I got my cholesterol reading back last Friday and it didn’t take long for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Tennessee to respond.
I’m covered for everything except medication to treat high cholesterol. So I’ve composed a letter thanking them for their speedy response.
Dear Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Tennessee:
I am writing to thank you for the quick response regarding the coverage you are giving me and my family. As I am self-employed, it is very important that my family has the best medical coverage we could find. We received the information packet and have begun to read it. Our monthly check for $724.56 is in the mail.
However, we are confused by your motivation to NOT cover me for any medication relating to the treatment of high cholesterol. We understand that you will NEVER cover me for this, (your letter was quite clear) but we are perplexed as to why. Please read the following possibilities and let us know which one(s) applies to my situation.
1. A reading of 339 isn’t very high, and therefore, in the opinion of the BCBS of Tennessee, I’m just fine without the medication. Why should you pay for something I don’t need?
2. The medication is more expensive than the cost of any heart attack I might have or my cholesterol number is so high that you don’t figure I’ll make it to the emergency room anyway…
3. The very existence of the medication is a scam perpetrated by the medical and pharmaceutical industries…therefore you won’t pay for it.
4. You want to take my money but not pay any benefits.
To help you along with your choices, I certainly will believe #4. I also believe #3, which would make part of #1 true.
And #2 is just cruel. But I’m not ruling it out.
However, It’s not all bad. I do want to thank you. After I got your letter, I realized that I don’t have to go for any more cholesterol screenings. No more fasting and giving blood the next morning. It’s now officially a waste of time. I mean, what happens if it gets higher? I’m still not covered. And if it gets lower (a lot lower, I would guess), it doesn’t need to be (in the opinion of the medical industry) treated.
Just to let you know, to celebrate my liberation from giving blood for useless tests, my tired veins and I (along with the family) went to Corky’s BBQ (local joint) for dinner. I had tamales with chili and cheese.
We look forward to your response. But hurry, as I’ve just opened a bag of pork rinds, my bratwurst is almost ready to come off the grill and my left arm feels all tingly and numb.
Sincerely,
