I came across this looking up something my mom told me about. Thought it might be of interest to some of you.
http://arthritis.about.com/od/insuranceandmoneymatters/a/ram edicalcare.htm
Hey Joonie -
Thanks for this. Loved the database thing. I'm thinking we should all be thinking of signing up.
Pip
I signed up a while ago. They send you a long survey type thing to fill out every 6 months either by mail or email...This is the absolute truth. In my case, when I moved to MA, it took me several months to get on health care provided through the state. I'm only on disability now because RA prevents me from being able to work. I had to pay a premium monthly for my health insurance through the state. After paying this for about 3 months, they told me I didn't have a premium anymore because according to federal povery stats, I'm dirt poor. Now, I've qualified for Medicare. With Medicare, I have to pay dollars a month for Part B plus and additional /mo for an additional insurance to cover what medicare doesn't. Fortunately, I have that extra from paying student loans that I could get cancelled but what about these people who don't. How they calculate who can afford to pay for what baffles me.Hey, think we can win a trip to the Bahamas like the MDs get? I have never heard of methotrexate lung before, that's a heck of a question.I've been doing the survey since I was diagnosed 23 years ago. Dr Wolfe who runs the database was my first rheumatologist. Its one of the oldest and largest of data bases for rheumatic disease. The statitics gatherd at the NDB are used in dozens of studies. Its from data bases like this that we will truly be able to track long term side effects
Its very through, takes about 45 minutes to complete online every six months. The first time will be longer but after that it will store much of the information. The base survey is alwyas the same but they will addsections if they are gathering specific info for a study. And for those concerned I've never been spammed by them, your information is not sold to any one. The only time I hear from them is in July and Jan when they send the surveys out.
http://www.arthritis-research.org/patients.htm
Great info, Joonie. I thought the following from one of the links would be of interest to most of us:
Fatigue can be considered a directive of daily living with chronic arthritis. Fatigue can be considered a warning by the body that you need rest. Without fatigue as an indicator you would likely push yourself to do more and cause harm to your body and your joints.