#i can afford the dental plan i think

[medicinemane]

Actually there is one thing I may legit start doing once I have my social anxiety a bit better tamped down on is when someone's telling me how their kid's just kind of a bum who doesn't have a job and hangs out in their room all day (why the fuck are you telling a stranger, once it was a nurse telling me this stuff and it's like... that's real messed up you're badmouthing your kid to a patient)

I think I'm gonna try and hit them with a "sounds to me like they may be depressed" (cause... it does)

Gonna take some work to feel like dealing with this stuff, but... I think I need to start basically trying to sound sympathetic to the parent, while also reframing it as "it sure sounds like they're struggling and could really use some support right now"

Cause once again... that is literally what it sounds like to me

You fools, you've got no idea you're talking to a fucking worthless loser. I will always go to bat for the isolated fuck up who can't get a job, cause that's just me. Don't bad mouth your kid to someone that's got more in common with you kid than with you, I know what it feels like to be in that situation, I'll always go to bat for them and think you're being a cry baby and need to grow up and actually parent

[ms-demeanor]

I've been following what's been going on with Belphie the kitten and his person, Greer Stothers, has just mentioned pet insurance in a tag on a post and I wanted to give an example from my life backing up why pet insurance can be a good idea and why I think it is worthwhile.

Two years ago my sister's dog had bloat while she was on vacation. The kennel he was staying at recognized symptoms and called my sister to clear them to take him to the emergency vet. My sister is very financially secure and this dog is an enormous part of her life, so she said yes with barely a moment of hesitation. That ended up being about twelve thousand dollars of emergency surgery.

Large Bastard and I got pet insurance for Tiny Bastard the same week because we realized that if someone had presented that option to us, we would have had no choice but to have Tiny Bastard put down, and we didn't want to be put in that position.

I did a lot of research about different kinds of pet insurance and different levels of coverage and annual maximums and deductibles and so on and so forth. Tiny Bastard is a senior dog, so this was going to be expensive no matter what options we went with, so I chose a moderately priced plan with a $500 annual deductible, unlimited annual coverage, that pays 80% of the bills incurred annually below the maximum. What that means is that we pay the first $500 of care totally out of pocket, after which point we are reimbursed 80% of any vet bills for care covered by the plan.

The first year we had this plan I was kind of iffy about it. It's a noticeable monthly expense and we didn't even spend the deductible in vet bills the first year. Except that a month before the policy was set to renew, Tiny Bastard got diagnosed with diabetes. We now have monthly insulin costs and syringe costs; there are tests she has to have regularly to monitor her overall condition and we need to do more frequent vet visits to track symptoms.

Suddenly the insulin alone means that the insurance is break-even within six months and the additional visits and tests are something we can afford instead of something we'd have to put on credit.

Our plan (through ManyPets) covers medication, surgery, diagnostics, medical equipment, and euthanasia and cremation. It doesn't cover pre-existing conditions, joint conditions for dogs who were signed up over a certain age, dental care, spay/neuter, vaccinations, or prescription food but honestly all of that makes me just kind of wish we'd signed her up earlier - her knee problems *would* be covered if we'd had her signed up as a puppy, and the monthly cost would have been lower if we'd signed her up then. And there are at least a few emergency vet bills that I wouldn't still be paying off on my credit card. Hell, I've probably paid more in interest on some bruising she got in a fight three years ago than I have for this policy as a whole.

I am glad that Greer is able to take care of Belphie. I am glad that my sister was able to take care of her dog. But I'm also really, really glad that for a relatively low cost, I would be able to take care of Tiny Bastard if she were catastrophically injured, or if she needed emergency surgery. I'm glad that I'm able to take care of her now with her medications and her additional vet visits.

There are a lot of people who say that pet insurance isn't worth it, especially not for young animals. But if your young animal gets very sick, or gets badly injured, or eats a hairband and needs an emergency endoscopy, then it will probably be VERY worth it. It's a risk/reward question. You feel like you're wasting money if you're paying for a policy that you never use, but honestly that just means you're lucky to have a healthy pet.

I'm lucky that Tiny Bastard was relatively healthy before I got the insurance; I'm also lucky that she was insured when she was diagnosed with a chronic illness that will need lifelong care. This enables me to provide care for her that would otherwise be financially unmanageable, and that makes the insurance *extremely worth it* from my perspective.

And Belphie is a good example of why it's a good idea to get coverage even for very young pets. Greer is recommending it because this kitten has required a tremendous amount of care during a period in his life when it's generally taken for granted that a cat will be healthy. (And Greer is not stupid for forgoing pet insurance - pet insurance is still a relatively new concept and there are lots of people who are leery of it for a number of good reasons)

So I'd say that if you've got a pet or are getting a pet it is very worthwhile to find a pet insurance plan that fits in your budget. There are a variety of plans out there and some are very inexpensive. Check coverage levels (you can even get some with wellness plans that include dental care and vaccinations) and see if there's something that works for you.

I personally don't think I'm ever going to own another pet without having pet insurance. It's ridiculous how much easier it is for me to say yes to diagnostic tests or different treatments than it was before because I know I'm going to be able to fit Tiny Bastard's care into our budget.

[red-pill-to-swallow]

How to be attractive to men and my goals

Hey babes,

like I said – I want to incorporate RPT (Red Pill Theories) into my daily life immediately.

A few things that every women within the community seemed to be content with were:

1. You are never finished with glowing or leveling up. Never stop learning. Never stop trying to better yourself.

2. Pretty privilege is real.

I agree that pretty privilege is very real. I mean, I get affected by pretty people like everybody else, even if I don’t do it on purpose. It’s just something that is ingrained in our brains and I need to learn how to take this to my advantage.

I think I have a decent starting base, because I’m a skinny white woman in her twenties with long blonde hair. I am not really tall – even short men are at least 5-7cms taller than me – but I’m also not extremely short.

