I’m getting married in November and am not “registered” anywhere. Doing so hadn’t even occurred to me until people started asking, “where are you registered?”
At first, I simply laughed. Dan (@RevWeb) and I have enough for two households. Now I’m re-thinking the Bridal Registry thing.
Here comes the under-insured, chronically-ill bride going on two years without primary medical care . . . and I want to register at the Mayo Clinic.*
My Bridal Registry wish list includes (in priority order): comprehensive blood work and urine analysis; a mammogram, pap smear, and DEXA scan; a complete eye exam by an ophthalmologist; an EKG and echo-cardiogram; and an MRI of my lower spine and X-rays of both knees.
Plus, I’d really love to receive physicians samples of medications I currently take, most especially the one that will never go generic and I cannot afford. I want copies of all test results and clinical observations because, to make matters worse, I consider myself an e-patient.
Hilarious, right? Only if you, too, work for the healthcare industry and can appreciate grotesque irony. Otherwise, not so much.
*If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to receive stuff on my wish list during Social Media Week in October.
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Really…I’m not kidding!
I actually can go along with this idea; my daughter-in-law is chronically ill with asthma and diabetes along with some other conditions I won’t go into. She grew up with Medicaid but now that she’s grown she can’t get it; at least in the state she’s in now. Now, not that I necessarily go along with this, but if she were in the state she came from with their baby, she could get it. But to stay here with her husband, she can’t; makes for a strong temptation, but now since she didn’t a shower for either sounds like a good idea.
And a new revenue stream for hospitals is born. It needs to extend to to birthdays and baby showers.
This makes perfect sense. It seems like a logical request to “register” for healthcare. I also think it would make sense to register for healthcare services on a baby registry. How nice to have no or lower hospital bills!
Oddly enough, I bet you could do this at weddingrepublic.com, where dream gifts are carved up for friends and family to contribute potluck-style. As off offbeat as this is, I would gladly should you if Mayo Clinic (or weddingrepublic) gave it a go. Mazel Tov.
I originally wrote this after going into one of my goofy riffs with a friend, then found myself getting more cheesed off as I was writing. Our healthcare system is so profoundly broken. If I with all my contacts and smarts can’t get decent, affordable care, what hope is there for those who have neither? Pitiful.
Yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. Please register for this. And I will RT this as soon as I wake up. THIS is what people SHOULD get for their weddings. And when they are born. And you know- for being alive. HEALTHCARE.
Love you.
xo
M
Someone suggested structuring it like Heifer International, where people could buy shares in, say, an MRI. This is basically what Carmen’s suggestion, weddingrepublic.com, does.
I like the sound of “wedding republic” better than “heifer,” don’t you? For the record, I can and will be able to fit into my dress.
Meredith — you nailed it yet again! I tweeted: Wry and true commentary about American health care system http://bit.ly/nvpISz #palliative #hpm — Jim
Thank you for delivering this delightful gift to the health care discussion!
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Meredith,
If you really are serious, I would like to ask what you mean by “under-insured”? If you have no insurance and you have pre-exisiting health conditions, there is an option. It’s through the federal PCIP (or in some states it is through the state, but Federally mandated) Prices vary based on age and on plan chosen, but as an example, for someone age 35-54 it is between $239-$411, includes preventive care at 100% – no deductible. $25 Dr Copay, Rx covg, etc.
Yes, I am serious. Because I am an independent contractor and have a pre-existing condition, the health insurance I currently cannot afford costs…I’d rather not say in print…a month.
It does not cover any preventative care, I just had to fork over $30 for a flu shot, the Rx coverage doesn’t cover one med I need, and and and…
I did look into the PCIP and, for reasons I cannot remember, it wasn’t going to work. I’m just hoping my fiance’s insurance doesn’t have a waiting period, provides better coverage than I’ve had up until now, and doesn’t slam up for my pre-existing conditions.
Hope? I mean pray…and would mean that even if my Dan wasn’t clergy.
Meredith – is such a registry even an option at Mayo? How about gift cards? Discount coupons? If not, get right on that….
Actually, someone already posted (elsewhere), “I’ll spring for the eye exam,” but I think he was kidding. I doubt this Bridal Registry option is available at Mayo OR the Cleveland Clinic or even from Kaiser Permanente, which is also know for whole-person treatment. I’m just hoping my doc buds show up with gloves, swabs, kits, and access to labs!
Hi Meredith,
Just caught this post in my feed and I think your story is fascinating (you make a lot of good points about healthcare and love that you’re thinking of registering for the above)
Would love to chat with you about this! You can email hana@weddingrepublic.com..
Thanks and congrats on the upcoming wedding!
Hana Abaza
Co-founder and CEO
Wedding Republic
Your story touched me! Two years ago my daughter referred my husband and I to a craiglist ad from a young women who was coming to Mayo Clinic from across the country. She was coming due to her chronic medical illness and was looking for a couch to sleep on. With hesitance, I reached out to her via email. We corresponded and I could quickly tell that this was legit, not some wacko, and heck, this could be my daughter in need of housing across the country. Mary came and spend a week going through Mayo (I work there), slept in our spare room, (not the couch), and a lifelong friendship was born. While here at Mayo, she met Charlie, they fell in love, are now married and have a lovely daughter, Amelia. We visited them recently in Oregon!! So your story touched me and if you do infact get you wishlist registry fulfilled, please know that my husband and I have a spare room and would love to roll out the carpet and welcome you to stay with us!! I am a great cook and would even bring you to Mayo each day and home again!! My very best to you and your husband to be!!!
Linda,
So glad you left this comment and hope others who read it are as moved as I by your generosity of heart and spirit. I’m thinking of petitioning Mayo to clone you and your husband.
God bless you,
Meredith
I used an online cash registry for my wedding and you could easily slip items like this onto a wishlist you make on their site. It would maybe be a nicer way of asking for help, and other types of items could appear around it as well. I can’t recommend their services enough!
Thank you! Looks like my future husband’s health plan is going to cover me without dinging me, him or his organization for my pre-existing conditions.
You should be ablet to do this easily through the Mayo Clinic Medallion program or Executive Medicine or the Development office at Mayo Clinic. They can help coordinate your “wedding registry health gifts” You could even have a bridal shower with health related donations (pay for Rx, nebulizer, syringes, whatever).
Dr. Vee
@veeMD
I work at Mayo Clinic Florida, and help get you in contact with the right department at Mayo that may (or may not). If your friends would would be willing, a small donation (part of your bridal gift)can be designated to go charity care. I see many patients here in the hospital who require charity care for chemotherapy, home antibiotics, rehab stay after a stroke, etc.
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