coming at me from all angles

Change has been hitting me hard this month.

I have lost Medicaid's medical assistance with my Medicare Part B premium.

Remember that I was waiting for my application to be reviewed?

It turns out the problem had been that the person in charge at Medicare had not assigned my application to a caseworker.

I found out when I called the caseworker who handled my previous application for medical benefits.

She immediately contacted her boss, who made sure someone was assigned toot suite, and their decision came within a day of all that.

That decision had been "no", unfortunately.

Not because of my monthly income, mind - that is $500 below the maximum allowed threshold for Medicaid.

No, the problem is with the little amounts in my two IRAs, the amounts I cannot access because those certificates are not yet at their maturity date.

Georgia still regards that as cash assets... even though they aren't. 

That denial of medical assistance through Medicaid means I've also lost anything that the Dual Advantage Medicare plan would have paid.

So, not only am I will I continue to be out the $185 for the monthly premium, as I have been since May when I was waiting for the application to be reviewed, but I'm also on the hook for the $300 for the teeth cleaning.

I spent 45 minutes on the phone with my UHC Healthcare Navigator, Teal, about all of this hot mess and my upcoming dental visits for the cavities.

She tried to find remedies for me, but most of those sources are geared for helping children, not seniors.

However, she did hook me up with Lisa at UHC so I could get out of that Dual Advantage plan and into something better.

Lisa has me set up with the Patriot plan, the one I've been on for the past two years, but with a difference.

This one pays more of my monthly premium, though it will not have the over-the-counter perks I've had in the past.

Still, that trade-off is to my financial benefit.

She also had me sign up for the dental rider that will pay for my trip to the dentist in September.

I already know the charge for those two fillings will be almost $700; the cost of the dental rider is $54 per month and can be canceled at any time.

So, after I get the fillings installed and that bill paid by the rider, I'll cancel and only be out the two months of cost for the rider.

It's still going to be money flowing out of my pocket, but just a dribble, not a torrent.

Better, but not great.

That leads to the letter I received yesterday from the VA.

It told me my PCP, NP Susan Barker, has retired.

Not that she "is retiring", but that she has retired.

I cried when I told that to my nutritionist at our meeting today.

The letter did not say who will be my new PCP.

Nor do I know the status of the Community Care Authorizations that I've been awaiting for my mammogram and my cardiologist.

Hardest of all has been the lack of notification directly from Ms. Barker.

I had my 6-month appointment with her just last week, on the 22nd.

She had not mentioned her retirement at all.

She did hustle me out to get the Referral For Services form from Dr. Cobb's office... but she said nothing about her no longer being at the VA Center.

I'm very sad about her leaving.

Very sad.

At least AMC has a 2 PM screening with Wolf, Snake, Shark, Tarantula, and Piranha in their latest caper.

I hope that will help lift my spirits. 

dual advantage? not so much

Here’s that page. Does it have what you were looking for?
UnitedHealthcare Virtual Assistant
- 11:01 AM

No, I want to talk to advocate.
You
- 11:01 AM

We appreciate your patience while we connect you with the first available advocate.
UnitedHealthcare Virtual Assistant
You are now connected to Champagne.
- 11:01 AM

Hello and thank you for contacting UnitedHealthcare. My name is Champagne, and I am here to assist you with your dental questions. How may I assist you today?
Champagne
- 11:01 AM

I have a problem with a claim for my in-network dentist.
You
- 11:02 AM

I am sorry to hear that. Has the claim been submitted to us already.
Champagne
- 11:03 AM

Yes, it has.
You
- 11:03 AM

May I ask what the issue is please. Thank you
Champagne
- 11:03 AM

The claim seems to have been denied.
You
- 11:04 AM

May I have the date of service please.
Champagne
- 11:04 AM

This was for teeth cleaning and dental X-rays service on June 30.
You
- 11:04 AM

Did you receive a bill for the services.
Unfortunately, I don't see any dental claims that have been submitted to us this year.
Champagne
- 11:06 AM