I have a petite frame but my body-shape is something between an hourglass and a peach. My face is average – I don’t really have striking features or am a natural beauty model – but my features also aren’t hideous. It’s really just something you can look at without thinking too much.

On a scale, I would rate myself a 5,5-6/10 on an average day and I guess that’s great!

But how can I make myself look better on a daily basis? I really took hours to research how I could make myself more attractive to wealthy and high value men.

Obviously, no man is like the other and every man prefers something different. One man might like tattoos and piercings while another man with the same social status thinks they are hideous. I don’t want to completely change who I am and I don’t want to spend thousands of dollars for it.

However, I really like this whole clean girl and old money aesthetic that is going viral on Tiktok right now – and I think those two aesthetics could fit me and my personality really well.

Most wealthy men seem to like this traits in women:

1. great skin without obvious pimples or enlarged pores

2. long and healthy hair in a natural color

3. straight white teeth

4. clean nails on both hands and feet

5. hairless legs, armpits and at least trimmed pubic hair

6. wearing clean and wrinkle free clothes without any holes

7. wearing a nice smell that is fitting to your overall appearance

I think those are the basics and they can be achieved by almost anyone. If you can’t afford braces make sure that your teeth are always perfectly brushed and that you’re keeping up with your dental hygiene in general.

In fact – if you have problems affording certain beauty procedures, research how to get as close as possible to them with DIYs.

For years, I always wanted to be the mysterious woman in the room. The woman with a dark aura, the woman that doesn’t speak much and remains most of her life a secret.

Well, I am not this woman even if I’m trying very hard. It would be an act that I would put on and I am sure that everyone in the room would notice.

I am naturally very bubbly and I love having conversations with people in general. I would also say that I have a broad knowledge on different topics and that I’m able to talk to almost everyone.

I am also very welcoming and I enjoy making people laugh and have fun in my presence. I tend to have strong opinions and I’m not afraid to take on a discussion.

With everything that I know about myself now, I made some points that I need to tackle in order to level up:

1. stop oversharing. Being bubbly is great but not everyone needs to know everything about my business. Sometimes it’s just better to be silent and to listen.

2. start with exercise again. I am happy with my weight but I am extremely weak and I have almost zero muscle mass. My breath is getting heavy if I have to take the stairs and my legs start to hurt after roughly 15 minutes of walking. I plan on going for a walk every day and doing pilates 3x a week.

3. start doing my hair and makeup again. My hair is long and blonde – so it is an eyecatcher. It’s also very healthy but I usually just throw it up in a bun or in a clawclip, so no one is really seeing it. I have multiple styling tools at home and I need to start using them. The same applies to makeup. I have so much great stuff that looks really beautiful and natural but I am just too lazy to use it. I plan on taking 20 minutes every day to do my makeup and to suck it up – because I usually always do a double cleanse at night, so it’s not really a struggle to take it off in the evening. It’s just inconvenient in the morning.

4. taking better care of my skin and of my dental health. I have high quality skincare and I love doing my skincare but sometimes I’m just too lazy. Let me just say that it doesn’t happen often – but still too much for my liking. Also my dental health – I need to make a dentist appointment asap. I think the last time I went was around 3 years ago!

5. buying better fitting clothes. I don’t like shopping for clothes but it is what it is. Right now I only have cute lounge sets for being at home but when I go out I usually only wear jeans with a basic top and sneakers. I want to look more polished and feminine. I want to stop wearing jeans and focus more on pants, skirts and dresses. Also literally any other shoes than sneakers.

6. go out more. I’m your typical homebody. Movie night? Reading a book? Ordering food? Count me in! I always have fun when I go out but I’m still mostly at home and I want to change that. I want to have a group of like minded friends that want to hang out with me. Maybe even at home. Lol.

I really thought hard about those six points but I think those are the first things that I need to tackle down.

In the end – I was asking myself: what could I do to feel the most comfortable with spontaneous outgoings and meeting new people?

It came down to wanting to look my best. Obviously. I want to make a good first impression and maybe even profit off of pretty privilege.

I’m sure we all know those times when we’re dressed like slobs and suddenly an opportunity to go out arises and we decline because it would take hours to get ready.

That’s the reason why I want to get ready in the morning – so I would only need to touch up if anything came up.

see you soon!

[i-cant-sing]

How do you write 11k? Like do you come up with a plan or do you just write. I have a topic in my head but I never pump out that much. Maybe 1k or 2k…

writing 1k-2k or even 500 words is fine too. theres nothing wrong with that, especially of youre writing blurbs or oneshots. some people only prefer to read 1-2k (like me), others might be ok with 20k.

i have been writing for 4 years so trust me when i say i started out with writing fics never going more than 2k limit. it takes time, takes some practice and patience to start writing out longer fics. i now have the gift of lot of free time so i can afford to write long fics. i didnt have this liberty while i was in dental school.

i think since the very beginning, my writing process is to just word vomit. anything that comes to mind, write it down and then try to connect the dots somehow.

I WOULD highly recommend you guys to write down on a paper (i like writing on a blank sheet, lined pages give me a headache) the plot. just write down anything that you want to happen in the story, write down all the points u wanna make, the thoughts u want each character to go through, write down anything u want your readers to know/realise. then read it again, have a break, close your eyes and play the scenes youve written in your mind. how would YOU react? what would YOU do in that situation? because remember, before anyone else- YOU are the first reader. YOU are the first Y/n. YOU alone are the most important audience. if YOU are satisfied, then to hell with what anyone else thinks????

(an example of writing ur plot down is below- and trust me, this is not my worst handwriting)

[yowyowyaoi]

Hidan's Daily Texts from the Akatsuki, Part Two

From Konan

Why would it gross you out? You basically deal with blood for a living!

Flattery might get you a hug but it won't get you out of your share of the food bill.

In all seriousness that's ridiculous.

Just pretend he’s Kakuzu. Problem solved.

You guys need to keep it down. I need my beauty sleep!

