When Bill Met Steve (A Computer Love Story)

Right, this isn't a love story. I've misled you. Sue me. But this is about Bill Gates and Steve Jobs of Microsoft and Apple Computer respectively and the first time they shared the stage together in over two decades. It was a relatively pleasant meeting in which they both praised each other, joked around, and talked technology. The only uncomfortable moment was when Apple's famous "I'm a Mac. I'm a PC" ads were shown. A full article is here at the BBC News site. Amazingly, despite predictions, Hell has not frozen over.

In other news, Aetna has tried to fuck me again. Yeah. Last week I went in to renew my prescription and they tried the same crap again. After spending nearly an hour at the pharmacy and being irritatingly persistent, I got it fixed but we just know it's going to happen again next time. I have filed yet another formal complaint with the State Insurance Commissioner as well as sending another copy to Aetna's CEO who will, undoubtedly, pawn this off on his "executive response team" which managed to do nothing the last time. To be fair, they replied and said "you got your prescription" implying that since it was fixed there wasn't a problem. I entirely disagree because their system is flawed and the fact it happened again proved it. They made some patently false claims in their reply (and my original doctor's prescription and matching pharmacy label proves they're false -- I even sent them copies so I have no idea how they're arguing). Further, I still believe their "pre-certification" process in which some clerk decides if your doctor is competent ought to be illegal: I do not believe anyone without a medical license should ever be able to override a decision made by a medical doctor, or in my case made by a medical doctor and confirmed by two additional medical doctors. It's bogus of course. Aetna still sucks. I still want an apology from them and they've done nothing close to apologizing, opting instead to making excuses and telling lies.

Another Blow To Vista

In another blow to Microsoft's latest version of Windows, "Vista", Dell has been forced to backtrack its Windows Vista only decision (news article), and is now shipping XP based systems due to overwhelming demand from its customers. While I am torn at whether or not to blog this because I hate Dell more than almost any other company in the USA except for, perhaps, Aetna Insurance, my distaste for Windows compels me to report this.

I am also shocked that Dell has bothered to listen to its customers, because quite frankly, based on the feedback in my other post on Dell, they haven't got very many fans. Apparently, Microsoft can't be quite as happy with Windows Vista's rollout as they have been claiming.

For more on Dell, Vista, Microsoft, please click on one of the tag links and you'll see all my posts on that particular subject.

Post 299: More on Aetna and other unrelated stuff

Let's see, this is the 299th post in my blog so the next post will be a milestone of sorts. I will be sure and either commemorate it or perhaps entirely ignore it.


Aetna Sucks Worse Than A Two-Bit Whore

Today, I sent a formal complaint to the State of Florida department of insurance regulation about the crap Aetna has put me through. More importantly, I sent a copy of that complaint to Ronald A. Williams, Aetna's CEO. I doubt I'll get an answer, because as you've seen in my previous posts (especially this one) you have by now realized Aetna cares not one whit and not one iota about its clients and would prefer they all drop dead rather than actually try and help them -- think of all the money they'd save!

I realize some Aetna employees may be reading this, and I believe some of you may actually care about your clients, but I maintain that your company as a whole and your company's policies are grossly negligent towards the care and well-being of your patients. When you become so arrogant that you feel your policies are more important than those of a licensed medical practitioner, then there is something horribly wrong with your company. I deeply resent a computer and a clerk telling me they want to question my doctor over my prescription, and as much as I resent, I can assure you my doctor resents it more, because he told me so. You have forgotten that your patients are human beings, if you haven't forgotten then you just don't care. I'm not sure which is worse. Repulsively disgusting.


Product Recalls

In other news, there has been yet another product recall (today: mouthwash) which has been contaminated. In recent months there's been cat food, dog food, mouthwash, spinach, lettuce, peanut butter, and so forth. A slew of recalls in recent months. There are forces at work here, mostly the government letting companies get away with murder, perhaps? I almost am ready to agree with conspiracy theorists on this one and we all know how much I loathe conspiracy theory. But there's just too many in too short a time. And what's worse, if it's as easy as a farm worker crapping in a field to cause massive outbreak of e-coli, just think how easy it would be for a terrorist to drop something far, far, far worse into the food supply. Or, perhaps, it's best if you don't think about it -- especially if you have Aetna because you'll probably die.


My Photo & Home Movie Library

I've also decided to digitize my entire photo library. I should thank Rangeek for this because he and I were talking (ie: e-mail) and I thought it would be cool to see old photos but I bemoaned the lack of patience to do the job and thought it would be a good business idea. Of course, with Google, you can find anything. And, indeed a search found any number of companies that do this -- not all of them reputable.

I plan to have my entire photo collection (photos, negatives, slides, everything) put on CDs and my home movies including the infamous New Year's Eve parties put on DVD. I will make them available to my friends who attended. I will slowly post some of the photos to my Flikr page. This project will cost me at least a grand and take two months, but it's worth it. I have photos of some good memories that are irreplaceable (such as this one). And I'd like to have a set of CDs to put in a safe-deposit box somewhere after I make copies to share. I can also clean up some of the older, grimy photos with Photoshop. I plan to ship off three cases of material to the company within two weeks.

