Current Mixed Feelings
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We once roamed the vast forums of Corona Coming Attractions. Some of us had been around from The Before Times, in the Days of Excelsior, while others of us had only recently begun our trek. When our home became filled with much evil, including the villainous Cannot-Post-in-This-Browser and the dreaded Cannot-Log-In, we flounced away most huffily to this new home away from home. We follow the flag of Jubboiter and talk about movies, life, the universe, and everything, often in a most vulgar fashion. All are welcome here, so long as they do not take offense to our particular idiom.
We once roamed the vast forums of Corona Coming Attractions. Some of us had been around from The Before Times, in the Days of Excelsior, while others of us had only recently begun our trek. When our home became filled with much evil, including the villainous Cannot-Post-in-This-Browser and the dreaded Cannot-Log-In, we flounced away most huffily to this new home away from home. We follow the flag of Jubboiter and talk about movies, life, the universe, and everything, often in a most vulgar fashion. All are welcome here, so long as they do not take offense to our particular idiom.
- The Swollen Goiter of God
- Postapocalypse Survivor - 7510 Posts
- Posts: 8906
- Joined: January 9th, 2014, 8:46 pm
- Location: St. Louis
Re: Current Mixed Feelings
He's one of my favorite things.
- neglet
- Shoots First - 1138 Posts
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- Joined: January 11th, 2014, 2:47 pm
- Location: Chicago
Re: Current Mixed Feelings
Sometimes giving up one dream makes another possible. At a certain point I had to give up the possibility of a second child, which ended up making my TKD career possible. Sure, I'll always wonder what if, but at this point I can't really have regrets about the decision.
- Adam54
- Wall of Text Climber - 2500 Posts
- Posts: 3506
- Joined: January 9th, 2014, 10:13 pm
- Location: Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Re: Current Mixed Feelings
Blue Cross/Blue Shield incorrectly took $10.39 from us at work this morning.
I stayed on the phone for 2 hours and 3 minutes to fix it. That annoys the crap out of me, but I got paid much more than $10.39 in that time and it's the principle of the thing, damn it.
I stayed on the phone for 2 hours and 3 minutes to fix it. That annoys the crap out of me, but I got paid much more than $10.39 in that time and it's the principle of the thing, damn it.
- Mal Shot First
- Wall of Text Climber - 2500 Posts
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Re: Current Mixed Feelings
I just got off the phone with BCBS about 30 minutes ago, myself. I had my annual physical checkup back in April, but I got a statement from my primary care physician's office this week saying that I owe them $106.49. This was part of the cost for all the blood work they did, so I didn't understand why it wasn't covered - it's all preventive care, which should be covered 100%.
So I call up BCBS today and the representative says the part that wasn't covered was the vitamin D deficiency test, which is not considered preventive care, apparently. First of all, fuck them for not considering it preventive care - I live in a part of the world with long winters, and vitamin D deficiency can lead to some pretty bad problems down the road. Second, I don't determine which tests my provider performs as part of my physical, motherfuckers. I assume there is a standard group of tests that are performed. It's not like the doctor asked me to pick the stuff I wanted them to check. Goddamn assholes, man - both the doctors and the insurance.
I was able to get them to cover the expense this time, though. The representative said I can be covered for vitamin D deficiency tests if they are performed by specific labs that are in the network (rather than the hospital lab my network physician is affiliated with - which is apparently not in the network, despite my physician's being in the network ). So she sent me a list of labs for future reference if I want to have those tests performed annually, and she said they can make a one-time exception in this case because I called and explained the situation. However, their payment might not be made July 7, but the due date listed on the statement I got is May 22, so I'll probably have to call my physician's office to let them know it's being taken care of and ask them not to send the bill collectors after me.
But yeah, no, our healthcare system is one of the best in the world!
