Madam, – I am a 28-year-old female who suffers from Crohn’s disease, a relatively serious digestive disorder. I had major surgery five years ago while in college and I have effectively been in remission since. I am proud to say that despite what I go through I have never had to take a sick day for Crohn’s. Despite some pain, I effectively lead a full and normal life.
I’ve done well in all my job roles; I’ve got every position/promotion I went for since college including during this recession. I worked for one of the biggest financial institutions in the country for three years. However, I now earn almost 40 per cent less than I was earning two years ago.
I pay €100 per month for essential medication (and this isn’t refundable from health insurance), I need to see my consultant every three to six months at a cost of €120 each visit, and I get regular blood tests at €60 a pop, not to mention ad hoc tests that can cost hundreds of euro.
And these are only Crohn’s-related expenses. Like everyone else, when I get very sick I see a doctor (€50 per visit) and I look after my teeth (€70 per visit). In addition let’s not forget that I pay PRSI (for what I’m not sure).
In 2008 my medical expenses came to €1,900 and that doesn’t even include private health insurance at €850. Because of “excess” rules, very little of the €1,900 was refunded through my health insurance (about €200). Tax relief for allowable medical expenses makes a very small contribution, albeit 12 months later (€400). In addition, because I had a declared disease, my health insurance didn’t cover me for Crohn’s for the first four years I paid for it – so I had to pay for every private hospital test I had.
I pay private health insurance because to do so means that I can have a normal working life and can arrange doctors’ appointments at times that are convenient to me (outside of work). I don’t need to take days or afternoons off. In addition I feel that having this disease is uncomfortable enough, and I don’t think I should be punished any further by being left to wait for three hours in consultant waiting rooms, or left on a trolley for days. I would rather not revisit the public-hospital experience I had in 2003.
I’m a qualified financial adviser, but no matter how many times I do the maths, the answers are the same – I would be better off on the dole with a medical card than I am in full-time employment.
Last week I got really bad pains in my stomach, but my bank balance was low, so I put off going to the doctor for a full week. I now know that I have a stomach ulcer.
I have friends who have put off going for tests for the same reason, and these are well-educated, hard-working girls. I can only imagine how those on lower salaries are coping. – Yours, etc,