tell you is it taught me some new meanings for pain.

That said, I am now back on solid food after several days of stock and broth. Still weaker than I care for, as running some minor errands yesterday wiped me out. It doesn’t take much to wipe me out right now.

I’m slowly getting used to the new computer. Not thrilled with some of what I regard as “fancying” things up. From two-stage pressure pads to some software “upgrades” that I regard as less than helpful, it makes for a system that looks great but has no real consideration for real-world production users. Also, having to teach several new autocorrect features my words and basic style (Oxford comma!) is a bit of a pita. So, if you see spelling or other issues, some of them are us fighting and you can be sure that I did NOT say anything about mother truckers at any point.

There is a guest post I hope to get up later, and I have a number of thoughts to share about Vladimir and the Ukraine. I’m also hoping to talk more on practical preparedness as my recent trip to the SW and the weekend of pain exposed some shortcomings as well as helping showcase why I do some things.

No, wait, to say more soon might be seen as a challenge. Instead, think I will just go with mischief managed! Seems safer.

Moving Along?

I apologize for the long gaps, but the last few weeks have been interesting. My faithful laptop purchased in 2007 reached the limits of it’s abilities towards the end of January, and I got a new-to-me newer laptop. Along with dealing with the issues on the old, the new laptop won’t run the software from the old system (64 bit versus 32 bit). It also won’t do migration, so there has been a lot of very time consuming manual file transfer involving an external hard drive since none of the ports on the old computer work with the new generations of computer. Fun, fun, fun. For now, going to reconfigure the old computer for photo and video work, and am getting everything else set up on the new. Have to do that as the software people want me to buy everything new again, and that’s not in the current budget.

There continue to be health issues, including a positive test that forced me to isolate for a week. The blood pressure is still not under control, and I’ve had some life experiences that have reinforced to me that I can’t do a lot of things (yet) that I used to do.

On the good news front, I did get to the Southwest and loved it. I can’t begin to describe how much better I felt out there. It truly was amazing. Also, being able to go check things out in person resulted in some areas/opportunities being taken off the list, and a couple of new things added. In fact, I left with a most interesting job offer: dressing up in 1880s period clothing to interact with visitors about history and more. Pay isn’t great but I am very seriously considering it. Meantime, following up on some more traditional employment opportunities and continuing to refine things down with the goal of moving in as little as six weeks if I can raise the necessary funds.

For those interested, I have narrowed it down to two states. The first has decent ratings on various personal freedom/individual liberty indexes. The second is not as good, but there is some movement towards improvement. One state took itself out of consideration because of its low/red ratings. Within the first state, there are three locations under consideration right now, two semi-close together and the third being remote in almost every way. I really, really like the third location, but don’t see it right now as being a likely place for the initial move. The fourth location was a surprise as it was not on the list, but I liked it a lot and there are some job opportunities in the area that I hope to spend a good bit of time this week exploring. All locations have basic medical, and both air and ground transport to advanced medical care.

It’s going to be a busy few weeks, but if the next two are as productive as I hope they will be, a lot will get done. We’re about halfway on the fundraising goal, and with a bit more help, I can get a place to live and hire the movers to get me there. I’m not happy about having to hire the help, but life has reinforced (along with some friends) that I can’t do it (at least right now).

To everyone who has shared with me, and offered prayers, my thanks! It has all helped and made quite a difference. There are no good words to say how much I appreciate all the help and support, other than Thank You. So, Thank You!

BTW, if you don’t trust GiveSendGO after the hack, feel free to hit the tip jar in the upper right. Both will get to me, and it is all appreciated!

I’m Not Dead Yet

And at least I’m not on the cart at the mercy of Monty Python. Sorry for the long silence, but life has been interesting. I’m having computer problems, and it may be a week or two more before they are fully resolved. I’ve also dealt with testing positive for COVID and other issues. The cardiologist still can’t get the BP under control. All that said, there is a LOT of positive going on. I will share more soon, once the computer issues are fixed.

I know GiveSendGo is down right now, so feel free to hit the tip jar in the upper right if you like. Prayers very much appreciated. Let’s also hope that GSG is back up soon.

