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Appealing Insurance Claims with Kindness and Education

here's the deal: humana doesn't like to recognize my previously existing condition of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and has not fufilled their end of the bargain in my insurance contract. Because of this, I am having to appeal and appeal and appeal every claim that they refuse to pay. Instead of getting upset and heated, I am trying a different approach: kindness and education. 

This is step one in what I know will be a LONG and tedious process. I guess I'm sharing in hopes that YOU may find solace that your not alone in the appeals, that insurance companies may actually treat the insured like humans, and that you can take my letter and write your own from it.

To Whom It May Concern at Humana Healthcare, 

My name is Meghan Hill, and I am a 30 year old female who has been diagnosed with a condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes. hEDS is a collection of hereditary syndromes affecting connective tissue. In EDS, a basic building block of the body- collagen- is improperly formed, causing problems throughout the body. Despite this fundamental defect in structure, people with EDS usually appear to be normal and healthy. Each Type of EDS has a large collection of symptoms which vary widely from mild to severely disabling, and is sometimes fatal. I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes Type 3 at The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN three and a half years ago. Since then, I have been trying to get adequate care for my symptoms without any help. 

EDS is multi systemic. The faulty collagen structure leads to fragile tissue and body-wide dysfunction. Possible symptoms include but are not limited to:

*Musculoskeletal System: Unstable joints, full and partial dislocations can cause sprains, tendionpathies, muscle tears, trapped and stretched nerves, and acute and chronic pain. 

• Cardiac/Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): Problems regulating heart rate , rhythm, or blood pressure; lightheadedness, fainting upon standing. Symptoms may resemble anxiety. 

• Digestive System: GERD, gastroparesis, IBS.

• Central Nervous System: Headache, dysautonomia. Can be affected by instability in neck, skull/spine juncture. 

• Other: fatigue, pain, sleep dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse, hernias, fragile skin, slow healing, easy brushing, poor local anesthetic effect. sometimes blood vellsel or hollow organ rupture. 

EDS is highly under-recognized. hEDS is “ likely the most common, though the least recognized, heritable connective tissue disorder.” - Dr. Marco Castori

Experts estimate that EDS affects as many as 1 in 100 people- more common than multiple sclerosis and Down Syndrome. Most people with EDS suffer for decades before receiving the correct diagnosis. EDS may affect 1-5% of the general population and only 5% of the EDS cases are recognized, especially in the United States. ( Dr. Brad Tinkle). The most common form of EDS does not have a characteristic physical appearance, but the clinical picture is often easily recognized by those healthcare experts who are familiar with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes. 

I would like to assume that the medical professionals at Humana may not be fully aware of what Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes are and how they effect people who have inherited the faulty collagen structure. I would also like to assume that Humana is well aware that I have been diagnosed with EDS before my plan started with them, making my Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome a pre existing condition. According to the Discrimination act, Humana is “ unable to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national orgin, age, DISABILITY or sex. Humana INC. and its subsidiaries do not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national orgin, age, DISABILITY or sex.” I am so glad you are kind enough to send that gentle reminder every time I get billed for my hospital care for my genetic connective tissue syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos. 

Since I was hospitalized against my will at New York City Presbyterian, after being admitted to the emergency room for symptoms stated above in my description of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and was determined to be hospitalized due to a “flare up” of my Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes, I was told that Humana would be happy to cover my care within the Psychiatric department of New York City Pres. The bill I am receiving tells me other-wise, and I would like to appeal this claim. 

Please recognize that I am taking measures to hire legal council and settle this claim with your  insurance company as discrimination and the un-insurance of care for pre-existing conditions. Please take the time to carefully study my doctors notes, my files, and the complexity of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and re examine your refusal to pay. 

I appreciate your time and the service you offer to so many, 

Meghan Hill 

What Is Habitual Design?

Habitual Design is a phrase that has been repeating it's self over and over again in my head. What is it that I do? I am not an interior decorator, instead I come into every home I fashion hoping to make the habitat ideal for the people who inhabit the space. I am not a decorator or a organizer.. I'm more of a habitual designer who serves as a coach for your interior spaces. 

Habitual Design is about using what you already own, and making the most ofyour space. Habitual Design is taking your physical needs into consideration as we build the foundation of the spaces inyour home. It is about saving money, cutting out the excess and focusing on what is important. It is trusting your intuition and setting purpose for the rooms in your home.

