breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,597 
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on May 13, 2024 13:46:15 GMT
I have never had an ear infection... so of course I have what I believe to be Swimmer's Ear two days after we don't have insurance. Actually, we have insurance but we're in some weird place between changing policies (DH work decided out of nowhere we're switching) and have to reenroll and can't do that until May 16th. HR made us cancel an orthodontist appointment that had been scheduled for months because we're supposed to wait until the new policy starts in June. Both insurances are with the same healthcare system, so it's weird and complicated. I should probably just call member services and figure out what they suggest maybe on speaker so I don't accidentally touch the phone to my ear  My ear hurts (not screaming in pain, just doesn't feel like an ear should feel) when I touch the outside and lay on it. Hearing is fine. Balance is fine. Nothing leaking out... Anyone have any tips for swimmer's ear? Or want to vent about healthcare coverage or lack of? Ugh! |
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,320
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Post by iowgirl on May 13, 2024 14:33:20 GMT
I have had chronic swimmers ear most of my life. I am sure it comes from being a pool rat when I was a kid.
I don't have much issue with it now, but I keep my ears DRY! After showering, I use my blow dryer on warm to shoot air into my ears. I use qtips to wipe the outer area out, but I don't shove them in my ears.
The old home remedy is 1 part hydrogen peroxide to one part vinegar and drop in ear. I would do that more than a day or so. Drop in ear and hold your head so it drops down in your ear canal for a bit. It will fizz. Then plop your head over and let it run out. Wipe anything off. Then dry with a hair dryer.
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Post by littlemama on May 13, 2024 14:37:32 GMT
That is very odd that there is a gap in coverage with the same employer- normally one policy ends and the other one begins next day. I'd have some questions for HR about that, especially if they continued to take deductions from his check in the time frame where there was no insurance. I would also suspect that there wont be coverage until June 1, not May 16.
Anyway, I dont mess around with eyes or ears, so I'd still go to the Dr and pay the office visit fee out of pocket. If they want to prescribe something, let them know you don't have insurance and ask them to prescribe the least expensive thing that will work. And use Good Rx to be sure you are getting it as cheaply as possible.
If that isn't possible, take sudafed (the good stuff behind the counter) to help with pressure and put warm compresses on the ear to help with pain.
I will caution you that an untreated ear infection can go very badly- ruptured ear drum, infection that spreads to the brain, and/or bone damage.
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Post by bbkeef on May 13, 2024 15:40:38 GMT
Yes, definitely check with the benefits person in HR. Policies usually start and end at the beginning and end of the month. (I am IT that supports HR). I also had chronic ear infections/swimmer's ear growing up. As littlemama stated, I would get yourself to the doctor or even a Minute Clinic-her remedies are spot on too. We rarely had health insurance growing up, so doctor visits were limited. I had infections 3-4 times a year at least from age 7-19. At age 19 I finally had my own health insurance and had surgery to repair a ruptured ear drum and to restore some of my hearing. I am still at about 30% loss of hearing. They thought the chronic infections dissolved one of my bones, but they found it after cleaning out the infection and moved it back into place. Do you have access to teledoc at all? Best of luck for quick relief.
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kokomo37
Full Member
Posts: 168
Apr 17, 2022 21:03:36 GMT
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Post by kokomo37 on May 14, 2024 0:32:15 GMT
A couple drops of rubbing alcohol might dry it out. Polysporin also makes a over the counter ear drops
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,597
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on May 14, 2024 1:01:20 GMT
UPDATE: I scheduled myself an appointment, of course while I was checking my calendar one of the only two available appointments until May 29th was booked by someone else so I have to wait until Thursday afternoon (I will go to urgent care if it gets worse). I did not want to schedule a phone appointment since I've never had an ear infection and figured they'd want to actually look in my ear...
Apparently, the window of not getting sick or scheduling any appointments is in June not the middle of May. DH kept going on and on about May 10th last week...
PS I bought a bottle of ear drops earlier while I was at the grocery store.
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westiemom
Shy Member
Posts: 48
Aug 14, 2023 4:21:57 GMT
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Post by westiemom on May 14, 2024 1:08:41 GMT
I had swimmers ear a few years ago. I was first prescribed an obscenely expensive ear drop that my insurance did not cover. It was close to $300 for one bottle and I said put it back, I don't want it. Called the doctors office back and told the nurse I did not care what drug rep was there before me, tell him to prescribe a generic that my insurance will cover ( I was an office nurse for another practice at the time so I know all about drug reps). They prescribed a steroid drop and a polysporin drop and it cleared right up. I remember my ear REALLY hurt though until it cleared up.