Take care, and thank you all for the amazing support!

A Day Of Answers And Blessings

As a writer, you always wonder how much impact you have had with your work. If a book sells well, you know you’ve done something, even if you may not always be sure what you have done. With a lot of other work, stories and online posts, you never know and comments are an extremely unreliable thing. In fact, I will join with others and say never read the comments in posts or such about you and/or your work. That said, you always wonder if you have ever truly been able to reach even one person, for if you have, you have done at least some good in the world.

But, I have to admit that since the open heart surgery, I’ve been questioning my life and what, if anything, I’ve accomplished. Many of the normal things, like a wife and children, are not there for reasons that I won’t go into. I wanted them, and there is still time for marriage, though I am not sure I should have children. It’s been one of those times where you can get down, and when you do you might wonder if anyone will even show up at your funeral. Though I admit I want a wake to go with the funeral, so that if anyone does show up a good time is had by them all. I also still like the idea of a speaker for the dead…

I bring this up as this has been a day of answers and blessings for me. This morning, Sarah A. Hoyt wrote something at Instapundit that made it very dusty in here. The fact is, I had no idea about her reading me. When I began reading her, I didn’t have a clue she had already been reading me. Funny how things work out. Thanks to her, the fundraiser has taken off.

On top of that, it was a good day at Cardiac Rehab. I may not have had a heart attack, but my path back is much like that. We’ve had some things come up that are concerning, though some were not entirely unexpected. For example, it’s not unusual for your BP to go up as you start rehab. I was surprised and disappointed, however, at how high mine went. Not as bad as after the lightning strike, but bad enough. It’s been slow work getting it down, several medication changes. Today was the best BP in a while and while there is a long way to go it is coming down and I’m also starting to get a bit of stamina back (IMO).

There have also been some other issues that have come up. I won’t get into all of them, but will say that I was delighted when the cardiac monitor I have to wear for two weeks showed up today. It’s a cute little thing that has one part attached to my chest and a phone that pairs with it to monitor and record. Hopefully, it will help them figure out what else is going on and see what we can do about it. If it does not show any afib, whatever else it does show, it can help get me off one medicine — and getting off meds is a good thing.

A minor blessing of the day was waking up and not having some sinus issues as normal. Landlord put a humidifier in my room, and it has made a huge difference in breathing and in not shocking myself silly via static electricity. Small potatoes in some way, but it is a positive.

The other blessing of the day is getting all the prayers and messages of hope from people around the world. People who even if they could not donate, offered prayers for me. I very much believe that the prayers I got before the surgery are one reason I did so well.

It has been a day of answers and blessings, large and small. Thank you for them all. My thanks to higher have already gone out. May your day be blessed as well.

Russia, Two Reads

If you are wondering what is going on with Russia, the Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, have two reads for you.

First read is an excellent read that ties together a lot of information. HT to Amy Poindexter (non-blogger) for this one. We’ve talked about the buffers and how Russia (Putin) views the NGOs and NATO expansion before, and this lays out the case very well. Keep in mind Vladimir and the leaders of Belarus and other Collective Security Treaty Organization are desperate and scared. This is not the basis for good decision making. Oh, and if you are not familiar with NED, this read gives some pretty good info.

The second read is sadly one dimensional, but still worth a read for more detail on terrain and buffer zones.

The situation has not improved since the last time we discussed it here. In fact, it has gotten worse. Also, keep in mind that Putin has absolutely no trust in the current administration. That’s because of things that happened in the Obama administration (of which the current is take two with quite a few of the same players) that led to a perception by Putin of betrayal/lying/etc. This was made even worse by a major blunder by the W administration that only amplified the distrust.

Take a read, keep your eyes open, and find non-US news sources to keep an eye on both what happens in Kazakhstan and the Ukraine. Whatever happens is going to have far reaching consequences.

Update: Good, Mixed, WTF?

