I was talking with my sister this weekend. She’s trying to sign up for Medicare. She takes some pretty important medications and is currently out while she waits for insurance to kick in under her new plan (from Medicaid to Medicare, Parts, A, B, D and God only knows what else… it’s so complicated).
So, she’s telling me about ‘swabbing her cheek and spitting in a tube’ for some lady on the phone….
Her: I’m really worried. I’m out of my meds and don’t want to end up in the hospital.
Me: Tell me what’s going on and how can I help?
Her: Well, I’m trying to swab my cheeks and spit in a tube for this lady from Medicare.
Me: What?! Are they asking you to take a DNA test. That doesn’t seem right. What else is she asking you for?
Her: I don’t know… (in broken words)… the box got wet and I ruined the test… so I need to retake. Do you know how I can get another box?
Mind you, this is my sister who refuses to get a physical. She lives in poverty in a dangerous part of her city, but takes the medicine she needs to stay out of the hospital.
Me: Do not do this. This has got to be a scam. Only your physician (who you refuse to see) would order a test like this.
Her: Uh. Ok.
Me: Did you give them any information?
Her: I don’t know….
Me: (to myself) UGH! Well, if she’s this hard to get health insurance information for me, maybe they weren’t successful.
Be safe out there. It’s a wicked world.