I have photos from my Boy Scout days, college days, childhood, and such. I have photos of relatives, pets, places, vacations. There's so much there. 90% of it is meaningless to anyone but me. But people are funny about photos. Survey after survey asks people what they would save first if their house would burn down (excluding people and pets) and the answer is overwhelmingly photos.

I may post some of the videos on a secure password protected web-page on my site one day for your download amusement. But it's really boring if you weren't there in many cases. Parties, trips to the zoo, a road trip. Then again there are some very interesting things on there that, perhaps, I may not want to share. I'll watch 'em first. But the video of Paul counting shoes on the bridge to Tomorrow land is pretty damned priceless. Maybe I'll charge him $50,000 not to post it. Of course on that same tape I'm terribly hung-over the next morning, so I won't win any prizes either. Heh. Seriously, once it's done (updates posted here) I will report what is and isn't available.

Aetna Blows More than Monica Lewinsky

I fucking HATE insurance companies. Today, I think I shall rip Aetna a new asshole in my blog because they so richly deserve it. They probably have plenty ripped assholes already, so one more ought not bother them. Aetna is comprised of incompetent, idiotic assholes. I think they hope I die before they call back so they don't have to pay anything.
I have an Open Access POS plan through Aetna. No big deal. It's basically an HMO with an open access option (for which I pay extra). It means you don't need a referral to see a specialist. You pay a double co-pay, so you don't save any money. What you do save is time because you don't have to go see your primary, pay a co-pay, and then go see the specialist.

I'm an adult. I know what part of me is broken, so I if I need an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, throat) because my throat is having troubles, I can go. I pay a double co-pay because he's a specialist, hence I've not saved any money, but I have saved at least a week in time, which is priceless.

They insist I'm on an HMO even though I'm on a POS. The billing computer has it right, my card is right, but the service-provider's computer (where they check if your coverage is active) doesn't. So when my doctor calls, it tells them I am on the basic HMO plan. So my doctors all want referrals even though I don't need one. If I don't have a referral, I am not covered. That might not sound so bad except when you don't have a referral the insurance doesn't cover the visit and you're looking at $400 instead of $30.

This bit has been ongoing. I have spoken to people at Aetna (as well as my independent insurance agent) all of whom have promised to call me back. Some have asked for faxes, for details, and my contact information. Aetna is comprised of incompetent, idiotic assholes. Like I said before, I think they hope I die before they call back so they don't have to pay anything.

The people I've spoken with all assure me their computer shows I am covered. However, from what the doctors say, I am not covered. One of my doctors even had the information faxed over to me which quite clearly shows I am not covered. I have faxed this to them, my agent, anyone who wants to see it. It matters not to them. I am a human and Aetna cares not one iota for humanity. If I were a dollar bill they would be fawning over me like a lecher over a sixteen-year-old cheer leader.

But wait, there's more!

But that's not all. So I'm on these drugs that the otolaryngologist prescribed and I have two days left. Last time I checked my doctor is a licensed professional. The drug (if you care) is Nexium 40 which is to treat my severe acid reflux, the cause still being under investigation. I am supposed to take two per day which is 60 per month. First time I went to get them, Aetna gave me a hard time and said this drug needed pre-certification. I couldn't get them and had to call the doctor's office who had to argue with Aetna. The prescription was issued and the label clearly says "take twice per day" -- okay, boys and girls how many pills is that per month? If you got "60" you win. If you got "30" you work for Aetna. So after two weeks with 30 pills, it's time to renew. I always renew online because it's easy. I go to pick them up. Apparently Aetna feels they know better than my doctor.

So the pharmacist at Walgreens – a very nice man – let me use his phone so I could call Aetna. I went through dozens of voice-activated automated menus. Everyone around me laughed because none of the menu prompts would recognize my group ID. After much aggravation, I finally got to the part where you say “operator” to get a human and I said "operator." It hung up on me with no explanation. I started about 4:55pm and got hung up on a little after 5pm. When I called back and went through the same hell again, it said, I had to call back between 8am and 5pm (what happened to 24 hour service for medical issues)? The pharmacist, being the masochist he is, thought he'd give it a try. That failed spectacularly as I found when I called him an hour later.

My pills will run out Saturday. Of course, I can buy them at $188.90 per bottle of 30 and I need two of them. What do you think the chances Aetna will pay are? I've had a number of insurance plans, but Aetna is near the bottom -- only inHumana was worse.

The worst part is, stress greatly aggravates my acid reflux condition. So Aetna's behaviour is actually harming me. I'm sure that's ironic or something. I wonder if I can sue them for attempted murder?

On Tueday, I will file a complaint with the State of Florida Insurance Commissioner. It won't do much good because I have little faith in that office based on what I see of our entire insurance crisis in the state, but if it makes Aetna suffer a little, it'll make me happy.

Limited Medical Update

Oh, wait, there isn't much of one. I'm sick -- but don't feel bad except for the damn infernal 24/7 hacking. The doctor says I'm sick and am suffering from some unknown viral malaise. Doesn't that sound fun. My throat is shredded to bits from the constant hacking. Talking hurts, so I haven't been doing much of it lately despite some people's efforts to try and make me talk.