I would caution you that putting various things in your ear can be dangerous. When you go to the doc, be sure to tell them you are between insurances and have no coverage right now. Most will cut you a deal. When I was in the ophthalmology practice, we cut the price by 40% if you were uninsured and paid that day.
Good luck to you! I hate pain.
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Post by Miss Ang on May 14, 2024 1:25:48 GMT
None of this information about the insurance change makes sense. I would be asking more questions and push for a clear answer because I think someone has gotten some misinformation somewhere along the way.
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,597
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on May 14, 2024 2:36:03 GMT
None of this information about the insurance change makes sense. I would be asking more questions and push for a clear answer because I think someone has gotten some misinformation somewhere along the way. No, it doesn't. Don't get me started on the new dental insurance not being covered by the HMO which DH also happens to work for. It's complicated and completely stupid. |
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on May 14, 2024 3:00:45 GMT
When I have water trapped in my ear, I put hydrogen peroxide in there and it usually helps unclog it. Sometimes I have to massage directly behind my ear lobe, while it's in there..
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Post by littlemama on May 14, 2024 10:14:40 GMT
None of this information about the insurance change makes sense. I would be asking more questions and push for a clear answer because I think someone has gotten some misinformation somewhere along the way. No, it doesn't. Don't get me started on the new dental insurance not being covered by the HMO which DH also happens to work for. It's complicated and completely stupid. I would have him get the information in writing. Something is wrong here. I used to work for a company that handles benefits and payroll for 100s of other companies and there is something fishy here. There is no such thing as a Blackout period when changing plans, especially with the same insurance company |
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Post by Bridget in MD on May 14, 2024 11:23:44 GMT
Could you do a CVS minute clinic? I think they could handle things like Swimmer's Ear.... I am not sure if you need insurance for them.
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,597
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on May 14, 2024 13:48:47 GMT
No, it doesn't. Don't get me started on the new dental insurance not being covered by the HMO which DH also happens to work for. It's complicated and completely stupid. I would have him get the information in writing. Something is wrong here. I used to work for a company that handles benefits and payroll for 100s of other companies and there is something fishy here. There is no such thing as a Blackout period when changing plans, especially with the same insurance company I will ask DH to let me read the info myself. That is probably where the confusion is coming from. |
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craftymom101
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,798
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Post by craftymom101 on May 14, 2024 15:47:54 GMT
Insurance is awful and I'm sorry you're dealing with this!
I didn't have insurance between 2015 and 2017 and I was really sick during that time (1st year substitute teacher). I ended up with an ear infection, strep, pink eye, and bronchitis at the same time. I called several local walk-in clinics and asked about their non-insurance/cash prices, and I was pleasantly surprised I could see a doctor for $100 out the door. She even gave me samples of some medications since I didn't have insurance. I did have to fill one prescription, but the pharmacy advised me to download a prescription app that saved me $20 or $30. I think I ended up paying about $40 for that prescription, without insurance.
If you end up in severe pain and feel that you need to see a doctor, maybe one of the walk-in clinics will have a low-cost cash option available to you. It sucks to not have insurance when you really need it! I hope you feel better soon.
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Post by Lexica on May 14, 2024 22:51:09 GMT
I can’t help with the insurance gap other than to agree that it doesn’t sound right. I would recommend calling the HR department yourself, as other peas have suggested.
I just want to push the fact that any infection of your head, eyes or ears, can be extremely dangerous since it is so close to the brain. One of my sister’s friends when she was in high school ended up in serious trouble after ignoring what he figured was just a little ear infection. It got much worse before he told his mom and he ended up hospitalized for weeks. He lost all hearing in the one ear and there were other complications from the spread of infection, but I can’t remember what they were. It was just an example of a very serious problem with permanent complications and it was totally avoidable.
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,597
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on May 15, 2024 1:51:29 GMT
I was able to get the appointment moved to today, and prescribed ear drops. Hopefully they start to work soon.
As for the insurance DH says we'll figure it out Friday when we are able to enroll in the new plan.
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Post by bbkeef on May 15, 2024 12:23:17 GMT
I hope the drops work quickly! Keep us posted!
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Post by Jennifer C on May 15, 2024 18:57:30 GMT
Hydrogen peroxide worked for my swimmer daughter. Also, chew gum and put a hand held messager right under the ear to the back of the neck. It's called milking your tubes. And old Dr told us about this.
Jennifer
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