Seven years ago, my very knowledgeable neurologist suggested a therapy with which he had had good results in his patients with mitochondrial disease. Unfortunately, before the treatment was ever sought out, my physician took a teaching position at a large metropolitan medical center. It was much too far for my mom and I to travel to go to a doctor’s appointment. Heart-broken, I ceased to be that clinician’s patient.
Several months ago, I happened to be referred to a wonderful neurologist. She does not know anything about neuromuscular disease; however, she is very kind, caring and compassionate. At a recent appointment, she brought up the same treatment option my neurologist seven years ago suggested. Although I was eager seven years ago to try something new, now I am very apprehensive to do anything since I have had so many recent emergency department visits and hospitalizations. However, the physician seemed very excited and convinced that this treatment was my last option and that the treatment would tremendously benefit me. I reluctantly agreed to the treatment.
After my appointment, I had to go to a different part of the medical facility to register. (The new treatment required IV infusion, which made it necessary for me to set up an appointment in the infusion center.) As I was registering, the woman informed me that the treatment might not be covered by my insurance. The woman informed me each infusion would be just under $500 if my insurance refused payment. (This new financial burden made me very uneasy. The doctor said at my appointment I needed two rounds of therapy in a four week time frame. So, I figured the amount I might be responsible for would be around $1,000. I am not a gal of great monetary means. However, I figured by asking family and friends and going on a payment plan spread out over 18-24 months, I might be able to afford the treatment...and if my physician really wanted me to get this infusion, I did not want to disappoint her.)
After registering, the woman wheeled me to the infusion center to set up my appointment. When talking to the infusion nurse, she told me my first round of treatment needed to be completed on five consecutive days. Additionally, my second round of therapy would also need to be done over five consecutive days. Immediately, my pulse quickened, and my breathing intensified. The therapy was not simply two infusions; it was TEN infusions!!! Yikes! If my insurance did not cover it, I would be responsible for nearly $5,000 in medical bills! There was no way I could afford this! But now, I felt stuck. I had already registered. So I continued to schedule the appointment. Since the day was nearly over, the therapy could not be started today. The earliest I could get an infusion was the following day, which was a Tuesday. The woman said the facility was open seven days a week, which meant if I did not start the therapy on a Monday (and thus ending on a Friday) I would be forced to come to the facility on the weekend. Instantly, my brain screamed, “No! Saturday is Shabbat! You can not violate the Torah by forcing others to work while you receive your infusion. No, you must decline; you must keep Shabbat holy; you must start the infusion on Monday.” I told the nurse I could not come in on Saturday as that was Shabbat. She then said I could start the infusion on Monday. I agreed to a Monday start date and went home.
When I arrived home, I searched my insurance’s website for information about infusion therapy coverage. Although the document was lengthy, it was very clear I did not qualify for coverage of the treatment. My claim would be denied. I was very grateful for this information as I knew I had to cancel my infusion appointments. There was no way I could afford $5,000. As I looked at my appointment card, I read you must cancel the appointment 24 hours in advance or you may be required to pay for that day’s infusion. I was rejoicing and praising God at that moment for Shabbat! If I had not followed God’s command and decided to break Shabbat by starting my infusions the following day (and thus receiving my fifth and final infusion on a Saturday), I might have been forced to pay $500. I would have had to cancel my first appointment on the same day for which it was scheduled because the clinic was now closed for the day. But, by obeying the Torah and delaying the start date of my infusion to Monday, I now had time to cancel my appointment without any financial punishment. Oh how great God’s mercy is!
“If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs; then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken” (Isaiah 58:13-14).
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