Long-Term No Care

I don’t have Alzheimers but I might as well because I visited a neurologist in June to check myself. Mom had it. It wasn’t pretty and I’d like to spare Jim from having to tie me to the bed and change my diaper. That would sure cast a shadow over our lifetime romance. And break the retirement bank.

No Alzheimers, just normal, age-related cognitive disorder. Dis-fucking-order? Well, who cares? I forget a few things but I know where my keys and my glasses are and I can do the crossword and play bridge and recall your name. And the doctor says, no Alzheimers.

Great. Until I applied for long-term health insurance. That visit to the neurologist cost Medicare two hundred bucks but it may cost Jim and me thousands because no insurer will write a policy for anyone with any cognitive disorder.

Moral of story: if you visit a doctor for possible Alzheimers—or diabetes, the other NoNo—don’t ask your insurance company to pay for the visit. If it’s true that 70% of folks over 65 will require long term care, in or out of the home, then Jim and I are rather screwed.