Sasori has a variety of things he could give you to ease the pain. But be warned he’ll likely give you a three hour lecture on “proper dental hygiene”.

I'm sure he just meant it as a joke. No need to eviscerate him.

I need that like I need a hole in my head.

Love is not about looks, it's about feelings and personality. He's the kindest, most gentle man I've ever known in my life.

If you're that curious, just transform into one and feel them yourself!

He doesn't take betrayal very well. I'd strongly reconsider if I were you.

Being immortal is a hell of a thing to have in common, isn't it?

I wish you and Dei would leave him be. Just because he *chooses* not to fight back doesn't mean he can't, or won't at some point. And I think that will be a scary day for the two of you.

Ladies don't curse but if you heard even half of what I was thinking it'd blow your mind, Hidan.

From Itachi

Looks mean very little to me.

If you're that interested in seeing them, then just ask him to pull down his pants for you the next time you see him. See what he says.

A compliment coming from you sounds very, very odd.

I would not just leave something like that to chance and never, ever to the two of you.

We're close. That's all you need to know.

I'll admit, the honey and ants in my bed was a clever, if sadistic, touch.

You've got ten minutes to return it to my door or I promise your eternity will be one long inescapable nightmare.

No.

The last time I went with you guys you ate $1000 worth of food and then tried to stick me with the bill!

If you'd just admit it I'd be willing to go easy on you.

Of course he's an attractive man but I couldn't deal with that personality on a daily basis.

In that way I'm better than you, aren't I? You clearly fear death. I don't.

If my opinion counts for anything: hold on to Kakuzu. I don't believe there's a single other soul in this universe that would care for you the way he does.

I suppose not all the time. He does brush my hair out for me a lot. Very gentle.

From Tobi

If it isn't something that could work, why would it be the plot to SO MANY homoerotic stories??

You left it sitting there for three days! If I didn't eat it, it would have spoiled!

Just woke up not in the mood for your shit rn

If he thinks you're like a brother than one day me and you can be in-laws!

You didn't even spell "delusional" right.

Are you the one who left the jar of crickets on my bed?

Actually your hair would probably look good longer.

You're not going to lecture ME on something like that!

I think of him like a little cousin. So STOP messing with him!

If you think Kakuzu looks "sexy" without his mask you couldn't handle ME, man.

Come with us, the water should be fine by now.

The Hidden Leaf? Nope. Never heard of it.

Sharingan?? LOL

Be warned, Hidan. I'm not as stupid as you think I am.

Do YOU want to see my FIST? Okay then.

So is "Jashin" just looking the other way while you love Kakuzu, then?

From Nagato

I think of you all as my children. Some more problematic than others.

Yes it works! And even if it didn't, she wouldn't leave me!

I almost teamed you up with Deidara but I don't think I could have afforded that sort of damage.

Ultimately that would be Kakuzu's decision.

Tell your God to meet up with me and we'll see who's more "real", brat.

What. Did. You. DO?!

If I hear that you "accidentally" walked in while she was changing again, you'll wish to the heavens that you WERE able to die.

Yes but a mostly vegetarian diet is easier for my body to handle.

I did not form these teams with the intention of being a matchmaker.

I wish you would put as much effort and planning into your missions as you do to harassing your fellow Akatsuki teammates.

From Deidara

Yes I blew him up but I didn't rob him. Standards, man.

Me and Kisame going fishing, you in?

Come see me we gotta get our stories straight before Leader questions us.

He stepped on a beehive. Spent all day pulling stingers from his arms and legs. STILL wouldn't take off his mask.

I knoooooow. God you sound like Sasori.

I did but I don't think they can prove that it was me ...

You can't just sculp some little mouse and then call yourself an artist! It doesn't work like that!

I think the chicken was bad I can't stop puking and my ass is literally on fire!

If you won't listen to me talk about my REAL art, what makes you think I'm gonna listen to you talk about your FAKE God??

Me and you and Itachi. Yes he'll go if we drag him out.

Yeah but she's sooooooo pretty how can I help it?!

Why are you bragging? That just means you'll be old and ugly before me!

Honestly I just bring him a body and some tools and he stays distracted for like a week. Lets me do whatever without even questioning it lmao

He likes to carry me. Don't ask questions, I just enjoy not having to walk for a few hours.

I really, REALLY don't need to know what "gets you off". Pervert.

From Kisame

I have no idea how to answer something like that.

I don't know what's going on with you and Kakuzu but please stop "accidentally" sending me pics like that or I'm blocking you.

I'd die for him but all I really want is for him to live for me.

I think we're the only two who like it ultra-rare and dripping blood. Well, maybe Zetsu.

Yeah I have my suspicions as well but it's like that thing is glued to his face or something. Deidara is the only one who could get close enough to him to try it but he seems scared for some reason.

You can join us but no screaming in the water this time or you'll scare them all off.

I've got at least 11 years up on you so yes, you ARE a brat to me.

I don't think there are any decent shortcuts, we just have to walk straight through. Ask Kakuzu to lend you his tall boots.

There's doing our job and then there's crossing the line. Guess which one you did.

Yes it's warm but that doesn't mean we wish to see you sitting out there in the nude.

Itachi's not feeling well so I need a replacement weight for my other arm. Deidara is already helping, now I need you too.

In the old days they used leeches as a cure for everything. A few aren't gonna kill ya, kid. Don't be a baby.

He's literally perfect. And he's MINE. So onsen or not the next time I catch you looking like that I'll snatch your eyes out and eat them like grapes :)

From Sasori

Come see me before the infection spreads.

Mint, rosemary, and a tiny bit of thyme.

Unless you’re looking to get bent over, brat, how it works is none of your goddamned business.

You would likely be a terrible one.

No, he’s it for me. I’ll either marry him or kill him, haven’t decided yet.

I can imitate eating to fool enemies but the food will just stay in my throat until I manually remove it.

You kill humans nearly every day, you can handle a spider.

It would break my metaphorical heart.