I like to start with the good, and the good news is that the fundraiser got off to a great start courtesy of an anonymous donor. Now, if more donations come in, things can get moving. Yes, a pun, couldn’t resist. Why a fundraiser? Here’s the post launching it that lays out what isn’t covered at the fundraiser itself. Again, if you don’t want to use the fundraising site but do want to help, hit the tipjar at the top of the page. All prayers appreciated.

On the mixed front, there may have been something good happen — but there’s no record of it. As I noted before, the insurance company denied all claims related to the ER and surgery. In short, the hospital filed the proper paperwork, but sent it to the wrong fax number. The next morning, the error was caught and corrected. However, it was the next morning and that broke the time limit they had to file. So, the insurance refused to cover anything. There are appeals in work, and I’m getting ready to file some appeals myself. However, the billing office of the one doctor who has billed me directly (so far) reports that they have been paid. Only problem is, I can’t find any record of it at the insurance company. Calling their customer disservice is useless 99 percent of the time, so wondering if they just haven’t updated things or just what is going on. Be nice to know before I file any appeals that may not be needed.

My WTF moment this week came from my visit to the Nurse Practitioner at the cardiologists office. As always, a ECG was run and glancing at part of it I thought it was off but didn’t get a good look and the NP didn’t say anything about it. She did talk to me about wearing a monitor for a few weeks, and if there was no afib, I could come off one of the meds I’m taking. That would be good. However, I do get all test results electronically and I’m thankful as the ECG was indeed abnormal and is likely the real reason for the monitor. I consider that a lie of ommission, and am not happy about it at all. At the same time, just hoping that this doesn’t indicate other problems that could keep me from returning to work/being able to work. Especially as we still have not gotten the BP back under control after it spiked when I started cardiac rehab.

That’s the week so far. Hope all of you are having a good one. So far so good on my goal of not getting hit by lightning again this year.

A New Life

As I wrote the other day, it is time to make some changes. I’ve been given an amazing opportunity to start anew as it were. It is not, however, without its challenges.

There were delays getting me into cardiac rehab, which in turn has impacted other things including my return to work. It will now be February before I can do that (we hope). I am slowly getting strength back, but stamina can still be an issue.

Rather than just try to get by until February, some friends have encouraged me to do a fundraiser and go for what will get me moved to the desert Southwest and make a truly fresh start in an area that will be much better for my health. So, I’ve started A New Life fundraiser on GiveSendGo to raise money to do three basic things:

One: Cover my basic expenses while I remain out of work;

Two: Cover the cost of traveling to the SW to follow-up on employment opportunities, determine which area is the best option for now; and, secure a place to live there;

Three: Cover the expenses of moving there, as I will not be able to lift, tote, or otherwise do the normal things of moving myself.

As of right now, I’ve exhausted my financial resources. With this fundraiser, I can use the time I know I will be out of work to take care of the things needed to start my life over again on the best possible footing, and to be prepared for being out of work longer than expected. It’s sort of the way things have been running.

The fundraiser has more details on what led me to this point, from decisions I made to little things like getting hit by lightning and needing open heart surgery. I will share that I’ve been looking hard at West Texas, South Central New Mexico, and Southern Arizona. Originally, I was looking hardest at West Texas but for some odd reason I’ve had to start factoring medical into the search on a much larger basis, both cardiac and for things related to potential long-term issues from the lightning strike. While I hope to avoid such, better to plan for them now than try to deal with them later. It has changed my focus a bit, as an area in the search zone really popped for medical. I need to check it out, and follow-up on some potential opportunities.

So, to get into what I would like to have happen. First, get the immediate bills covered. If you want to help with that, but are leary of the fundraiser, feel free to hit the tip jar in the upper right. Second, I need to travel out to the locations under consideration; follow-up on some opportunities and explore some new possibilities; and, if things click as hoped, secure lodging so I can move out there. I’m going to have to rent a car for the trip as my vehicle is not up to doing much more than getting me around town, and I’m scared it may stop doing that…

If all goes as hoped, I want to come back, hire a mover, and head out as fast as I can do so. Part of me hates the idea of having to hire a mover, but if I try to load a truck and drive it, a number of friends have indicated they would hurt me. At this point in my recovery, trying to do that would hurt me as well. I’m going to have to be wearing a monitor for 2-3 weeks here soon as it is, no need to give them something too interesting to watch.

