Today I still do not have a home phototherapy unit. Almost five months ago my doctor prescribed one for me. Sadly, explanations and appeals made no inroads with my health insurance provider. I documented the insurance saga with Western Health Advantage (WHA) in a recent post. In sum, they denied coverage, my dermatologist and I appealed, and they denied the appeal of the denial. Simple.

The next step to procure a home phototherapy unit would need to bypass insurance coverage.

On the Lookout for Used Phototherapy Units

The dermatologist who originally prescribed the phototherapy unit suggests I search on Ebay or Craigslist for a used unit. Although I did not like the idea at first, I dutifully began looking online for deals. Nothing popped up that I felt I could trust. Besides, I still felt too frustrated about not getting the new unit I set my heart on that I searched half-heartedly.

Then a kind soul emailed me that they read my blog and wanted to offer me their used unit. I began to research the unit to see if it would be a good fit. After consulting my dermatologist it looked like it would need new bulbs that might not fit the older unit. I would need to do more investigating. [If you are interested in their unit please notify me.]

I resigned myself to dip into savings or ask my parents for the money needed for new narrowband ultraviolet bulbs (NUVB) for the used unit, or a stripped down new unit with four or six  bulbs. Even so, I still dreamed of the ten bulb unit with a center and side panels that cost around four thousand dollars after tax and shipping.

A “Go Fund Me” Surprise

A couple months back in the midst of processing a FedEx delivered rejection letter I joked with Lori that I would start a Go Fund Me campaign. I’d never started one, and had only heard about it. My upset did lead me to think of ways to purchase the phototherapy unit apart from insurance. But I did not feel comfortable asking others to give toward it. My pride didn’t let me really consider it.

At a dinner recently I shared my frustration regarding the insurance denials with a couple. I knew they cared about my struggles with psoriasis and didn’t mind listening. We enjoyed an evening out talking and catching up about recent life events. In passing, I joked about the Go Fund Me campaign.

That evening I received a surprise email asking me if it would be okay to send a Go Fund Me campaign to people we knew. They took my picture from social media and set it up. I only needed to give them the green light and check the information on the description before launching it.

If someone who cared about my condition wanted to help me raise money for a phototherapy unit I didn’t want to discourage them. They titled the Go Fund Me campaign “Medical Treatment Fundraiser for PH.” (At church they call me “PH” for Pastor Howard.) The gesture really touched my heart:

So far the campaign has raised over 70% of the cost of the unit my doctor prescribed. I will soon purchase that unit after giving it a little more time.

Encouraging Support

I am still grateful for my health insurance provider. I will not forget the quarter of a million cost to them for my son’s three week hospital stay. Or for covering my biologics and specialist visits. But this situation with the home phototherapy unit taught me that I cannot expect insurance to cover everything I need for my medical care–even though I argue they have an obligation to.

Instead, I’m touched by the love and generosity of those who started the campaign on my behalf and others who reached out to me with words of support. I’m also grateful for the friends, church members, family, and others who gave in the first couple weeks of the campaign. Their gifts small or large encouraged me enormously when I felt down about my state of psoriasis activity and treatment.

I still need phototherapy treatment on top of topical ointments, biologic injections, and small doses of cyclosporine pills. It’s a lot of disease activity to address, and I know I can’t do it alone. The Go Fund Me campaign reminded me that I’m definitely not alone. People are praying for me, willing to support me generously, and care about my well being.

One way to bypass insurance denials for treatment? Have a friend invite a community of friends and family to pray and contribute as they feel led to.