I’m not “betting” you anything. I KNOW it won’t kill you. But the poison is both expensive and time-consuming to make and I’m not wasting it on you.

18 and 34.

Leave the ones that I’ve marked alone. They’re perfect specimens and I won’t have you ruin them with that heathen ritual of yours.

Yes but I’m slowly coming to accept that sexuality is a spectrum and nothing is black or white.

You and Tobi will be coming with. Pack extra food and warm clothes. No whining that you’re hungry or cold later on.

It won’t be as amusing when I nail your skull to the wall.

From Zetsu

He tasted so good. My many thanks.

I haven’t any idea why the others seem so perturbed by it, considering their *own* “atrocities".

Too loud. Sensitive ears.

Aren't you having relations with him? Surely you could convince him.

Unfortunately we need them alive and well, so please, none of your antics.

Couldn't hurt. But I doubt it would help, either.

Out of everyone here, you and your blood-scented skin smell the best.

I'm beginning to think your obsession with penises is more than a passing curiosity and an indication for serious concern.

Deidara is correct, everything is ephemeral. This world is temporary.

I wouldn't know the first thing about manipulating anyone. I'm just a plant.

From Kakuzu

Try me and see. I DARE you, brat.

Either help me or stay home and shut up about it.

You stimulate me, but not in all good ways.

If I wasn't "obsessed with money" this entire organization would be nothing, we'd be homeless and everyone would be starving.

Just wait until I get you alone.

Next time I suggest you think before you act.

Deidara will face Sasori but YOU will have to deal with ME. Consider that.

It's your turn to pay for dinner. I could go for either seafood or steak.

Call it gay if you wish but you won't change my mind.

I'm not sure if your body could handle multiple hearts, immortal or not.

Endurance training. My room. Ten minutes. Hydrate yourself beforehand.

You're going to eat something green if I have to pry open your mouth and shove it down your throat.

Because I CARE, asshole.

Why should I have to fight them off because you can't keep your hands to yourself??

I happen to like Itachi so watch your manners, if any exist.

Can't "believe" in someone I've never met. Which is why I don't understand why YOU do.

If I ever went, I'm taking you out with me. "'Til death" is inaccurate.

Sure, sure. While you're at it pray for money to drop out of the sky and into my lap.

Handcuffs aren't doing it for me anymore. Bring some rope and maybe some honey this time.

Get back here and clean this shit up before I come kill you.

Love you. <3. Delete this text immediately.

[ask-a-vetblr]

So my cat broke a lower fang clean off. I'm already going to take him for bloodwork tomorrow to prepare for extraction, but the best I can do for earliest dental extraction is next week without paying over $1000 at an emergency clinic, which I can't afford. I called many places. The receptionists didn't sound alarmed for my cat though, so that makes me wonder. While google says that a broken tooth can be an emergency, how risky is it to get it extracted a week later? I'm not planning on saving his tooth either. That I know is time sensitive.

vet-and-wild here.

Maybe it's a regional thing, but where I'm at we don't consider a broken tooth an emergency. I'd be curious to know where you're located (you don't actually have to tell us, I just think what you said is really interesting) because I can't imagine any ER around me being willing to extract a tooth. They'd probably prescribe pain meds and antibiotics and recommend follow up with a general practitioner. The reason a broken tooth is concerning is that if there is exposure of the pulp cavity (where the nerves and vessels are) it can lead to potential pain and infection. Sometimes we find a broken tooth on a physical exam just by chance. We don't know when it happened and the owner is surprised to hear that it happened at all because the animal isn't showing symptoms. We still recommend removal if there is exposure of the pulp cavity, because it could lead to further problems. And tooth pain sucks.

The only time we have to try to rearrange our schedule for a dental to get it done sooner is if the animal's teeth are so bad it isn't eating, or there is a broken tooth causing severe pain/infection. I can count on one hand the number of times I've had that happen, and of course one of them was my own dog. Otherwise, we can generally schedule it as a routine dental. Dentals with tooth extractions are pretty involved procedures so it's not something we can do at the drop of a hat. Unless a tooth is already super loose, we often have to burr away bone and make gingival flaps to get the tooth out. It also rarely makes sense (both from a financial and practical perspective) to just extract a single tooth and not do the rest of the dental (i.e. dental x rays, scaling and polishing, probing, etc) so we also have to account for that time too.

[m-is-for-mungo]

Rant: TW dentistry, bad teeth, depression, ideation

I haven’t been to a dentist since I was planning on leaving the hospital cause I was milking my measly 1600 USD dental limit for all it had. That gave me time to bandaid my front teeth.

But since then, I’ve had one back tooth shatter into oblivion and I’m fairly positive it’s dead and gone. Now from it I have a black shadow making it’s way along my gum line and it’s now reached the front of my mouth.

I know it’s my fault, between being depressed and fueling my work with literal quarts of Red Bull. I was drinking over three quarts a day just to function at work before I was able to have access to adderall through my doctor. Now I’m trying to function with just coffee and no meds, but that’s a side problem. I’ve tried to quit smoking and failed, now I have what I assume are asthma attacks daily, but I just throw my hands up and breathe deep and hope I don’t pass out. 🤷🏻‍♀️

All this to say, I don’t know how to cope. I have a thing about my teeth. My parents drilled into me how expensive I was and how they sacrificed for braces and all of that. I didn’t mean to not take care of myself. Part of its shame that I let myself rot and now I’ll be ugly forever; it’s all my fault.

Part of me selfishly hopes it harms me, maybe kills me. I have headaches daily now and I can feel my sinuses are swollen. I still can’t afford to do anything about it. I’m trying to pay off my credit card so that I can max it out on this but I know it won’t be enough. Idk, I think this part of me is just to avoid living with the consequences that I failed being a normal human being. I just wanted to be a normal person, no mental illness, no physical disability, no trauma beating me down into uselessness. I cry every night that another day went by that just washing the dishes is a Herculean task and it shouldn’t be.

