Ahh, the pleasure of writing my blog on my computer. This is the way things are supposed to be. I’m still recovering from the WFUV member drive but we’ll see if the comfort of familiar surroundings makes itself felt in the writing.
I was scheduled to work only a half day yesterday, 6 AM to 12 Noon. That’s because I thought I had to leave for therapy when I did the scheduling. I didn’t, my therapist is on vacation. I did leave around 1 though to take care of my Medicaid. My last cataract surgery was postponed because I didn’t get my recertification letter from Medicaid as it was sent to my old City Island address. With the help of Allison I straightened things out so I could get the surgery but was told that I still had to go to the Medicaid off to recertify. The benefits councilor at the hospital where I get therapy helped me through the paperwork but she couldn’t submit it as the hospital is in Westchester and I get my benefits in New York City. I had to go to one of the New York offices. I of course procrastinated and then the member drive happened. Yesterday I forced myself to take care of it. That strikes at the heart of my anxiety issues; it’s not easy. I printed out the bank statements I was told I needed at the station and headed out to North Central Bronx Hospital where Medicaid has an office. It’s a half hour walk from the station and a block from Montefiore Hospital where my doctors are located.
I hiked up there and made my way to the Medicaid Office. I thought it would be like at St. Vincent’s in Westchester. There I gave my name at the window. A few minutes later the councilor came out, took me to her office, and she did what she could. If I lived in Westchester she could have done everything and I’d have been out of there in 20 minutes.
Those were not rational expectations, there are a lot more people in need of Medicaid in the Bronx than in tony Harrison. I was caught in a Kafkaesque bureaucracy. I walk into a cramped office. There’s a sign outside of it, “No Standing.” I looked for a place to sign in. Nobody tells you what to do. I waited my turn at the desk and was admonished for standing. The guard told me to take a number. I see no numbers. I looked for the kind of machine you see at a bakery. Where the guard pointed there was nothing. She sharply told me to take a number. I asked where? She points in my general direction. There’s nothing there. Finally she comes over and shows me the numbers. They are on pieces of cardboard directly in front of the person waiting to be helped and not what I was expecting and not visible from most of the room.
The room was dreary. It was so dreary that the guard started complaining that we had to be there only while we wait but she has to be there all day. I waited two hours in hell’s anteroom before my number was called. The guard did soften, she called me the quiet guy. I guess I gave her less trouble than other people.
When my number was called I handed the woman my photo ID, my NY State Benefits Card, and my Health First insurance card along with the package of forms I was given at St. Vincent’s and my bank statements. She started asking me about applying for Medicare. I told her I was too young. I was a bit perturbed that she assumed I was old enough. Then I found out why. In the pile of papers was one that said, “If you are old enough for Medicare you have to apply for that.” It said “If” but she had ignored that. Then she told me that she couldn’t help me; that this office was only for people on Medicare and that I should go to Health First, my insurance company. They were the ones that sent me to Medicaid. My anxiety was pounding at me along with a mountain of frustration. She told me to go to the Health First office at Montefiore. It was well after four by then and she said that if they were closed to go back on Monday.
I was so tempted to go home. I was tired. I was emotionally drained. I was anxious. I’ll give my therapist and meds credit. I didn’t go home. I forced myself to go to Montefiore. I found the Health First office. It’s right by where I get my infusions. I was ready to deal with a new bureaucracy. That’s not what happened. I walked in and the woman there said I should have a seat and she helped me immediately! Then came the surprise ending. She looked me up in the system and told me. “You’ve already been recertified and are good until March 31, 2020.” I have no idea how that happened. Did the woman at St. Vincent’s do it despite the fact that she was in Westchester and didn’t tell me? I don’t know but I’m not looking a gift horse in the mouth. I have medical coverage for another year. I can continue my infusions and make all the doctor appointments I have planned. I was as relieved as it was possible to be.
I walked home and figured I’d rest for a couple of hours before heading to Rockwood Music Hall to see Oliver the Crow and Robby Hecht, to acts I love playing together. I was also looking forward to talking to them. They are all friends. I sat down in my easy chair, turned on the TV around 6:00. I didn’t have to leave until 7:30. I fell asleep. I awoke at 8:30 when my phone’s calendar went off to tell me that the show at Rockwood was starting in 10 minutes. So much for hearing great music and talking to friends. So much for even moving. I was pretty much glued to my chair and fell asleep again. The member drives take a lot out of me and the stress from the adventures in Medicaid didn’t help.
This morning I woke up at 5 AM like I’ve been doing, went to the bathroom, and then back to sleep. I finally dragged myself out of bed a little before 9:00. My legs were still heavy so I still have not recovered. I am going to go out tonight and I have to go to the store before then to get milk. Even that seems like a lot of work. Tonight I’m going out to see Ariana Gillis’s first New York show in years. Everything is happening tonight. David Bromberg is in Irvington, Jacob Johnson and Genevieve at Acoustic Brew, Joshua Garcia is playing Voices from the Heights in Brooklyn and Erin McKeown is playing at Jalopy. I would have been volunteering at Acoustic Brew and Irvington but they are also harder to get to. I’m going to the show that’s most convenient with the artist I have the fewest opportunities to see. I thought it was a double header as Oliver Esposito’s website says that they are playing at the People’s Voice café tonight. It’s not on their website. Something must have changed and Ollie didn’t change their site. I’m seeing Ollie at Common Ground Coffeehouse next month and Joshua will be opening so that made missing them today easier.
Now it’s time to make breakfast and spend the day listening to Siegfried live from the Met.
Wise Madness 