I hate having to ask for (more) help. The overwhelming generosity of three months ago has gotten me this far; but, along with my savings and other funds, it is gone. So, I’m asking for prayers, and for the help that will help me get to where I need to be to make the most of this new life and the opportunity it presents. As I said above, you can feel free to hit the tip jar if you are more comfortable with that, or you can donate through the campaign and read a bit about what led to this point. Yes, I am asking for a good bit, but I’ve tried to ensure realistic amounts (in some cases worst-case amounts) so that there are as few unpleasant surprises as possible. The idea is to have as solid a foundation in place as possible, so I can concentrate on standing back up as rapidly as possible.

Thank you for your time, and for reading both here and at the fundraiser. I hope you may help with the immediate and with trying to build a truly new life. As always, prayers are very much appreciated.

Farewell 2021, Hello 2022

I come not to praise the year that was; yet, I shall not condemn. At least not completely.

On a purely personal level, one could see it as a flaming train wreck. Various automotive and other issues were there. I was hit by lightning in June and ended up having emergency open heart surgery in October, quite likely as a result of said lightning strike. There were cognitive issues that went with the lightning strike, and while those are dealt with for now, there are unfortunately good odds that there will be further cognitive and/or neurological issues. Then, there’s the whole being out of work since mid-October.

Looked at another way, however, it was a year of miracles large and small. In March, I switched jobs and found myself in a place where they actually liked me and were glad I was there; and, I got to make use of prior knowledge and experience to have fun and help our customers. So much fun that I even was made employee of the month at one point. When all the fun with my health started, they have been very good to me and have let me know that if possible they want me back.

I survived being hit by lightning. A secondary strike it is true, but it was an electrifying experience that had good odds of killing me. While it most likely led to the cardiac problems I’ve experienced, it may have been for the best. One of the theoreticals discussed is that it may have “activated” something dormant or building and forced it out into the open. Even if not, the fact that I was getting cardiac care allowed a suddenly rapidly deteriorating situation to be identified and care sought.

That care quite literally saved my life. My “quick” visit to the ER turned into an admission, a heart cath the next day, and open heart surgery the next. Again, while the odds were good, when you have multiple things going on it can and does change those odds. To my mind, it is another miracle that I survived and that I am healing as well as I am. For all I will complain about the slow pace, know that I do realize just how well and fast things are going. Compared to even five years ago, it is amazing.

So, while 2021 was in many ways a barely warm buffet of fat warty hairy suckitude leftover from 2020 — and that will NOT be missed — I have to look at it as the year I was in many ways reborn. The thing is, miracles and getting another chance do come with some obligations. I do feel there is something I am supposed to do, possibly more than one. I wish that such things were clearer, as I tend not to get subtle. Keep in mind, it took a lightning strike to start getting and holding my attention…

So, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. I’ve spent the last few years, quite a few in fact, trying to rebuild my life. 2021 saw an abrupt end to the life that was, and in many ways provides a clean start. I think that is one of the things I am supposed to take advantage of…

Before 2021, the major medical issue in my life, aside from allergies, was arthritis and related inflammation. Both shoulders are, eventually, going to need replacement or real regenerative medicine. Given all I’ve done, including jumping out of perfectly good airplanes a time or two, my hips and knees are in fair shape, though my lower back seems to be trying to make up for that. The cold and humidity up here are not good for me, and sudden pressure changes can be literally crippling.

I’ve been advised to move to a warmer climate for a year or two now — including by doctors — and I think it’s time to make that happen. The recent surgery and such has made me feel the cold like I never have before. Given all, the desert Southwest has been rather strongly recommended and I need to go visit for a bit to explore options and get things in place so I can move out there. It’s also time to quit with the ‘pain and suffering are good for the soul’ thing and get the orthopedic mattress also recommended a while back.