I don’t know what the point of this rant is, mostly yelling into the void again. I should probably start a diary so that I can stop bugging real people with what I want to get off my chest.

I should get back on my meds but I missed the deadline for healthcare when I moved so I’m just… existing until open enrollment again.

Sorry for making you read this.

[partyoffourplusfur]

I’ve slept so much the past few days it’s unreal. Covid hit me like a train. I’ve had it a few times but never like this. Granted my chronic illness/pain/autoimmune shit is way worse now than it was the first times. (Round 1 I lost hearing though so 🙃) but gosh. Husband being the tea mvp and not being a dick about me sleeping. (He was a turd about my day 3 being awful after day two wasn’t so bad. Chronic illness whatmorecanisay) Forced me to get some much needed rest after working tirelessly since getting two jobs. Upset I lost so many days of work. But this week I get 8 hours of overtime so hopefully that makes up for it in some way.

I work the next 7 days so that won’t be great for me to get full recovery. But I don’t have to work at the clinic this week. So that’s good. Then again maybe I should pick up a day or two. After all it’s just 2 hours a day. Meh.

Got most of Christmas shopping done. What I can afford at least. Hoping to still snag a Lego table if Walmart online stops giving me a hard time. Fingers crossed.

I got nothing for my husband. I really only had two ideas in mind. But bleh. Money. Maybe I’ll just get him a bigger bday present this year.

Dental school reached out to me today to ask if I still wanted to enroll. Which means I need to ask parents if they can still help me like they said they would.

I really didn’t think this term would feel right for me. Timeline wise. Everything just felt so stressful. I’d already be graduated by now if I did the last course term. But now I’m at the cafe and I don’t plan on renewing my Rbt cert at the end of jan. So I’d be done with that and can just do cafe and school on saturdays. 🤷‍♀️ I’d be done before the end of March (which is when my lease is up) maybe I’d put us in a better situation to renew our lease or find something better. Internship would be easy peasy to find being that I’m done with cafe at 2 on weekdays. Hmm now that I’ve written all that out, maybe this is a great time for it. I would miss the cafe though. I’m having a lot of fun there and my stress levels have plummeted.

Trying to read more. Maybe that can be my ~resolution~ easy enough

I have a lot of big feelings about leaving aba. I miss my texas client dearly. I was so proud of the work I did with them. I made a difference. Ya know? I feel like I’ve done nothing the past year here. It’s definitely the bcbas. And the therapists. And the clinic in general. I miss inhome therapy. I’m not sure I’ll go back to aba. It’s just not the same. I just miss my baby bird.

If you made it this far..damn I should buy you a snack or something. Thanks this has been Brianna’s midnight word vomit.

Coming back an hour later to state that I can’t fucking sleep and I’m very annoyed by it. Just laying here with my eyes closed and nothin is happening.

Maybe I’ll go get a snack. Put on some YouTube sleep video in the living room. Of course my husbands slept on the couch the whole time we were sick and now that he’s actually in bed with me I can’t sleep and wanna go to the couch 🙃

[rainofaugustsith]

About that Medicare for All slogan

So I've been seeing 'Medicare for All' slogans again, and while I fully believe in universal health care I think they need to revise that slogan. Right now I also see a lot of people sneering because older Americans aren't glomming onto that slogan. 

They really should, IMHO, be making that slogan "EXPANDED or REFORMED Medicare for all" to get people on board. Because as it is, it can be really costly, and many seniors and disabled people are not able to afford healthcare even with it. Those thinking it's a panacea as it is, without reform? Well, let's have a peek and see.  

1. Background: Medicare is a program mostly for seniors and disabled people receiving SSDI. 

There are two basic ways to get Medicare: be over a certain age (right now 67) and receive Social Security Retirement. OR, be younger than 67, disabled and receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Disabled people who receive only SSI are not eligible for Medicare. 

Original Medicare functions like a PPO. For those outside the States, you can go to any doctor that accepts Medicare and there are little to no prior authorizations required. This makes it easier for people to obtain quality care because they can go anywhere, more or less, and aren't trapped in a narrow provider network. 

BUT: 

2. Medicare is fucking confusing. 

There's Part A (hospital), Part B (outpatient), Part D (drug coverage), Part C (Advantage plans) and several other moving parts, each with their own fee schedules and rules. 

3. Medicare isn't free. 

Part A is free for most, but if you don't qualify for that, it can cost up to $506/month. 

Part A also has a deductible of $1600 every single inpatient hospital stay. For those outside the USA, the deductible is the amount you have to pay out of pocket before the insurance will pay anything at all. 

If someone is in the hospital for a while, they start paying copayments that begin at $400/day, starting on the 61st day. If they need to be in skilled nursing facilities for surgery/injury recovery, copayments of $200/day kick in after the 20th day.

Part B (outpatient) has a premium which, as of 2023, is $164.90 per month, as well as a once-yearly deductible of $226. 

Medicare is an 80/20 scheme, which means they cover 80% of the bill and you get the rest. That might not sound too bad until you look at what medical care in the USA costs. A simple MRI might be billed at $3000. 20% of that is yours. Still sound reasonably priced? 4. Medicare doesn't cover everything. 

Dental, optical and many other things are notoriously not covered by Medicare. That's why you will find people on Medicare buying separate coverage for these things - which means they're paying additional premiums every month. 

5. We haven't even gotten to prescriptions yet. 

So prescription coverage for Medicare is under Part D. You have to choose a prescription drug plan to administer your benefits and they are all different. Some might cost you nothing. Some might cost you a lot every month, so if you're keeping count, that's your fourth monthly premium after Part B, vision and dental. Some change their formulary every year. Those commercials about Medicare open enrollment? That's the period in the fall when people on Medicare have to sift through the formularies and see if their PDP is going to cover their meds next year. Some people do qualify for Extra Help from Medicare which covers the premiums and brings down the coinsurance for meds, but not everyone. 