I have not yet. However, I see here at the website that I have to pay $300.
On the UHC website, it says the claim has been reviewed.
You
 - 11:07 AM

One moment please. Thank you
Champagne
- 11:09 AM

Claim #2xxxxx
Date of visit:06/30/2025
providerId=000007919420 Delivered
You
 - 11:11 AM

May I ask is your Medicaid still active at this time.
Champagne
- 11:14 AM

Yes, it is.
You
- 11:14 AM

Because it is showing that it's not, so that could be why you received a bill. You may have to contact the Medicaid office to see if it's still active.
Champagne
 - 11:15 AM

No, wait, you said Medicaid. That application is still awaiting a decision. It has been waiting for over two months, but is still not finalized.
You
- 11:15 AM

Yes, I understand because you will only have a $0.00 co pay when your Medicaid is active.
Champagne
- 11:16 AM

I don't understand. The dental is being billed to my UHC Medicare plan.
You
- 11:18 AM

You have a dual plan so it will be billed to UHC dual plan, and the dual plan requires you to have active Medicare and Medicaid.
Champagne
- 11:19 AM

I would NEVER have gotten my teeth cleaned if I had known I would have to pay. I do not have money for that.
I do not understand how this works. I would not have chosen this Medicare plan if I had known that.
You
- 11:22 AM

I understand 100 percent,
The best thing to do is to contact your local Medicaid office to check the status because you want to make sure that you also don't lose your dual plan and its benefits.
Champagne
 - 11:23

What happens when my Medicaid application is reviewed and accepted? Does that date go back to the date I had applied or to the date of the approval?
You
- 11:23 AM

You can also contact UHC Dental department using the dental number on your member id card for further assistance as well.
Champagne
 - 11:24 AM

This is a terrible situation. I am supposed to return to the dentist for two fillings, but I cannot afford to do that if my UHC Medicare is not going to cover the cost.
Is this going to be a problem for any other medical issues? Will the pending status of my Medicaid application (dated May 6, 2025) going to affect other claims to UHC Medicare?
You
- 11:29 AM

I understand and I am sorry to hear about the mishap. I can't say that it will affect your claims, however some of the claims may result in a co pay.
Champagne
- 11:30 AM

Preview attachment.
I had checked my Medicaid application status earlier this week. The screenshot was of the current status.
You
- 11:33 AM

Thank you, yes, I see it's still in a pending status. You may want to contact them to see if more information is required to make a determination.
Champagne
- 11:33 AM

I did call them about it and they have all the documents they need from me.
You
- 11:34 AM

I understand.
Unfortunately, Medicaid is a separate entity so unfortunately, we have no control of their processing. I'm sorry Ms. Smith.
Champagne
- 11:36 AM

So, what do I do now? Should I change to a different UHC Medicare plan? Should I continue to wait out the Medicaid application status? And what do I do about that dental claim?
You
- 11:36 AM

Unfortunately, the claim was processed correctly at this time due to your Medicaid status. I can't advise on whether to switch plans, but you may have to eventually if the Medicaid isn't approved only because this is a dual plan Ms. Smith
Champagne
 - 11:39 AM

Thank you. I will continue to wait for Medicaid to finish what they are doing. I cannot begin another application until they have finished with that one.
You
- 11:41 AM

Yes, I agree, that sounds like a good idea Ms. Smith.
Champagne
 - 11:42 AM

Thank you.
You
- 11:42 AM

You are more than welcome Ms. Smith
I wanted to remind you that the Health Risk Assessment is available for you to complete at this link: Welcome to the Health Assessment | United HealthCare (uhc.com) This short assessment will help you get the most out of your health plan and can help you reach your wellness goals. Medicare requires us to update your health history every year. Answering these questions will have no effect on your plan membership.
It was my pleasure to assist you today. After our chat ends you will be presented with an option to complete a survey about your experience with me. I look forward to your feedback, as I want to be sure that you are satisfied with your experience.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any further questions or concerns. We are available by chat M-F 7am-10pm CST and Sat-Su 7am-7pm CST. Thank you for being the best part of UnitedHealthcare. Have a lovely day!
Champagne
 - 11:44 AM

---------------------------------

Well, there's forty-three minutes of my life spent online for nothing.