The process isn't always easy, designing a home that meets your needs, but it is always fun and always rewarding. Keep visiting this space for continued tips and tricks on how you can easily design your home space yourself! 

A New Introduction on Instagram

On Pain

"Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain. And you could keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy; And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields."And you would watch serenity through the winters of your grief. much of your pain is self-chosen. It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self. Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility: for his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen, And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears."

meet jade

what’s in a name? well, i’m realizing, everything. 
what’s in my name? well, i’m realizing, a lot. 
who am i? not who i once was. but certainly not who i will be. and that is very exciting. 
what is jade? it is rooted, but growing and is a blessing others while it grows and trails new roots. 
it is tough, but it has an ability to polish and sharpen whatever it touches. it is a dream-solver, creatively giving access to the spiritual world. 

what am i? i am a jade. i spend time gathering wisdom deep within my tranquillity. i break apart the negative with the light of my encouragement and bravery, allowing someone to see themselves as they really are.. beautiful and worthy of love. 
i am jade. and this space i am creating is called the jade hill.

IKEA partners with Amazon in 2018

Raise your hand if you love IKEA as much as I do. Affordable furniture that is well designed and (mostly) reliable. The only problem is that the majority of us do not have access to IKEA stores, and only certain products can be shipped at an incredibly high shipping price. 

Thanks to my daily update on Apartment Therapy, I learned that IKEA has announced they are going to start partnering with Amazon in the coming year. What does that mean for Prime members? FREE shipping on IKEA products. Right to your doorstep. 

The news is just TOO good not to share. 

Want to read more? 

Head over to Apartment Therapy. 

Ten Children Describe What It's Like To Live With Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

I have often asked myself "what would I have been able to communicate as a child if I was educated about EDS at a young age? would it have changed my outcome now? what if doctors were able to pick up on the bruises and see the connections between all of my falls and sprains and surgeries. 

Late one night I was looking into current Ehlers-Danlos Research, and my browser brought me to a site I immediately wanted to bite into. The Mighty is a easy-to-navigate, well-proportioned and beautifully designed site that dedictes it's resources to,

 "creating a safe platform for our community to tell their stories, connect with others and raise support for the causes they believe in. We are stronger when we face adversity together, and we know it. We’ve also partnered with over 200 nonprofit allies to deliver their excellent resources to our community."

Because I have been asking myself these introspective questions about my early childhood "signs and symptoms", I was immediately drawn to an article written and gathered by Hannah Wingert on the Mighty. She asked several children to describe what it is like living with EDS, and I have shared answers from children I can relate to from my past experience with EDS. 

---

Anonymous, 7 years old – “I feel stretchier. It makes me feel like I’m the special kid. It’s because I have something that other people don’t and that’s why I’m feeling that way. It affects, like, sometimes I try to run and then part of my body hurts and then I stop.”

Nicholas, 11 years old (hEDS) – “Awkward and painful.”

Dylynn, 11 years old – “I hate being clumsy, and I hate the knee braces, but I love the aqua therapy.”

Brandi, 6 years old (hEDS) – “It’s not bad. When my hands and feet are sleepy (numb) is what I hate the most. Oh, and my legs. They stay tired a lot.”

Jessica, 4 years old (cEDS) – “It’s too many doctors. I hate my boots (AFO braces). I’m tired of getting hurt.”

Kyler, 7 years old (cEDS) – “It’s pain. I want to run with my friends and play sports. But it hurts.”

Nikolas, 9 years old (hEDS) – “It hurts me. I love to draw, but it hurts my hands. I hate when bits go the wrong way, like my elbows and feet. I hate when my shoulders won’t move.”

Mathew, 7 years old (hEDS) – “I hate that it’s made me stretched (marfanoid habitus) and that I bruise and get nosebleeds all the time.”

Jack, 6 years old (hEDS) – “I don’t like my wobbly ankles and wrists and having no teeth like my friends, but I like showing my teachers how I can pick my nose with my tongue.”

Luke, 4 years old (hEDS) – “ I don’t like wearing my boots (braces) with shorts. I can’t hold my pencils like my friends at school, too.”

Abigail, 8 years old (hEDS with vascular crossover)– “EDS makes me feel unique. It feels like I am hiding a secret because I don’t really tell people that I have EDS. People just don’t ask, so I don’t tell. Sometimes I am sad when I can’t play or do other activities that my friends do.”

Dax, 7 years old (cEDS) – “It feels very sad. l have to be sick every single day of my life. I feel like I have the flu every day. It feels like stabbing.”

