Hi Steve - I just sent $200 your way and it is well worth it, I just wish I could do more.
I found your site by way of looking up the Christopher Vaughn murders and could not believe the treasure that I found! Your site was like a well kept secret and from the time I read your take on the murders, complete with requisite sarcasm, I was hooked.
I returned daily and then stopped for a while, then got re-hooked during the Matt Gretz/Kira Simonian situation.
Reading about crime on CourtTV or cnn.com/crime is one thing, but reading your take on the crimes is quite another.
At any rate - good luck with your health and please keep writing!!
I wish I could send more but I have paypal'd you what I could afford right now.
Take care
Steve,
I sent a small amount to you. I wish it could be more but for today it is what I can do. Get that health insurance asap....our health is the one thing we can't leave up to chance. After many years of employer paid health insurance my husband lost his job and coverage in summer of 2002. Living in Michigan where things are slower than ever we've been paying our own ever since and completely understand the struggle.
You have a great site here, and I appreciate your writing. Feel better soon.
I'm sure I've been able to keep up with sending thank you notes so far, but let me thank those of you have already donated again here, publicly. Mere words don't really do my gratitude justice.
Steve
I did insurance billing for almost twenty years, most of time was at a neurology specialty. Please, please get back on your wife's insurance ASAP! You really don't want to hear the horror stories I can tell you.
1) One big flare-up with the MS would be enough to ruin most people's credit, bankruptcy, etc.
2) Many of the new MS meds are way too expensive for private pay.
3) A private insurer will most likely not give insurance to someone with a chronic disease, or if they do, the pre-existing conditions render it pretty much worthless.
Not trying to be doom and gloom, just advising that sometimes a big monthly premium is better than taking a gamble. I've had three surgeries in the last three months, but even my part of the deductible and co-ins will keep me up at night. With no insurance, it would have been bankruptcy for sure.
Mr. Huff:
HELP! When I donated before, it showed an 'e-check' icon (when it comes directly from your bank account via PayPal). Not seeing that option. Is that still an option? If not, I could send a personal check, as we do not charge anything to cards.
GET TO THE DOCTOR...you are a father and husband, and are needed!!! Nothing to toy around with period!!!
I know how hard it is to afford insurance! I had a PPO insurance plan in place when my latest son was born in 2005. Turned out that they embezzled the premiums, and we got stuck with everything. That is why I work all night, and pretty much never sleep ... to pay "baby" bills. You're situation does not leave you room to be without insurance, as you have a pre-existing condition. GET BACK ON THE INSURANCE! I am now just paying that last baby bill off, and then I will be working to supplement my husband's income for the deduction to put me on his insurance (tune of about $353.00 per month). Expensive, yes, but I've spent the last two years at home with three kids working all night to pay the baby off ... this has not only compromised me, but my family. Our share with the insurance would have been $1,700 vs. $14,000+ I've had to pay for no insurance coverage.
Not trying to be bossy . . . I also do bankruptcy work, and personally know that medical situations can ruin a family within a week, and sometimes even a day. Get back on the insurance as soon as possible (now I sound like my mother). Take care, and hope you have a more than favorable outcome! Get to the doctor!!!
RMM, That option should still be available -- I have no idea why it's not. I'll see if it's a PayPal change or the button I chose or something like that. I may just have forgotten to click a dot or something.
Your advice is well-received -- I hear you.
Thank you, so much.
Steve, Steve, Steve.....as someone who had hypertension (thank you, fourth child!) and who took Labetalol for 4 years, until the issue resolved itself - do NOT take hypertension for granted. They don't call it the "silent killer" for nothing. And I concur with everyone else - a couple hundred dollars a month for piece of mind and someone to cover your health insurance bills is a drop in the bucket when you look at what you COULD face with just one hospitalization.
Be well my friend, and take care of the health insurance. I can't say that enough. And if I were Dana, I'd kick your ass for not telling her. 
Steve,
I second what everyone has said here. Your story is personal to me for 2 reasons - my mother has MS and I am a medical student. I am aware, on more than one level, the struggles one can face not only with the disease itself but also the struggle with insurance and healthcare costs. In our country, one in your position should never be without insurance (actually no one really should be).