So I call up BCBS today and the representative says the part that wasn't covered was the vitamin D deficiency test, which is not considered preventive care, apparently. First of all, fuck them for not considering it preventive care - I live in a part of the world with long winters, and vitamin D deficiency can lead to some pretty bad problems down the road. Second, I don't determine which tests my provider performs as part of my physical, motherfuckers. I assume there is a standard group of tests that are performed. It's not like the doctor asked me to pick the stuff I wanted them to check. Goddamn assholes, man - both the doctors and the insurance.
I was able to get them to cover the expense this time, though. The representative said I can be covered for vitamin D deficiency tests if they are performed by specific labs that are in the network (rather than the hospital lab my network physician is affiliated with - which is apparently not in the network, despite my physician's being in the network ). So she sent me a list of labs for future reference if I want to have those tests performed annually, and she said they can make a one-time exception in this case because I called and explained the situation. However, their payment might not be made July 7, but the due date listed on the statement I got is May 22, so I'll probably have to call my physician's office to let them know it's being taken care of and ask them not to send the bill collectors after me.
But yeah, no, our healthcare system is one of the best in the world!
- Jubbers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 777
- Joined: November 19th, 2012, 5:54 pm
Re: Current Mixed Feelings
I really miss the Technischer Krankenkasse.
We had our own insurance hoopla recently (also BCBS!) - we were told in February that Jubboiter's weekly therapy sessions would have a $25 copay. I asked "are you sure?" multiple times because it seemed low. Was reassured that that is what the insurance people had told the psychiatrist's office. Last week we found out that it was really supposed to be $40, and this week discovered that we were being charged for the missed $15/week. I wasn't able to talk us out of paying it, despite it not being our fault (the earlier figure, I am now told, was an "estimate", and insurance will not budge), so I begrudgingly paid the difference yesterday.
We had our own insurance hoopla recently (also BCBS!) - we were told in February that Jubboiter's weekly therapy sessions would have a $25 copay. I asked "are you sure?" multiple times because it seemed low. Was reassured that that is what the insurance people had told the psychiatrist's office. Last week we found out that it was really supposed to be $40, and this week discovered that we were being charged for the missed $15/week. I wasn't able to talk us out of paying it, despite it not being our fault (the earlier figure, I am now told, was an "estimate", and insurance will not budge), so I begrudgingly paid the difference yesterday.
- Adam54
- Wall of Text Climber - 2500 Posts
- Posts: 3506
- Joined: January 9th, 2014, 10:13 pm
- Location: Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Re: Current Mixed Feelings
Ugh. I hate stories like these. They're so utterly preventable if insurance companies didn't intentionally suck at everything they do.
Do you take a vitamin D supplement, Mal? Living in Minnesota, I know exactly what fun a vitamin D deficiency is and take one regularly through the winter at least. I also bought this thing in December (after we literally had one day of sunlight the entire month) and it helped a ton. http://www.amazon.com/Sphere-Gadget-Tec ... ge_o07_s00
As the guy who takes a ton of those calls, I'd definitely encourage calling your medical provider. Seriously 20-30% of the bills I send out don't get paid on time because people call me and say "I'm fighting with insurance." Shouldn't be an issue.
Jubbers' story is infuriating. From a provider standpoint, every time I call a company to check benefits (BCBS or otherwise) I have to listen to a schpiel about how "benefits quoted are a general outline of coverage." HOW IN THE FUCK ARE THEY NOT ABLE TO TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOUR BENEFITS ARE?! That drives me crazy! You pay them for the plan, they devise the plan, THEY SHOULD KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S IN THE DAMN PLAN! It shouldn't be a surprise! My guess is $25 was the copay for a regular office visit while $40 is either the "specialist" visit rate or a separate mental health one, depending how they code such things. Which...hand to God...any BCBS employee who is worth a shit should've been able to tell you the difference. Hell, the provider should've known. BCBS has a really great website that lets providers just type in your ID and it lists every damn copay you have.
So all that said, if anybody ever needs help figuring out your coverage, let me know and I can check it. Happy to help deal with these monsters. Best system in the world! Honestly, in the six months leading up to the implementation of the ACA, we were all scared to death. They couldn't handle the people they already had, so obviously the answer was to force them to adapt massive reforms and accept millions more. Brilliant!
