Yeah I agree 100% BD, that's why I added that caveat at the end. Luckily I had a good relationship with my GP over several years (including my heart surgery for an aortic aneurysm in 2011) and he trusted me. I could also tell he was offering me a one time deal and if I abused it he would no longer be my doctor.
It's a long story but I was on COBRA insurance when they first detected the aneurysm but they felt it was "too small" to do surgery at the time. Then my COBRA ran out. Then the aneurysm started growing rapidly. Then I qualified for "emergency" hardship (through the hospital) that covered my heart surgery. Then about a year later I lost that status. Then I got sober. Then I qualified for long-term disability through medicare. All of that happened within a 3 year period LUL.