If I may, a couple of alternative options (to not having insurance) that I might recommend: consider looking into an individual "high deductible" plan for yourself that would cover "catastrophic illness." This would, at the least, put an upper limit on your out of pocket expenses should you have a major flare-up. Additionally, I am not sure how you handle your taxes/finances. I feasible, it might not hurt to visit a good accountant who might be able to help you take better advantage of some methods for writing off many of your health care expenses. My husband and I combine these two strategies. At the moment we are young and healthy so the high-deductible is a better option for us but maybe not so for you. My husband is self-employed and I am an employee for a nominal salary but my employer (husband) provides the benefit of paying for the health care expenses of my entire family (ie me and my husband). This allows him to write them off as a business expense - insurance premiums, copays, etc, etc, etc. I write this not to say that either of these would fit your situation entirely but to note that as someone who is someone "out on their own" in terms of employment (as a writer) there may be some additional options open to you that are not immediately obvious to the regular schmoes like you and me who aren't taxmen/accountants.
Anywho, I hope this wasn't out of line and please feel free to delete if you think it is. I will not be offended. I sent a small donation (best I could manage as I am currently a student) but I know every bit helps. Please take care of yourself!!!
Well, it looks like you have opened up a can of worms and lots of folks are giving you the "lectures" that you have earned. Good!! And I agree with Soobs about Dana kicking your butt
MS sucks a lot of days and the meds are super expensive, but they make it so there are less bad days and more good ones. I think with the 14 meds that I am now on daily (vitamins included) I spend hundreds of dollars every month and that is with good insurance! (Keep in mind I have two other DX besides MS). But you know you owe it to yourself, your wife, your kids and all the people who love you, to find a way to get the care you need.
The tax idea is great and email me if you need a list of expenses that can be deducted (medical and work wise.) We itemize everthing and figure out the percentages prior (so that extra forms that we don't have large enough amounts for don't have to be done.)
Also I know that Shared Solutions will help - you simply have to contact them. Their website might even have more info.
Anyway - sorry to be part of the "mom" types out here telling you what to do. I went to your site tonight, read this and thought I would throw my two cents out there to an old friend.
I wish that I could donate. Can't do it right this minute but will try to soon. (First part of the year sucks with deductibles, but my husband read this too and said that we should try to help.) BUT I did by a lottery ticket and if I win ... I promise to share. (Now there is even written proof of my promise!)
Take care of yourself! You obviously have lots of love and support from your family, friends and readers. You and your family are in my prayers.
Steve,
I'm working to a tight deadline right now but will press the paypal button before I go to bed.
My thoughts are with you. You're the best!
Skep
From a wife ~ YOU better advise your WIFE that you are having an issue she is unaware of (she NEEDS to know that)!!! My husband pulled this crap on me several years ago, and I was ... cannot even say that here.
Dana should be making you sleep on the couch, unless you have a dog house, if you have not informed her of this! Never leave your spouse in the dark!
My donation is coming, and I wish I could pin your pinky finger back to make you promise to let your wife know you are not feeling well and that you have/or are going to the doctor!!!
Be well Mr. Huff!
research L-arginine
I concur with everyone else. Getting off an insurance policy when you have a debilitating disease was pure folly. Get back on that policy ASAP.
Good lord, you may have already backed yourself into a corner, they may want to get a medical history to get you back on.
I love you, but want to kick your butt too. With so many people without health insurance YOU decide to opt out when you have MS?
Sorry, didnt mean to lecture. Feel better please.
About me being off my wife's insurance -- I don't think any of you know just how bad our money situation was, at the time. As I said in this post, it's improving. Not overnight, but at least I know I'll have something coming in at the end of the month. In the meantime, lots of bills got backed up, some incredibly crucial. This wasn't a "decision to opt out" as if it was a luxury we could afford but didn't need -- it was a desperation move. That's all I'll say.
And thank you again, to everyone who has donated so far. I've kept up with the individual thank yous pretty well, but it always bears repeating.
Steve
Hi Steve, its been awhile, "Adrianne
Reynolds" being my motivation for visiting then.
I have made a small donation, my circumstances have changed greatly,
My husband died in his sleep on april 25th of last year at the age of 57.
My 9 year old grandson found him, he tried to wake Papa to take him to school as Usual.