Do you take a vitamin D supplement, Mal? Living in Minnesota, I know exactly what fun a vitamin D deficiency is and take one regularly through the winter at least. I also bought this thing in December (after we literally had one day of sunlight the entire month) and it helped a ton. http://www.amazon.com/Sphere-Gadget-Tec ... ge_o07_s00
As the guy who takes a ton of those calls, I'd definitely encourage calling your medical provider. Seriously 20-30% of the bills I send out don't get paid on time because people call me and say "I'm fighting with insurance." Shouldn't be an issue.
Jubbers' story is infuriating. From a provider standpoint, every time I call a company to check benefits (BCBS or otherwise) I have to listen to a schpiel about how "benefits quoted are a general outline of coverage." HOW IN THE FUCK ARE THEY NOT ABLE TO TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOUR BENEFITS ARE?! That drives me crazy! You pay them for the plan, they devise the plan, THEY SHOULD KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S IN THE DAMN PLAN! It shouldn't be a surprise! My guess is $25 was the copay for a regular office visit while $40 is either the "specialist" visit rate or a separate mental health one, depending how they code such things. Which...hand to God...any BCBS employee who is worth a shit should've been able to tell you the difference. Hell, the provider should've known. BCBS has a really great website that lets providers just type in your ID and it lists every damn copay you have.
So all that said, if anybody ever needs help figuring out your coverage, let me know and I can check it. Happy to help deal with these monsters. Best system in the world! Honestly, in the six months leading up to the implementation of the ACA, we were all scared to death. They couldn't handle the people they already had, so obviously the answer was to force them to adapt massive reforms and accept millions more. Brilliant!
- Jubbers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 777
- Joined: November 19th, 2012, 5:54 pm
Re: Current Mixed Feelings
With the Technischer Krankenkasse it was so simple. I paid my monthly premium for Beau and myself. Then, each quarter, we had to pay the first doctor or dentist we went to 10 bucks. After that, no matter what other dentist or doctor we went to that quarter, it was taken care of. Covered items were clearly laid out on the website, additional charges were clearly indicated (i.e. highly recommended diabetic testing for pregnant women was not at the time covered - is now - but it was clearly explained that it would be 25 Euros ahead of time, that's what I brought, and that's all I had to pay.)
And there was no difference between doctor and dentist. My pregnancy visits and Beau's wisdom tooth extractions were all covered under the same system.
And there was no difference between doctor and dentist. My pregnancy visits and Beau's wisdom tooth extractions were all covered under the same system.
- The Swollen Goiter of God
- Postapocalypse Survivor - 7510 Posts
- Posts: 8906
- Joined: January 9th, 2014, 8:46 pm
- Location: St. Louis
Re: Current Mixed Feelings
Jubbers wrote:With the Technischer Krankenkasse it was so simple.
- Adam54
- Wall of Text Climber - 2500 Posts
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- Joined: January 9th, 2014, 10:13 pm
- Location: Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Re: Current Mixed Feelings
The software we use at work (on which I do ~96% of my job) has been down for much of the day. On the one hand, I'm staggeringly bored and am going to have a ton to do whenever it gets repaired. On the other, I'm getting paid just to sit here and look handsome!
- Adam54
- Wall of Text Climber - 2500 Posts
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- Joined: January 9th, 2014, 10:13 pm
- Location: Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Re: Current Mixed Feelings
So it turns out I had a DVD set of the original theatrical versions laying on my shelf unopened for ~8 years. I looked into this on eBay the weekend before last....and wound up selling it for $199.Adam54 wrote:I'm weighing making my first viewing of the original trilogy before I go see the new one. I have a feeling it'd help?
I know it was a pretty cool thing I had, but on the other hand....$199! For three movies!
You Star Wars nerds are fucking insane and I love you.
