Umm. I don't know

[lurkings]

Is it possible to get meds without your insurance knowing?

[Juls]

It depends on what they are.

Juls

[lurkings]

Anti-depressants or Anti-Anxiety (I think they run hand in hand)

[Juls]

Well, if the Dr. prescribed them for you and you paid cash for them your insurance wouldn't know. But are talking about health insurance or life insurance. In regards to life insurance, if you have ever been treated for a psychiatric disorder before they will insure, if your changing insurance companies or getting it for the first time until after they have seen copies of your medical records. That is why I will not discuss certain things with a therapist of psych person, because I want to keep my privacy. Lets say there was some unknown circumstance as to how I died the insurance company may be able to put across that my death was suicidal, or that it was related to me having a mental disorder.

Juls

[lurkings]

~Juls,
I have been thinking about taking a anti-depressant for a little while but I don't want it to go through my insurance because I don't want my family to know. I don't know what it says in a persons insurance statements so... I have been paying for counseling out of my own pocket. Luckly I have a GREAT lady who works with me on that... I just don't want it on my insurance. Can you get a RX from a walk-in clinic? I thought about going to one and then having my therapist write a note saying that I need something and then they could give me a RX.

[Juls]

A prescription would have to come from a Dr. or a psychiatrist. The would need to know your history. You can do all this if you can pay for these appointments and your medication. Many Dr.s will also give you samples of medications to take, if money is a problem. Every time you run out they give you more samples. I took paxil for over a year this way. I did not have insurance at the time and my psych dr. would give me samples.

Juls

[historyteach]

Your family will not know even if it goes through the insurance. That is a result of the new tighter policy on privacy. However, if you are depressed, and only a doctor can determine that, your family can be a great source of support - a support you need. Please try not to isolate yourself from the people who love you most. You will all lose out.
Shalom!

[lurkings]

~Juls,
Thank you!!!!

~Historyteach,
So you know it wouldn't show up on my insurance? You know that? It isn't my whole family. Just my parents... Let me give you an example.

I had to get my eyes checked and they told the they were going to dialate them. So I ask my dad to take me since he needed to go to that side of town anyways. His car is so gross that I asked if he wanted to drive mine (mine is a beautiful Ford Tauras '99 I love it!!). Before I was seeing the great lady I am seeing now I was seeing another fellow and I had his car in my car, behind my appointment card. He saw the other card and said, "What the hell are you seeing a psychologist for? What the f### is wrong with you?" He is shouting this acrossed the parking lot. I told him I had an interview with him and left it at that.

So no, some of the immediate members of my family are not the best ones to "support" me. I have felt this way through out my whole life. So I have other families. You know, the ones that say to you, "Why don't you just move in here. You're here all the time anyways." They know and they are helping me. One has given me money to go to the therapist once already. (I paid them back ofcourse) My sister knows I am talking to someone so she has been supportive in that area but I haven't told her everything.

Just because the main part of my immediate family doesn't know that doesn't mean I am not getting any support. I suppose if you knew them you would understand better but it is a bad spot to put myself in. And I don't know how much insurance can put me there.

[Cecilia]

Lurkings

Dont worry about the doctor telling anyone anything. Its against the law for ANY doctor to discus your medical history. The ONLY time they can divulge info is if you are a danger to yourself or others.

Afterwards Elvis had to see a psychiatrist. Even tho I was his wife she NEVER discussed what he said with me. I knew he wasnt being straight with her so I asked to see her. She said she welcomed info from family members as it helped her to treat her patients. BUT. WE would not be discussing anything he said unless both of us were in the room at the time.

[lobstermom]

First of all, I think that you should seek any treatment that you feel you need- have you looked into counselor who treat on a "sliding fee scale"?
Secondly- If you are on your parents health insurance and they have a deductible for mental health services, then yes- it would show up on their monthly statements. I think it would show up anyway, if you are on their policy- every time I visit a physician I get a statement, whether or not there is a balance owed on the account, just to notify me that X amount was applied to my insurance, or that I have X amount to pay the provider. If you have your own insurance policy, then I would expect that you would recieve the same information as i have stated, but mailed to you, not your parents. The doctor will not disclose information to anyone you don't want, but the insurance company still has to notify the policy holder of activities that were applied for/denied for a certain policy.
(added)- I'm pretty sure the same would apply for prescriptions- especially if there is a yearly out-of-pocket deductible (at least that's the way with my insurance).

[woodtick]

Lurk,
I'm sorry you can't share your mental health problems with your parents. That really sucks. I would call your health insurance provider's 800# and ask them if there is a way to bill for your specific services without notifying your parents. You can call the customer service department and ask specific questions about your policy without your parents knowing. Yes, you will have to identify yoursef but they don't record and report inquiring calls, at least my provider doesn't and I have never known one to. Make sure you have all your health insurance info before you call. You might find out there is a way to bill your insurance company for everything and have the statements about you sent to an address other than your parent's. Wishfull thinking, but I wouldn't be suprised. Wouldn't that be the bomb if you didn't have to pay out of your pocket for anything but co-payments!

This situation is another example of why I believe in nationalized health insurance.

[LettingGo]

If you are on your own insurance, just change the address to a po box or work. Then the Explanation of Benefits will go to that address. If you are on your parents' insurance then I dont know how to get around it! Good luck!

[Lilya]

Lurkings, ma puce,

I´m sorry your father is not supportive. It´s more common that you would think. I struggled to get my Mom into therapy when she was driving herself crazy over Dad´s illness, and both me and her brother reminded her we had been in therapy for years and always would be. "That´s because it´s the new fashion," she said. "I wouldn´t be seen dead going into a shrink´s office." Listen, Lurkings, it´s the old generation.

I hope you get the insurance company to bill you under your own name. Good luck!

Use adversity

[Juls]

Lurkings, what type of insurance are you covered by?

Juls

[lurkings]

~Juls I have Cigna!!!
~Woodtick that is probable a good idea!!!!
~ Letting Go, actually me and my sister talked about that today. I am just thinking about any report they might give to us on a statement.

I have really spent sometime thinking about it today. I think that I am going to get my therapist to write me a note to take to my primary care Dr. and have her prescribe me some thing. Then if it shows up on our insurace statement I will just tell them. I'll tell them that they are always telling me to take care of things and I did. I think that will keep my mom off of me and she will take care of my dad. I think I am past the point of being afraid and tired of hiding EVERYTHING from them.

~Lilya, I really like how you said it is the old generation. That is so true. Every generation becomes more aware than the one before it. So on and so on... Actually I was just talking about that to my mom this evening about Osteoperosis. About how I might not have to worry about it because I know how to prevent it and when then next generation comes their parents know and aren't blind-sighted... Maybe that is how we can wipe it out of our culture.

I will just treat it as another day in my life and move on and get better. I think I am finally over being afraid.

THANKS SO MUCH EVERYONE FOR YOUR GREAT THOUGHTS!