I'm still apparently liable for paying $300 for a teeth cleaning I never would have scheduled had I known it would cost me.

My Dual Advantage Medicare plan says the dental is all covered, but mentions nothing about that being predicated by me having Medicaid.

My premiums for the UHC Dual Advantage plan have been deducted from my Social Security check for the past three months, ever since my Medicaid went into 'pending' status back in May.

That has not been good for my budget.

I would have talked to my PCP today about all this, but that 1 PM appointment was canceled, due to a smoky fire at the Savannah VA Center.

That was not good for me.

As I told Ms. Barker's nurse, I will run out of Levothyroxine on the 21st and the prescription is listed on the VA website as expired.

I hadn't been concerned because I had the appointment with Ms. Barker and I knew she would take care of that during our time together... but not that won't happen.

I also was going to speak with her about the Community Care Authorization for my annual mammogram... but that won't happen.

Plus, I needed to talk with her about the Community Care Authorization for the appointments with Dr. Cobb to get the heart monitor and his follow-up visit to review the results of that study... but that won't happen.

I was to get the heart monitor on the 14th, but that has had to be canceled because of the lack of the CCA.

This day has certainly been frustrating.

I am definitely going to the 2 PM "Superman" movie.

That will at least be 'free' as its part of my A*List.

see you in september, see you when the summer's through

The song just flew onto the turntable on my mental jukebox as soon as those first four words were in the air!

I even sang the words back to the clerk, but she was too young to know them.

Not so for me!

I've known of that tune since I was a little girl.

I can't say that I know "See You In September" by the original group that did it in 1959, but my 8-year-old self definitely was familiar with the 1966 hit by The Happenings.

Mama and Daddy liked to sing along with the radio, and so do I. 

(smile!) 

I was at Howard Family Dental Midtown when this flash back in time occurred.

The time for my teeth to be cleaned was actually in December, but it was too cold outside so I had to reschedule and today was the earliest they could do.

I've been fairly lax about flossing, and the dental hygienist took me to task about it.

Kelly also got onto me about my faulty brushing technique.

Apparently, the larger head on my new toothbrush isn't letting me clean well enough in the front and center of my mouth.

In other words, my gums were tender and bloody this time around.

Ouch.

Today's bite wing X-rays revealed another issue of the faulty brushing: two new cavities.

They were on my right canine and the tooth to its right, on the posterior (or inner) side of my mouth.

(Those are the two teeth near the top of this dental mold from the past.

That blue paint marks the upper molar that got a crown many years ago.

It fell out around the time of the pandemic and I tried to do the right thing about it - I returned to Howard Midtown Family Dental.

Dr. Julie Howard had last crowned that tooth, so I wanted her to put the cap back on.

That cost me $100... and stayed on about two months.

I never did get it replaced and plan to sell that gold crown eventually.)  

Dr. Emily Husted-Saffer was not happy to see those new cavities, but at least she didn't chide me about them.

Speaking of her, I was on the phone for an hour with UHC Medicare on Tuesday.

I'd checked online to make sure she was in-network... and found her name missing, though everyone else at that clinic was listed.

As it turns out, it was her married name change that gummed up the works.

(I had to throw in that little joke! So punny!!!)

(smile!) 

The song came up because September is the soonest they can schedule the two fillings.

That song reassured me that it was as it needed to be.

Right place, right time...

leaving me and the clerk with smiles on our faces!

How many people can say that about a trip to the dentist?

