Insurance scum - what is a person to do?

You might think, well, if you really can't afford to go to the doc and get medication then you can get it for free. This is what happened with Apriso last time - I was able to get it for free because I was just out of college and had little money in my bank account. But I have since worked 6 months in total (3 months in one position before colitis kicked in and had me laid off, and now another 3 months in another company where colitis is now kicking in again) and I live with my parents. So I don't have expenses except car payments, car insurance and gasoline. So I did save up about $4000 so if I try to apply for free medication/doctor they will say "Well you have $4000 and little expenses, you can afford it!! go buy it"..

Well yes, technically I can afford it, but guess what - I will be sick for the next several months if not longer and possibly (god forbid) require hospitalization, all the while I am uninsured and have some bills to pay (don't even want to think where I would be without my parents to live under right this moment). These few months I worked are my savings account for when colitis hits - I still need to pay bills and have a small safety net for hospitalization. And to be completely honest $300 for one doctor visit (and you know how they are, they demand to see you every week or two), and some $600 every month for stupid sugar pills (Apriso) I definitely cannot afford and refuse to pay.

But they of course won't understand, they see I have money to give them and will not give me free meds or doctor visits.

This country is messed up. If it wasn't for my parents I would probably be literally a dying bum right now

I'm also sorry if I sound very mean. But I know many of you have been in my shoes in the past with this stupid disease. It feels like my world is tumbling down on me and the last thing on my mind is editing to sound nice, my mind is in a dark place at the moment.

I'm sorry

My parents don't have health insurance themselves :(

We are on a group plan as far as I know (it is a public institution) but I spoke to the benefits coordinator just this morning and this is what she told me. The same is written here http://www.medplanaccess.com/bcbsil/pre_existing_condition.htm

I feel for you. You are one of the many reasons the new US healthcare law is so important and we can only hope it doesn't get taken down after the election if the wrong person is voted in.

I can't offer suggestions for you because I was self-employed my whole career and had to pay 100% of our insurance bill. Couldn't switch policies after getting UC and risk bankruptcy if things went bad during the non-coverage period.

For me meds did almost nothing positive for my UC, the exception being mesalamine enemas which did help. If I didn't get the chance to try various meds I wouldn't know that fact and think that "if I only had health insurance" I'd get better. For me meds were not the cure.

Hang in there. Take one day at a time. Come here and complain and we'll listen. We've been between a rock and a hard place too.

Have you ever explored the Needy Meds program?

http://www.needymeds.org/

It might offer you some support until you can get coverage.  I'd actually call and speak to someone there. 

Also, if you can swing the cost of doctor's visits (they may work with you on payments if you explain your situation), there are meds that are dirt cheap, such as sulfasalazine. 

I think the OP's concern is that if he gets treated NOW for a colitis flare his new insurance will make him wait another 12 months before they'll cover any expense for colitis.

So the best bet is to get a DR to prescribe prednisone for something other than colitis. Say, for example, poison ivy, so you can get a few month's supply.  But this is essentially insurance fraud, so you'll have to find someone you know to do this for you IMO.

Really, if the Health Care Reform Act is not repealed, you won't have to worry about this at all starting in 2014, when pre-existing conditions cannot be excluded. So maybe it's worthwhile to go ahead and have the DR visit and get the right meds with the right diagnosis.

Personally, I think you should be making a long-term plan that doesn't include prednisone. That med will ultimately do you more harm than good. Even if oral mesalamine "didn't work" I would recommend you get a prescription for rectal mesalamine. It is worth the money you'll spend on it to avoid prednisone and get a manageable remission.