My husband Craig was a Senoir Town planner with the Town of Mammoth Lakes, Ca for 9 years, we had excellant insurance then.
Its been very hard for me and I have experienced alot of anger.
I learned later that he had kept his
little secret (had been having problems and had actually gone down a few times while skiing, with so-called friends, who kept the secret)
Now I am alone and missing my partner
of almost 30 years
A partner who never failed to tell me about his work or his day up on the mountain skiing or about the San Diego Padres!
His Father Dr Robert Olson died from a nighttime heart Attack at the age of 41, a friend at the age of 36, another at the age of 50, my mother (64), my father 68,
another friend dropped dead at a mountain Cafe and because they had recently instlled a De-FiB was revived
he IS 46.
I really enjoy your writing style and gutsyness and come here when my movie group gets too Lost in Oscar nominations or they start singing Opera!
I would really hate to come here and find you gone, my heart would break for your lovely ladies.
You once wrote an article on "What Litte Girls are Made Of"
Well Buddy to answer that question; they arent made to be left alone?
Take Care, Susan
Awww, Steve, I don't want to set up a pay pal account! (yes, that was whining) Do you have a PO box I can send a check to? I am happy to make a donation.
I won't say anything about the insurance, as it would just echo what has been said. I hope you are at least taking an aspirin everyday and that sodium is off your list of ok things to injest!
Tell you what...I know you don't like the paypal thing, but if you did that and a PO box and just left them there you may be amazed at how easily it would be to make those premiums!
I think I speak for all your readers when I say that we don't mind sending donations; we enjoy the fruits of your labor here for free and without advertising. Your writing is entertainment enough, but no ads too! The pay pal thing, or asking for help doesn't bother me in the least. As a matter of fact, it's not really something I think about unless I'm asked to! Your writing has merit and is worth something, do not feel ashamed to share your needs as freely as you share your talent.
Before you get back on the insurance, if you go to the doctor, ask them for samples of the meds. Then write to the company that manufacturers the drugs. Sometimes they have programs to help by sending you free meds. Hope that helps...
PO BOX?
NEVERMIND!!! I just checked it out to see how difficult it would be to donate. Hah! A credit card is accepted. It used to be much different with your checking account number and a deposit and withdrawal, blah, blah, blah.
So, I made the donation, confirmation number is 7U212347SE391694X
Thanks, Steve!
I would send a donation if I could mail a check. I'm to paranoid to give out my credit-card to strangers over the internet.
If you can't afford insurance, you either have to vote for Clinton or Obama.
To have health-insurance should not be a matter of choice. Cause you know, if you get sick, somebody has to pay, and those guys are the rest of us.
You need to get your hypertension checked out ASAP and let your wife know about it. I'm sure she already does from reading this.
I wanted to tell you that there are MS organizations that will help you pay for your MS meds. I was diagnosed w/RR MS in 2005 and can not imagine what my life would be like without my medicine. I can tell you that there is NO WAY I could afford it if I didn't have insurance. ($1700/month). Get some coverage for yourself; one tiny little relapse could put you in a tailspin. For me it was losing total use of my right leg. 2 months of physical therapy and I'm all better.
I wish I had extra money to donate right now -- I have been a reader since way back when.
Best of luck to you.
Chort
I have been trying to get medical coverage for over a year now. Every time I apply the underwriters turn me down because I have acid reflux and some other minor medical issues. A couple of companies have offered me guaranteed coverage, but the policy's are around $500.00 a month! This country is ridicules when it comes to health care.
You said it, David. I've been turned down three times -- for depression and MS, in two cases. I normally loathe Michael Moore, but in Sicko, he nailed it. It's insane that freelancers are able to earn a decent wage but still can't get coverage unless a spouse has a good plan -- what if the spouse's plan is only OK, like my wife's, or the freelancer is single? Just nuts.
A working opera singer whom I knew years ago ran into this same thing. The guy had gigs everywhere, made enough money to dress well, had a good name in the very cloistered classical music world -- but he had no health insurance, and while in town for a show, he had a health crisis. The company ended up asking for donations from the board, the other singers, and the chorus, which was comprised of professionals in other arenas who had voice training, but only did the opera chorus for the fun, not the relatively small paycheck. I've thought about that guy a lot, lately. I realized at the time that only the topmost tier of professionals in that particular performing art can afford good care -- you could have been good enough to occasionally share the stage with a Pavarotti or Domingo, but unless you actually were as wealthy as them, good luck getting good health care.