- The Swollen Goiter of God
- Postapocalypse Survivor - 7510 Posts
- Posts: 8906
- Joined: January 9th, 2014, 8:46 pm
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Re: Current Mixed Feelings
When you said you had a DVD set of the original theatrical versions, did you mean that you had a DVD set of the post-SE versions (tweaks on top of tweaks!) that also happened to have the original theatrical versions included as bonus features? To my knowledge, they never released a DVD set where the original theatrical versions were front-and-center.
- Dalty
- Vegeta-ble Slicer - 9001 Posts
- Posts: 9564
- Joined: January 11th, 2014, 5:28 am
Re: Current Mixed Feelings
Yup, I thought my VHS Vader motif box set were the last originals released?
If it's worth $199 though, for you, I say eBay that mutha good!!
If it's worth $199 though, for you, I say eBay that mutha good!!
- Adam54
- Wall of Text Climber - 2500 Posts
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- Joined: January 9th, 2014, 10:13 pm
- Location: Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Re: Current Mixed Feelings
It was a sealed version of this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Star-Wars-Trilo ... SwOVpXavJq
The fellow paid me yesterday and whatever this is is on it's way to Florida!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Star-Wars-Trilo ... SwOVpXavJq
The fellow paid me yesterday and whatever this is is on it's way to Florida!
- The Swollen Goiter of God
- Postapocalypse Survivor - 7510 Posts
- Posts: 8906
- Joined: January 9th, 2014, 8:46 pm
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Re: Current Mixed Feelings
That's the one that only had the "original" versions on the bonus discs. The main discs have the modded versions. (Most of the mods are '97 mods, but there are also some '04 and '08 mods.) The copies on the bonus discs are essentially low-res transfers of the LaserDisc prints. No remastering of any kind, but at least it's something.
- Adam54
- Wall of Text Climber - 2500 Posts
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- Joined: January 9th, 2014, 10:13 pm
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Re: Current Mixed Feelings
So I did all right getting $199 for 'em?
- The Swollen Goiter of God
- Postapocalypse Survivor - 7510 Posts
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- Joined: January 9th, 2014, 8:46 pm
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Re: Current Mixed Feelings
You did good, kid.
- Adam54
- Wall of Text Climber - 2500 Posts
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Re: Current Mixed Feelings
Thanks, Pa.
- Dalty
- Vegeta-ble Slicer - 9001 Posts
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Re: Current Mixed Feelings
I would have held out for $250.
- Adam54
- Wall of Text Climber - 2500 Posts
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- Joined: January 9th, 2014, 10:13 pm
- Location: Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Re: Current Mixed Feelings
I tried! I started it at $50. I'll take $200.
- Dalty
- Vegeta-ble Slicer - 9001 Posts
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Re: Current Mixed Feelings
How much did you get for the Full House compilation VHS?
- Adam54
- Wall of Text Climber - 2500 Posts
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Re: Current Mixed Feelings
75 cents.
Stifle yourself, Limey.
Stifle yourself, Limey.
- Dalty
- Vegeta-ble Slicer - 9001 Posts
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Re: Current Mixed Feelings
I would have let it go for 50c.
- Adam54
- Wall of Text Climber - 2500 Posts
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- Joined: January 9th, 2014, 10:13 pm
- Location: Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Re: Current Mixed Feelings
I sent two seasons of Full House to our friends in St. Louis once.
You're jealous, Dalty. I can sense it from here.
You're jealous, Dalty. I can sense it from here.
- Dalty
- Vegeta-ble Slicer - 9001 Posts
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- Joined: January 11th, 2014, 5:28 am
Re: Current Mixed Feelings
I prefer nutritionally suspect breakfast treats.
- The Swollen Goiter of God
- Postapocalypse Survivor - 7510 Posts
- Posts: 8906
- Joined: January 9th, 2014, 8:46 pm
- Location: St. Louis
Re: Current Mixed Feelings
One day, we'll let Jubboiter watch them. We're waiting until she's old enough. Saget can get pretty blue.