Oh, and the meds are tiered. Tier 1 are the most basic/common meds that will cost you nothing or very little. Tier 4 are meds that are barely covered, perhaps 30%. 

Wait, there's more! There's a 'donut hole' or coverage cap built into plans. Essentially, when your med costs reach $4660 for the year, the coverage gap begins. Right now you pay no more than 25% of the drug costs, but it used to be a complete gap. This continues until you reach $7400 in drug costs, at which time you enter the 'catastrophic' tier where meds usually cost a lot less. And it resets annually. 

Think this is a hard cap to reach? Remember, common meds for things like cardiac conditions and headaches can cost $1000 each per month. Take a few of them and you're up to that $4460 real quick. 

This is why you may have read or heard stories about seniors taking bus trips to Canada to buy meds. It's honestly cheaper sometimes to take a trip across the border than navigate this shit. 

6. This is why a lot of people get pressed into an HMO. 

In order to navigate a lot of the above, a lot of people get pressed into optional Medicare Advantage plans, technically Part C. These are mostly HMOs run by major insurance companies. They offer the promise of consolidating benefits, eliminating the copays and drug coverage web - at the cost of pressing you back into an HMO with referrals and prior authorizations, as well as their limited network.  OR people get a 'Medigap' supplement that covers the costs that Medicare doesn't, while allowing them to remain with original (PPO style) Medicare. Those typically cost more than the Part C plans.

7. Some people do get help, but it may be hard to navigate. 

Some people have secondary insurance they can keep through a job or spouse. That might have premiums attached to it.  Some states have Medicare Savings Programs to help people pay the costs. But not all.

Some people earn little enough for SSDI or retirement that they also qualify for Medicaid as a secondary insurance. Medicaid generally picks up that which Medicare doesn't - such as that 20% coinsurance and the deductible. Medi-Medis are often pressured into joining HMOs as well, which really don't benefit them. 

Medicare also has some programs like Extra Help and such, which they can help you apply for. But this is a lot for people to navigate.  So- this is why Medicare for All might not thrill people the way you think it might. REFORMED Medicare for All on the other hand might make the same people jump right on board.

[thedovahcat]

Gorillas Getting Judged

Tomorrow's my assessment and I am hella nervous but a little excited but also mostly nervous.

I think I'm as ready as I'll ever possibly be about it and I've been talking about it with my friends about the likelihood of x y z and what may possibly happen and all that

Wuff.. the sooner all this is over the better... even if this is something I've wanted to know about for a long time, it's still very like...anxiety-inducing.

It's just an interview. Not like it's a job or anything. I hope I get a result I'm happy with, some days I still feel like "yeah nothing is probably up with me maybe I did this for nothing" and others I'm very confident about I guess having some sort of disorder going on.

I'd really like a professionals opinion and that's coming up. The only thing I'm terrified of is being written off. But, this maybe won't be the case if I'm doing this independantly of insurance and general doctors and all that...

So...

We'll see!! If it's some INCONCLUSIVE type answer then frankly I don't know what I'll do. What can I do though? Can't keep running to multiple places, cuz then it'll feel like I'm just probing for someone to tell me what I want. And I don't want that, ironically speaking.

I’m still really upset and pissed off that my parents still don’t take things like this seriously, and honestly they may never. Which, is just something I’ll have to deal with. I can’t be open with this kind of stuff about them, can’t talk about it unless it’s only happening to someone else. Minority families are just like that, what can I say? There’s that stigma attached to it like so many other things and mental illness in the family?? Ohoho boy you best get prepared to be yelled at and told off that it’s all fake and nothing you feel is real. No support at all. I’ve talked about this kind of thing before though so, nothing new there. Dad’s still harping on and on about how I better hear the answer I want to hear and I better get my money’s worth because it’s such a rip off etc etc. Like... I’m getting this assessment done without being on a huge waiting list, without paying exorbitant fees- I’m really lucky I can afford something like this for myself to be honest. And I’m in a good position right now to be able to have an assessment done in the first place. So yeah...

Hhhh.. moving along...on top of that, I got all my new computer parts so I've been making a backup of my system but that's taking so long. I have effectively banished myself from computer games so I wish I woulda planned that a bit better. Oh well.. by the weekend I'll have jazzy new parts and a speedier computation machine so.. something to look forward to.

There’s not much else to be said in the meantime, at least until tomorrow perhaps. Hopefully my mind won’t be blown to smithereens and I’ll be feeling OK or better than that. Something positive. It’s been a real emotional and tense week (and it’s only going to be Wednesday). With all the college stuff mounting, I’m just... I’m tired. I want to relax, I want a break, I wanna do stuff I like doing and continue on like normal... But for now I can’t.

Gotta schedule Tato’s dental speaking of which... I’m a bit nervous about that but my mom’s already made an appointment for the other cat so I’m going to see how his appt turns out before taking Tato in for his teeth cleaning. The vet said they were really gnarly (which was surprisingly cuz the previous vet said nothing about this) so I hope it doesn’t come down to like.... a ton of extractions or whatever the case. I’d feel bad and so would my wallet, but hey, gotta do whatever is necessary to keep that boi healthy.

That’s it for now though...

Wish me...luck??? I guess? Thu..mbs up?

[error-404-fuck-not-found]

bitching don't you mind me

my adult life has just been signing up for increasingly expensive health plans every year while my pay actually goes down accounting for inflation even with a "raise" and my rent keeps going higher and higher and higher and oh work doesn't cover the cost of dental/vision plans anymore and i would throw up a little but i don't think i can afford to fuck up my throat with stomach acid until after i've met my deductible and i really hate the united states of america

and yeah i realize the hard numbers aren't putting me in actual danger yet but the specter of it looming ever closer every year is just panic attack territory whether it makes sense to have that reaction or not. anxiety doesn't want to make sense. it just wants to scream and scream

[albaalexa]

How Much Health Insurance Do I Need?

Determining how much health insurance you need depends on various factors, including your health, financial situation, and personal preferences. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you assess your health insurance needs effectively.