With my husband's ADD and high blood pressure we kept the Cobra going for 18 months and then transfered into another policy since we knew getting him coverage later would be almost impossible. We have no prescription coverage and some copays but at least we know we are still covered. My adventure with a broken ankle in 2005 was billed at nearly $30,000 for surgery and treatment. Just about what it has cost us to keep health care since the summer of 2002. There is no easy solution and unless you have been touched by the health care nightmare you can't begin to understand. Along with making tough choices on what bill gets paid first some months, we rely on samples from doctors, $4 prescriptions from Walmart, and a patient assistance program from a major drug company to help us survive.
Steve, I have one problem with the post you wrote on 2/27/08 at 11:15 a.m. You wrote about the opera singer who had "gigs everywhere, made enough money to dress well..." I believe people need to start to take more accountability for themselves. Instead of spending money on "dressing well" this person could have put some of his money towards healthcare. People just don't want to use their OWN money towards healthcare. They want to spend it on other things. I have to pay quite a bit of money for my family's healthcare, but I do it. I just don't go out to eat as often, or buy those expensive shoes I was looking at, etc. You get the drift.
(everyone except for Steve~O..cover yours ears and if he doesn't want cover us "huffsters", we all simply MUST put out the human roadblock simulatniously.)
Okay.
With most bases covered I judy want to state that I WAS SHOCKED AND mortalt at the treatment of many puppies I viewed from our good cyber neighbors...........
And it BREAKS MY HEART!
IF YOU CANNOT FIGURE OUT HOW TO TREAT ANIMALS (the LORD GOD'S HeavenLY CREATURES THAT YOU SO NAMED ANIMALS), you pretty much sould not be allowed to anything...as (in my opinion). elementary teachers are s
So, what is everyone waiting for? Especially the old crusties like a bunch of friends going on a nature hike or sharp dive (in baited water nonetheless)? They could possibly eat you, or take a rather large chunk out of your, 'earth suite' In reading and studying the BIBLE I have begun to make parallels and conections between the spiritual word and the construction world.
My final question, to you Amelia,the fearless pilot an vabigater...WHAT WENT WRONG OUT THERE (OR "down there..I am not completely familiar with scuba diving and I am sure any wise, old, pros would have MANY BONES OF CONTENTION IF THEY SAW MY, "SNOW RIDE." As military spouses (and yes, Becky is interviewing me and I told her to put her own stuff here at the end
So, per Becky, I guess she loves to ride waves, climb REALLY TALL MOUNTAINS, rotelbahn, and MORE. I know for sure that she loves Mister B, her beauceron brother, and sammy our bright red cocker that has more than just a few screws loose LOL.
Hi Steve,
Just yet another recommendation.... 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily for your MS. This comes as a recommendation from my dad's neurologist at the University of Michigan. At age 81, my dad has had MS for over 40 years and he's still going strong! At dad's recent check-up his neurologist recommended this vitamin D supplement for him and all his kid's as well. Dr. Weil, an alternative med. guru, sells a 1,000 IU micro-tab of vitamin D that sells for seven bucks here and is a 3 month supply. As far as the heart health, I hope your app. went well and I hope you were able to get back on your wife's ins. policy.
Take Care,
Ann
Take good care of yourself, Steve. Would send more if I could. Your writing, your balanced view on humanity and your energy are inspirational.
Hi Steve,
I just sent you a donation to help with your medical bills. I won't reiterate the lecturing you've had :o) but I will say that I support it! Take care of yourself and your health! You will be worth so much more to yourself, Dana and the world if you are here on earth!
Annalisa from NRG (the a cappella group in the Netherlands)
Hi Steve, As a regular poster on the Meredith Kercher blog I really appreciate the time and effort that you put in to allow people from around the world to continue the fascinating debate about whoddunit.
I'm sorry to hear of your health problems and hope things are improving for you. I willingly send my donation to you and would like to suggest you leave the donation link as a regular option for posters as a way of expressing their appreciation to you.
You have given many people the opportunity to blog in an advertisment free space and for that I am very thankful.
Best wishes
Meryl Canestri
New Zealand
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