(smile!)

vultures, eskimos, and more!

More lovely, delectable, scrumdiddli-icious puns!!!
Are you excited?
I am!

These are, as usual, from the outlaw Bunny's mother.

I know puns can be kinda goofy, but some of these are really good!

1. Two vultures board an airplane, each carrying two dead
raccoons. The stewardess looks at them and says, "I'm sorry,
gentlemen, only one carrion allowed per passenger."

2. Two boll weevils grew up in South Carolina. One went to
Hollywood and became a famous actor. The other stayed behind
in the cotton fields and never amounted to much. The second
one, naturally, became known as the lesser of two weevils.

3. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, but when they
lit a fire in the craft, it sank, proving once again that you
can't have your kayak and heat it, too.

4. A three-legged dog walks into a saloon in the Old West. He
slides up to the bar and announces: "I'm looking for the man
who shot my paw."

5. Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during
a root canal? He wanted to transcend dental medication.

6. A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were
standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament
victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the
office and asked them to disperse.
"But why?", one asked, as they moved off.
"Because," he said, "I can't stand chess nuts boasting in an
open foyer."

7. A woman has twins and gives them up for adoption. One of
them goes to a family in Egypt and is named "Ahmal." The other
goes to a family in Spain; they name him "Juan." Years later,
Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon
receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes
she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responds,
"They're twins! If you've seen Juan, you've seen Ahmal."

8. These friars were behind on their belfry payments, so they
opened up a small florist shop to raise funds. Since everyone
liked to buy flowers from the men of God, a rival florist
across town thought the competition was unfair. He asked the
good fathers to close down, but they would not. He went back
and begged the friars to close. They ignored him. So, the
rival florist hired Hugh MacTaggart, the roughest and most
vicious thug in town, to "persuade" them to close. Hugh beat up
the friars and trashed their store, saying he'd be back if they
didn't close up shop. Terrified, they did so, thereby proving
that Hugh, and only Hugh, can prevent florist friars.

9. Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the
time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet.
He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with
his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him
....what? (Oh, man, this is so bad, it's good) ...A super
callused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.

10. And finally, there was a woman who sent ten different puns
to friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would
make them laugh. Unfortunately, no pun in ten did.

filling the holes

This afternoon, I had two cavities filled by the gentle hands of Dr. Julie, my new dentist. When I finally went to the dentist, after a hiatus of at least seven years (long story for another time), I was quite concerned by what might have gone wrong in the ensuing period since I last had my teeth checked. To my relief, my teeth were mostly in good shape! My gums were fine (yeah!), I had one new cavity (boo!), and I had one filling and two crowns that weren't holding up to the task of grinding food into digestible bits.
Many little X-rays were taken, even pictures. The good doctor even showed all to me, so I could see the damage. Then my teeth were cleaned and I was counseled about the upcoming schedule and cost. Yeah for dental insurance! Not that the cost to me for the work itself is free, but it's about a quarter of the uninsured price.
Today was the first of the needed repairs. Two fillings, one for a new pit, the other to replace a broken bit of silver. The numbing shots were slowly administered, so nicely done that I had none of the pain I had recalled from my last time in a dentist's chair. Alrighty then! The work itself went at a quick pace and, in under an hour, I was done and gone. "No food or drink for at least an hour," were the parting words, "and then try to drink something warm."
Better than two hours later, I'm still partly numb. Perhaps I should have forewarned her that I have a low drug threshold. You better believe that I'll inform her of that very thing when I return the first of December for the initial crown work.
Tonight, I was out for a light-hearted Philippine action flick, featuring the diminutive (shorter than a yardstick) Weng Weng, at the local coffee house. My right jaw was aching slightly, so I had a cup of decaf java to sip. Sip I did, at first, then found the actual warm cup to be of more solace than the liquid it held. Eventually I was even able to relax and enjoy the movie. Nice to have that void filled, too!