I begin antibiotics today for a week coupled with some highly narcotic cough syrup (yay) Hydromet Syrup which my insurance has inexplicably declined to pay for even though it's clearly covered. I asked the pharmacist why. He explained as follows: "Your doctor prescribed a 1/2 teaspoon dose once per day and gave you enough for 48 days. But the insurance company will only pay for 30 days worth."

I explained to the pharmacist that I'm supposed to take 1/2 teaspoon dose at least twice (as needed) per day which means I got a 24 day supply at most. But, the prescription says one per day or as needed. So I asked him to give me less, and he said it's a liquid in a standard size bottle and he can't. My choice is to call the doctor back tomorrow and have him re-issue the prescription or pay for it. I'm very cranky already and decide I'll just pay since I'm already pissed off and the talking is killing me. All that, and it's only $15.82 -- if my insurance had covered it, it would have been $20 which is my minimum drug copay. Fucking insanity, I say. I paid less not being covered.

I also went to the otolaryngologist (ENT) to discuss my results from the Endoscopy in more detail but he referred me back to the original doctor who did the procedure instead and said he should go over it with me instead. That pissed me off. I paid $30 to get sent to another doctor. So that's two co-pays today. Although the ENT did give me a lecture and a half for taking Orange Juice for my cold (which is a no-no for Acid Reflux patients). I assumed that the cold was worse and a few days of that wouldn't be a problem -- I stand corrected. No citrus ever again for any reason. He said OJ for colds is an old-wives tale anyway though he supports chicken soup. He then gave me the official "endoscope up the nose" procedure -- which is a problem because with my cold I can't breathe so well through my nose and we almost had an episode like before (previous blog post).

Then of course, I didn't mention the insurance crisis. We have two plans at our office a regular plan and the same plan with the Open Access option. The OA option is quite a bit more money (nearly double the price) but I gladly pay it because I'll be damned if I'm letting some insurance company book tell me what doctors and I can or can't see and double-damned if I'm going to keep going to my primary care to get a referral. If I know what's broken and I know what type of doctor can fix/treat it, then I'll find one that's good and go to him/her right away and shave days and dollars off the process.

So I go to the otolaryngologist and check-in like always (remember, I've been before) and pay my $30 co-pay for a specialist. No worries. Sit down. I get called back to the window and told "You need a referral to see the doctor or you have to pay $290 for the visit plus any additional money for whatever the doctor does." I ask why because I'm on the OA plan. She says I'm not and she shows me a printout which conflicts with the card I have. She gets her phone, dials the physician access line and presses my card number into the automated system. Sure enough it says I'm on the regular HMO without the OA option. I call my office and ask the controller to get the insurance agent involved but it's too early and we can't get it resolved. We come to a compromise: I leave her a signed note saying she can charge my card if it isn't resolved in 24 hours. When I get back to the office later, Aetna insists I'm on the OA plan and can't explain the failure of the physician's automated line to get it right. They promise they'll call me back within an hour and also call the doctor and straighten it out. That was 10 hours ago. Not done. (My primary care doctor was nice enough to fax a referral to the doctor so I don't get charged. Technically not proper but nobody feels bad because the insurance company screwed it up.)

I hate insurance companies. I wish I could stop coughing.

Health Alert: Acid Reflux, Aciphex, Nexium, and Vocal Cords

Five weeks ago I reported about my health problems and the lesion found on my vocal chords -- we named him Fred in the previous post. Just in case some of you actually give a flying fuck, I have an update. Fred was supposed to be entirely gone now. Then I'd be happy and tell everyone life is good and move on.

I followed the restricted foods carefully and made perhaps one or two minor strays over the five weeks. Even the doctor agrees I did a fantastic job. I took the medicines every day -- missing one dose one day only (thank Ernesto). I adjusted my eating and sleeping patterns. The consequences were too dire to do anything else.

So when Doctor Kevorkian, er, I mean Doctor Foster, shoved the camera down my nose this time,not using nearly enough anaesthetic I might add, and said, "oh" I felt my heart slow down. Fred is still there -- that's the bad news, and make no mistake about it because it's very bad news. On the plus side, Fred is showing signs of improvement -- and by that I mean he's a bit smaller but not small enough. So, I am on my morning Aciphex and a double evening dose of Nexium* -- again with Tums as needed.

In early November I go back. If Fred is still there, I get a trip to the surgeons where the prognosis is good -- assuming I don't mind the fact I might not be able to talk ever again and a trip to a gastrointestinologist to find out why there's so much acid gurgling around my stomach.


* assuming the fucktards at Aetna can actually get their shit together. I have no fucking idea what gives an insurance company the right to override a doctor's decision and deny a prescription. I've already faxed my doctor the number to their appeals department, and pending that I'll be calling the state insurance commissioner. Life is a bitch, and then you die waiting for the insurance company to figure it out. (Nexium40 is around $200 a bottle for a 30 day supply).