The financial issues that have been more than a minor impediment go back a number of years. Let’s just say that while parts of that were my fault for bad decisions (getting talked into helping start yet another charity was not a good one), having a false diagnosis of cancer followed a couple of years later by a botched colonoscopy made life far more interesting than it should have been. The former came from someone making a diagnosis on the basis of a visual exam, not pathology, but they were backed up by an oncologist who declared that the first person had the experience to make such a claim even before doing a cursory exam. Net result, I stepped down from a job to deal with this, and after getting to a real doctor who did a surgical procedure and proved via pathology that I did NOT have cancer, had to take a lower-level job to get by. That job went away in the aftermath of the botched colonoscopy (among other things, my manager had not wanted me to have the colonoscopy to start with), which resulted in something lower paying to get by yet again. It seemed like each time I got to a position where I could start to move up and/or rebuild, the stuffing got knocked out of me.

This time does not feel that way, despite the fact that I am still out of work and likely to be out into or through February. Why? I’m not sure of all the reasons. One is that I do feel guided. Another is the incredible generosity from people hitting the tip jar here and offering up prayers for me. I honestly feel that without both, I might not have made it this far. Just as it took me a while to accept that I needed help with my health, it has taken me a while to realize I need help to start over. Accepting help is not one of my strong points, but just as I had to accept the help of nurses and others to stand, walk, and do the basics of life in the hospital until I was able to do them on my own again, I need the help of others to stand back up and get into position to do all the things I am supposed to do with this new life. Not easy. Scary. On more levels that I want to admit. But, I think getting into a better place (on every level) is part of what is intended for me to do in 2022.

So, don’t be surprised to see a fundraiser started in the next few days. Contribute if you will; if you want to help but don’t want to do that, feel free to hit the tip jar at the top of the page. Also, as always, prayers are most welcome. I’m praying for that which is right to be, and I hope you will too.

Meantime, I will not mourn nor miss 2021. I simply hope that 2022 builds on the good that did happen in my life in 2021 to take me where I need to be, and to do that which I need to do. I wish I better understood what it is I’m supposed to do, but I also have faith that I will be shown. Hopefully without another lightning strike to get my attention.

The Story Behind The Insurance Denial

At least as it currently stands…

I’ve been talking to a variety of offices and people since finding out the insurance company denied all charges related to my visit to the ER and the emergency procedures and surgery. I’ve been more than a bit interested since first finding out that it was because of lack of prior authorization. There may have been a bit of intimation at one point that I should have called them for permission to go to the ER, but I’m told now that such was not/is not the case.

If the information I now have is accurate, the hospital did indeed file all the right paperwork with the insurance company in the appropriate time limit. However, they initially faxed it to an incorrect phone number. Once the wrong number was discovered, they resent it to the correct number. However, that was the next morning, and as such it was “late” and so the insurance company said no to all bills.

As for me, I am curious: did the hospital send it to a truly wrong number, or had there been a number change? Given the amount of business done with the insurance company, I have to wonder how they had a wrong number. If it was a change in numbers by the insurance company, had that been communicated to the hospital? The one thing I will say is that 99 out of 100 calling the number for the insurance company is about as useful as teats on a boar. Finding out that it’s not just my luck in calling and getting someone who doesn’t want to do a thing — they apparently are notorious for ignorant, ill-trained (or flat out untrained), unhelpful phone reps. If you do call them and are hitting walls, just try asking for a supervisor, as there is NEVER one on the floor/available at that time. Don’t hold your breath waiting for them to call back, either.

The good news is that several parties are appealing this denial. I’m holding up on my appeal until I talk with at least one more person, as what I may do is appeal (for now) just one particular denial if it can be coordinated to and help with the appeal by the provider.

For now, going to continue not naming the company. If all appeals are denied, however, the gloves likely will come off and I will do my best to call in the world. Meantime, at least some stress is off knowing that appeals are in process and others are working on their and my behalf on this. Hate that I’ve already got one bill as a result, but will talk with them next week and probably send a registered letter just to be safe. From what I’ve been hearing, even though one or more appeals have already been filed, it will likely be a month before we hear back on them.