Assess Your Health Needs

Start by evaluating your current health status and any potential risks:

Medical History: Consider any existing medical conditions or family history of illnesses that might require ongoing treatment or specialized care.

Lifestyle Factors: Assess your lifestyle, including diet, exercise routine, and stress levels, as they can impact your health and potential healthcare needs.

Future Considerations: Think about any planned life changes, such as starting a family or retiring soon, that may affect your healthcare needs.

Understand Insurance Coverage Types

Basic Coverage: Includes essential health benefits like doctor visits, hospital stays, preventive care, and prescription drugs.

Additional Coverage: Options like dental, vision and mental health services may require separate plans or additional coverage under some health insurance policies.

Financial Considerations

Budget: Determine how much you can afford to pay for premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses.

Risk Tolerance: Consider how much financial risk you’re willing to take on. Higher deductibles typically mean lower premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs when you need care.

Evaluate Plan Options

Coverage Limits: Review annual and lifetime limits on coverage, especially important for chronic conditions or potential high-cost treatments.

Network: Check if your preferred doctors, hospitals, and specialists are in-network to avoid higher costs associated with out-of-network care.

Prescription Coverage: Assess whether the plan covers medications you currently use or might need in the future.

Special Circumstances

Dependents: If you have dependents, consider their healthcare needs when selecting a plan.

Chronic Conditions: If you have a chronic condition, ensure the plan covers necessary treatments and specialists.

Comparing Plans

Costs: Compare premiums, deductibles, co-payments, and coinsurance rates across different plans.

Coverage: Evaluate what services and treatments are covered, including preventive care, maternity care, and emergency services.

Provider Networks: Check if your preferred healthcare providers are part of the plan’s network.

Choosing the Right Coverage

Balancing Cost and Coverage: Aim for a plan that offers adequate coverage without straining your budget.

Flexible Options: Consider plans that offer flexibility in choosing doctors and healthcare facilities.

Future Needs: Anticipate future healthcare needs and choose a plan that can accommodate potential changes.

Choosing the right amount of Pennie insurance involves a careful assessment of your health, financial situation, and personal preferences. By understanding your healthcare needs, evaluating coverage options, and considering financial factors, you can select a plan that provides adequate protection and peace of mind.

Remember, reviewing your health insurance needs regularly ensures that your coverage remains appropriate as your circumstances change. Always consult with insurance providers or financial advisors to address specific concerns and find the best plan for your situation.

[thedarkqueenmara-blog]

I don't really have anywhere to talk about this, so I'm just gonna treat this like my journal for a minute.

I work in a dental office, and getting vacation time is generally a pain in the ass because you have to find people to cover your schedule, but we all work generally the same schedules, so it's hard to get a week at a time. My dentist is getting married this month, and is taking 2 weeks off for her honeymoon. This means my schedule is empty for 2 weeks and I have a free pass to take vacation.

I have a week of vacation at the end of this month for the week of my husband's birthday. I began trying to plan a vacation with him late last year when I realized I had the availability to do so without finding coverage. He was out of work for the winter, and started working again in March of this year. I kept reminding him that I had scheduled my vacation for the week of his birthday, and that he would need to let work know in a timely manner to ensure he had some of the week off. He didn't want to take a full week unpaid, as he doesn't have PTO, which I was fine with, but I wanted at least a few days for a family vacation this summer.

My in-laws have a shore house, which we can stay at for free, as long as we let them know what weekend we're going. I have not been quiet about wanting to go down for part of the week of hubby's birthday, and every time I heard him talking to his mom, it was "maybe we'll go down to the shore" or "we're thinking about it, but I don't think I'll get to go". I kept telling him that with our financial position, the shore house was the cheapest vacation we could afford, and I wanted to go on vacation that week as a family.

He never let work know he wanted to take a long weekend trip. He never told his family we were going. He found out his brother had booked the weekend we had available to go down, and just told me to forget about a vacation this year, maybe next year. He told me that because he's not consistently working, he doesn't deserve to take unpaid time off, and I should just do a staycation and get over it.

I feel so unheard. I feel like he doesn't consider the fact that I practically begged for months for him to cement plans for vacation. I feel like he doesn't value my feelings or my wants.

And the thing that breaks my heart is I hate the fucking beach. I planned my vacation completely with him in mind, because I know that's his happy place. Because I knew it was financially the only option he would agree to. Because I know he doesn't like long trips, and the shore is only a two hour drive away. If I had known he was just going to tell me he wasn't going to go on vacation with me, I would have tried to plan a trip I would have enjoyed more. Now it just feels like it's all too late, and I'm so disappointed.

Anyway, thanks if you read through all that whining. I just needed to vent before I exploded, and I don't have therapy again until Wednesday.

[spywitch]

Its so annoying when someone says “You should get pet insurance” and someone else is like “WELL NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD THAT AND VET CARE IS TOO EXPENSIVE NOT EVERYONE CAN SPEND $50k ON JUST ONE ANIMAL.”

Like, yes vet care is too expensive, theres a lot of complicated reasons why usually having more to do with corporate greed and very little to do with the doctors and other staff. They have to make money, they have to pay for the costs of the medicine, tests and machines and they have to pay their already critically underpaid staff. But so long as it is expensive you should be doing everything you can to plan for your pets future.

Like literally nobody is shaming you for not being able to spend over $10k on some treatment for a terrible cancer or ailment thats not even guarenteed to save your pet or give them a good quality of life. Believe me, the whole staff understands and is sad with you and many of us wouldn’t be able to afford that either. We also hate that care is so expensive, and don’t think pet ownership should be a luxury only the wealthy can afford.