Katie (my daughter), 9 years old (hEDS) – “I’m different than my classmates. I like EDS because my class likes to see what I can do (um, we’re going to have to have a talk about this!). I don’t like that I hurt all over somedays.”

debt free and thirty

Last month I logged into my Barclay card account and made the biggest payment I have made yet. EIGHT thousand dollars. I held my breath and transferred the money over from my savings to my credit card. I never thought I would have debt, and then I never imagined I'd be in a place where I could pay off all of my debt at once. But, did I make the best decision? 

I immediately regretted my decision after I pushed the "send" button on my computer screen. My new camera was now paid off.. my computer was now paid off.. all of my incurred debt from the divorce, moving, traveling... all. paid off. Why did I regret that decision? I knew I wouldn't be getting paid again for another month, I only had $500 left in my bank account to last me the remainder of the month.. and I hadn't been budgeting well lately. 

Has anyone ever told you how good it feels to pay off all of your debt? SO GOOD. 

No matter how good it felt,  the following month of my life was a bit of an explosion in terms of my finances. Bills came in that I was not expecting. My credit card expired so I could no longer put daily items on it to pay off when invoices are paid.. causing me to overdraft my bank account. My phone fell in a tub of lemonade and died, so I was without a phone for 3 weeks.. you get the picture. My health insurance company (hi Humana) called me ( as I was walking into the doctor's office) to tell me they were not going to pay for my appointment with Dr. Francomano in Baltimore.  Unforeseen circumstances knocked me off my rocker in a big way. 

Over the past 30 days I have been elated (I PAID OFF MY DEBT! WHAA!!!! ALL BY MYSELF!!), embarrassed (trying to check out at the grocery store and having your debit card rejected as well as over-drafting TWICE on my bank account), stressed wondering when my clients would pay their invoices, and proud of myself for being able to do whatever I want with my finances from here forward. 

From it all I have learned one big lesson : I have got to start budgeting better. Being a freelancer makes your income somewhat unpredictable. My calendar is blank for August and September, meaning I need to make the money I have right now last me all summer long. If I can pay off my debt in 6 months, then I can make my finances stretch the summer months. I am going to start researching different ways to help me make my budgeting system better.. I must budget for my personal finances AND my business, and I am working with my sister to re-work the marketing for my business. I am taking steps to make sure a month like last month doesn't happen again. I am going to set financial goals, start saving for those goals and I am going to try to trim the fat off of my spending. 

Here's to living debt free for the following thirty years, and learning how to be smart with the money I make. It's going to be a fun ride. 

hEDS Daily June 1, 2017

EVENING EVALUATION:

1. WHAT TIME IS IT? 12:30 PM

2. CURRENT LOCATION: Greensboro, NC

3. CURRENT TEMPERATURE:  HOT

4. DID I EAT ANYTHING DIFFERENT/NOTABLE?: not yet

5. OVERALL PAIN LEVEL TODAY (ON 1-10 SCALE SYSTEM): 5 .. shoulder and hips hurt a lot today

6. WHERE DID I EXPERIENCE THE MOST PAIN/DISCOMFORT TODAY?  : so far my neck below my skull and my right shoulder. I am wearing compression socks, and those help my feet so much!

7. ENERGY LEVEL: pretty good actually considering I shot a wedding on Sunday

8. DID ANYTHING MAKE MY ENERGY AND PAIN LEVELS BETTER OR WORSE? n/a

9. EMOTIONAL STATE TODAY: focused 

10. HOW DID I LOVE MYSELF TODAY?

11. DID I USE MY CANE, WALKER, SEGWAY TODAY? segway

12. DID I PARK IN HANDICAPPED PARKING TODAY? yes.. still pretty weak even though the pain isn't AS bad

13. DID I WORK TODAY? : working now!

14. MUSIC LISTENED TO TODAY: n/a

16. anything else worth notating about the day, overall? not yet 

20. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY PHOTOS TO DOCUMENT BODY CONDITION/EMOTIONAL HEALTH/ACTIVITIES COMPLETED FOR DAY:  just need to note that I haven't filled out survey in a while due to super busy schedule traveling and shooting. My neck and lower back seem to be getting worse these days, and are effecting my ability to stand upright too long because I get tired. However, I haven't passed out since my last episode before Hillary and Ryan's wedding, and I am starting to develop a plan for my healthcare with Kathleen today!