There are so many twists and turns in life. That is why making plans is nearly impossible in so many situations. This is a lesson that I am slowly learning and working toward applying to my own life. Over the past two months, I have been in treatment at Rogers Memorial Hospital for the second time and to say there have been unexpected challenges would be an understatement.
I was admitted to the adult OCD residential unit on July 7,2016 and I made many gains while there. I can now say that I can put off doing my laundry until night time, go to a different event spontaneously when asked during my day, save some exposures until night time, give criticism, take criticism, and even do a college class while in treatment. I have worked for hours everyday to accept the imperfections in myself by being rude to staff and doing many exposures that made me appear very flawed. The journey has been long, difficult, emotional, and it isn't even over yet.
About three weeks ago, my insurance company gave me the heart wrenching news that they were no longer going to cover my stay in residential treatment. I remember sitting in that day room staring my therapist, behavioral specialist, and the financial counselor in the eyes and saying "This isn't fair." I remember the tears, the chest pains, the panic because I knew I was no where near ready to leave. I knew I had to fight longer. That is when the whole fight began.
My insurance company has acted in such an unprofessional manner throughout this whole situation that we are considering legal action. Not only did they hurt myself and my family, they violated so many of my rights as a patient. That is why we fought. We did two more appeals after I first got the news over the course of three weeks with each waiting time for their decision more horrible than the last. I waited a dreaded six days for an answer the first appeal and five days the second when they had already made a decision three days prior. This whole process has damaged my family. Since they stopped paying on August 29, we now owe thousands upon thousands of dollars to the hospital for my treatment in residential. I can only pray that the debt can be repaid quickly.
After receiving the final word this previous Monday, I panicked, cried, and prayed to God for another option. I needed another way to finish my treatment because I knew I wasn't where I wanted to be. I begged him for another chance at full recovery. That is when a spot in the partial hospitalization program miraculously opened up for me. I heard that the partial program in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin had an open spot and was willing to put me there because of my situation. With the waiting lists for partial being about a month and a half right now, I was incredibly grateful. I now have the opportunity to get better, be independent at nightime, and attend treatment during the day, and even practice living on my own. This is a huge step in my progress because it means I am ready to take on some things on my own.
I am ready to show that insurance company that they were wrong and that I am worth investing in. Although this journey has been full of heartache, I have gained so much freedom from OCD. I am not where I need to be to return home yet, but I will be there soon enough and see all of my loved ones back in Michigan. I am so thankful to have such an amazing family, fiancé, and friends that have done everything in the world to make my second round of treatment possible for me. I no longer believe that insurance companies are blessings, but I do believe that miracles do happen.
I was admitted to the adult OCD residential unit on July 7,2016 and I made many gains while there. I can now say that I can put off doing my laundry until night time, go to a different event spontaneously when asked during my day, save some exposures until night time, give criticism, take criticism, and even do a college class while in treatment. I have worked for hours everyday to accept the imperfections in myself by being rude to staff and doing many exposures that made me appear very flawed. The journey has been long, difficult, emotional, and it isn't even over yet.
About three weeks ago, my insurance company gave me the heart wrenching news that they were no longer going to cover my stay in residential treatment. I remember sitting in that day room staring my therapist, behavioral specialist, and the financial counselor in the eyes and saying "This isn't fair." I remember the tears, the chest pains, the panic because I knew I was no where near ready to leave. I knew I had to fight longer. That is when the whole fight began.
My insurance company has acted in such an unprofessional manner throughout this whole situation that we are considering legal action. Not only did they hurt myself and my family, they violated so many of my rights as a patient. That is why we fought. We did two more appeals after I first got the news over the course of three weeks with each waiting time for their decision more horrible than the last. I waited a dreaded six days for an answer the first appeal and five days the second when they had already made a decision three days prior. This whole process has damaged my family. Since they stopped paying on August 29, we now owe thousands upon thousands of dollars to the hospital for my treatment in residential. I can only pray that the debt can be repaid quickly.
After receiving the final word this previous Monday, I panicked, cried, and prayed to God for another option. I needed another way to finish my treatment because I knew I wasn't where I wanted to be. I begged him for another chance at full recovery. That is when a spot in the partial hospitalization program miraculously opened up for me. I heard that the partial program in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin had an open spot and was willing to put me there because of my situation. With the waiting lists for partial being about a month and a half right now, I was incredibly grateful. I now have the opportunity to get better, be independent at nightime, and attend treatment during the day, and even practice living on my own. This is a huge step in my progress because it means I am ready to take on some things on my own.
I am ready to show that insurance company that they were wrong and that I am worth investing in. Although this journey has been full of heartache, I have gained so much freedom from OCD. I am not where I need to be to return home yet, but I will be there soon enough and see all of my loved ones back in Michigan. I am so thankful to have such an amazing family, fiancé, and friends that have done everything in the world to make my second round of treatment possible for me. I no longer believe that insurance companies are blessings, but I do believe that miracles do happen.