But you NEED to plan for at least basic care and common problems and accidents that can happen. That means more than bare minimum vaccines. That means you should know you will need to pay for spay/neuter, that you should come to expect at least a couple routine dentals with possible extractions, that you shouldn’t be blindsided when your pet is old and needs something for its arthritis, etc. You should especially be planning if you have a breed known for more health issues, or thats known to get injured or into trouble more often. If you have a cat especially a less friendly one you should be prepared for needing anxiety meds and possibly sedation in the event they are too fearful and aggressive at the vet. All of that shit can be expensive as fuck, but still managable for most IF you have a good pet insurance, which is only like $20-50 a month. When we say “get pet insurance” its not about shaming you if you can’t afford that dental with 6 extractions and saying you shouldn’t have pets, we’re just trying to help you and warn you that its pretty inevitable especially as your pet ages to have to pay a lot to prevent your pet from suffering. Pet healthcare woes are just like human ones, they’re just expedited because they have shorter lives.

Its best to do it young before they have pre-existing conditions too. I should have insured my husky right away, I didn’t prioritize it because I was broke and she was young and healthy, but of course she had 3 emergency visits as a puppy, twice for getting into shit and once for a bee or something stinging her eye. It would have been so worth it to just pay the insurance fee, and it will be very worth it when she is old and needs supportive care for whatever the future may bring. Thats all we’re trying to tell you… the monthly fee is usually worth it. If you can’t even afford that that sucks and I hope you can find resources to help, but isn’t like other people who are trying to give helpful advice’s fault.

[jim-fetter-illustrations]

 I wish I may, I wish I might, I'm the cause of this blight?

WISHFUL THINKING: an attitude or belief that something you want to happen will happen, or become true even though it is not likely or possible it ever will, due to your lack of good sense or judgment (stupidity).

Like religion!

This is the problem with our political arena democracy,..... To many voters vote on the premise of wishful thinking and that wish never comes to fruition,....... but we make plans according to our wishes coming true and we organize society to reflect those wishes coming true, like we wish to win the lottery.

Problem is when our wishes don't come true we've built a fucking foundation on them coming true and then everything goes to shit,............. well like it has been doing for the last 4 decades we are unprepared to deal with the consequences of our lack of good sense or judgment (stupidity).............. But we are starborn Americans and we will go to the extremes to force wishes to come true that didn't, and that causes chaos in societies like we have been seeing for the last 4 presidencies.

Anyone else noticing this crap but me?!?!

Ya see the main problem with wishful thinking is you do it based upon 'Misinformation'— which is deliberately shared wrong information (e.g., fake news), which isn't just simple misperceptions (e.g., genuine mistakes)—it's an outright, knowing lie, like Trump uses to get clueless and stupid people to do things for him that normal people wouldn't fall for.

This poses a number of dangers when ignorant people take it as fact to a democratic society. Democracy thrives on the active and honest participation of citizens and misinformation threatens its success by obfuscating or discouraging the best course of action for voters and distorting perceptions of political opponents that we the people seem to thrive on,........ flinging shit at each other that is.

And as we have witnesses for the last 30 years from one after the other political leader using hoodwinking to get you to vote for them, like a used car salesman does to get you to buy that worthless piece of shit they are calling an automobile.

Understand now??? And the stupid people still won't, that's the problem,........ we got way too many stupid people voting with the same power the intelligent people have.

It would seem to me that there would be some kind of voting test just to see if a person knows what the fuck is going on in this country, and those who are clueless don't get to vote on the futures of the people who do get it,..... and we could give the clueless people a free barbeque or something they might enjoy better than voting for something they have no idea how it's gonna impact their lives!

Once there are more clueless people than people who get it voting Capitalism then becomes a monopoly game of who can kiss, and french the ass of the political party in charge. Like we do today basically.

That's my take on it anyway, and I'm sure you got your own, and with the two we can't even bring back that Affordable Connectivity Program that government said would be lower costing internet for all Americans, you know that program Biden said would be a permanent government benefit for all Americans who qualified as low income, making less $35,800 a year.

Well that permanent government program was shut down through congressional action that ended that PERMANENT Government program,...... they needed the money to improve congress's members dental benefit's.....so it was on the hush-hush, not widely advertised.

Wish in one hand, and shit in the other,... See which one gets fulfilled first,............. that's what's going on as you vote for "pie-in-the-sky" wishful thinking.

But don't take my word for it,.................. hide and watch.............!

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[clinicallyinvisible]

Feeling so so bad about the relationship I'm currently trapped in.

I've been making steps toward buying a lot in the next village over and building a tiny home from a shed. I've got basically the entire project priced out and I think I can get a construction mortgage to pay for the whole thing and keep it within my price range.

Unfortunately my boss ended up deciding not to provide me with health insurance because it would cost too much and be too much of a hassle for just me (I'm the only employee), so he gave me a 25 cent raise instead and called it even. That's only $364 before taxes for the entire year. Idk what he thinks that's going to cover. I desperately need a bunch of dental work and had been counting on this to be able to go do it because I cannot afford to go otherwise. I know it'll be at least a thousand. I haven't seen a dentist since I was still on my dad's insurance when I was 19. So it's been nearly a decade. I was complaining about it to partner tho and he told me he would pay for me to go, so that's good at least I guess. I'll take advantage of that while I can. I do feel bad, tho, because I'm planning to leave him, but at the same time I do really need this and I should probably just take it.

I'm really hoping I can manage this tiny house build. It's scary and there is a lot I'll have to do on my own that I've never done before, but I've done hard and scary things before in my life so I think I can do this, too. And I have some friends that I'm sure will give me a hand with the things I won't be able to do totally on my own, like drywalling the ceiling. I'll have to hire a plumber and electrician regardless, but I think that's still very doable. I'll probably also have to pour a crawl space foundation, which could be a lot, but it's probably good that I do it since I may be living there for quite a while. I'm mostly worried about septic. Idk if the village has sewer or if they have any lots I could buy that already have a tank in the ground or something, so that could be another big expense. I still think I can do it for what I can afford, so I'm not too worried and it'll be better than buying something that's already built since I can make this my own entirely and fit my needs perfectly. I'll need to build a fence for the dogs, but not sure if I'll be able to do that right away.