Aetna and UNC Healthcare are in a debate. Their contract ended on February 5th. Basically, UNC wants Aetna to pay more money. Aetna wants to continue cutting fat checks to stockholders. I'm pregnant and caught in the middle.
I dutifully filled out a transition coverage form and faxed it to Aetna's office on February 15th. I called to follow up on the 18th, when it was put into the system. Today I called again. The representative was so "glad" I called, because the form had been sent to Claims, incorrectly. This is THEIR form, but they couldn't process it correctly. So I'm no closer to finding out if I can continue to see my OB at in-network prices.
But there's more!
The coverage request only covers 90 days, unless Aetna decides that since I'm pregnant, I should get care for a full 9 months. After that point, I can continue to see my OB and deliver at my hospital, but I will have to pay out of network prices. Fine, I have an out of pocket maximum. But wait! If Rex charges me more than what Aetna thinks is "reasonable & customary", then I legally have to pay it all, and it won't count towards my out of pocket maximum. Yes, that's right. And let's remember, Aetna and UNC are in a debate because they can't agree on what's reasonable & customary. Which means that I'm practically guaranteed to pay more than my out of pocket maximum. How much more? Well, I'll have to see what Rex estimates to be my cost of care.
How am I supposed to be fiscally responsible if I can't find out how much my care will cost? Why does Aetna continually screw over the OB's and Gynecologists I choose? (My gynecologist dropped out of the program a few years ago).
At 17 weeks pregnant, I'm a big crying mess. Thanks, Aetna.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Fringe: Concentrate & Ask Again
My Tweet by tweet review, interspersed with in-depth thoughts.
Dr. Spock, bwahahaha!
Awesome death! Dale says: homeboy needs some Prolia
He's been using Brand X
(Also a quote from Dale)
I love love love that scene btwn Olivia and Nina!
The scene between Olivia and Nina is the best part of this episode. In fact, the crime in this episode really is the background story, a good device to bring out the relationship issues. I really enjoy how Olivia allows herself to trust Nina. It must be hard that something she would've kept very secret is public knowledge of everyone she works with. And of course, Olivia chooses to disregard Nina's advice, which is a shame.
Peter is doing well. Now, if only there weren't that little matter of killing 5 shapeshifters & lying to Olivia about it.
Olivia does ask Peter, as Nina advised. But it's more complicated than Peter just explaining his feelings. I don't think Peter is even clear on his own feelings. And Olivia knows that. Not to mention that when Olivia finds out about the shapeshifters, she's not going to be inclined to trust Peter again...
Walter's pee dance was great.
Simon's gonna fall in love with Olivia just cos he can't read her mind, haha.
I like where this is going, but who will the group target be?
This scene between Olivia and Simon is also a great scene. Portraying how difficult it is to have an ability like mind reading - great writing and acting. This is where the episode plot gets a little weak, however. We see three more people killed by the gas, presumably by another soldier whose dead child was named "Carla," and I'm wondering why there's going to be a fancy dress ball with multiple victims (as seen in the previews).
The scene at the hospital is very good. Can't imagine trying to read the mind of someone with brain damage! I can't help but think that Simon could learn to manage his ability, but he certainly closes the door on that in this episode. That doesn't mean we won't see him again, though.
The tall one is right.
Poor Simon, he needs some lessons in mental focus or something.
OK, as much as I love seeing everyone all dressed up (and wow, Olivia!), this murder scene doesn't make much sense. Why kill a bunch of civilians at a fundraiser for Thorn? It would be easier to kill Thorn, or to hold his family ransom.
Still wondering how the safe ties in.
Yes, nina, Sam is a first person...
Now we come to one of my favorite parts of any episode - the multiple scene denouement. I didn't know how the safe tied in at first, but now I see it's to bring in yet one more copy of the First People book. My favorite theory is that Sam is a First Person, but I'm satisfied with knowing that he wrote the book at all.
An aside - the unspoken apology between Walter and Simon was fantastic.
Yeah, in my last blog post I mentioned that Peter might love Fauxlivia...
Good episode. I like the plot point of Peter & Olivia's relationship. And Alt world next week!
The fact that Peter still has feelings for Fauxlivia isn't a huge problem (except for Olivia, of course). The thing that Peter must tease out is which Olivia he loves. Of course he's attracted to both of them - they are the same person. But they are also unique individuals, and he'll need to pick one.
Dr. Spock, bwahahaha!
Awesome death! Dale says: homeboy needs some Prolia
He's been using Brand X
(Also a quote from Dale)
I love love love that scene btwn Olivia and Nina!
The scene between Olivia and Nina is the best part of this episode. In fact, the crime in this episode really is the background story, a good device to bring out the relationship issues. I really enjoy how Olivia allows herself to trust Nina. It must be hard that something she would've kept very secret is public knowledge of everyone she works with. And of course, Olivia chooses to disregard Nina's advice, which is a shame.
Peter is doing well. Now, if only there weren't that little matter of killing 5 shapeshifters & lying to Olivia about it.
Olivia does ask Peter, as Nina advised. But it's more complicated than Peter just explaining his feelings. I don't think Peter is even clear on his own feelings. And Olivia knows that. Not to mention that when Olivia finds out about the shapeshifters, she's not going to be inclined to trust Peter again...
Walter's pee dance was great.
Simon's gonna fall in love with Olivia just cos he can't read her mind, haha.
I like where this is going, but who will the group target be?
This scene between Olivia and Simon is also a great scene. Portraying how difficult it is to have an ability like mind reading - great writing and acting. This is where the episode plot gets a little weak, however. We see three more people killed by the gas, presumably by another soldier whose dead child was named "Carla," and I'm wondering why there's going to be a fancy dress ball with multiple victims (as seen in the previews).
The scene at the hospital is very good. Can't imagine trying to read the mind of someone with brain damage! I can't help but think that Simon could learn to manage his ability, but he certainly closes the door on that in this episode. That doesn't mean we won't see him again, though.
The tall one is right.
Poor Simon, he needs some lessons in mental focus or something.
OK, as much as I love seeing everyone all dressed up (and wow, Olivia!), this murder scene doesn't make much sense. Why kill a bunch of civilians at a fundraiser for Thorn? It would be easier to kill Thorn, or to hold his family ransom.
Still wondering how the safe ties in.
Yes, nina, Sam is a first person...
Now we come to one of my favorite parts of any episode - the multiple scene denouement. I didn't know how the safe tied in at first, but now I see it's to bring in yet one more copy of the First People book. My favorite theory is that Sam is a First Person, but I'm satisfied with knowing that he wrote the book at all.
An aside - the unspoken apology between Walter and Simon was fantastic.
Yeah, in my last blog post I mentioned that Peter might love Fauxlivia...
Good episode. I like the plot point of Peter & Olivia's relationship. And Alt world next week!
The fact that Peter still has feelings for Fauxlivia isn't a huge problem (except for Olivia, of course). The thing that Peter must tease out is which Olivia he loves. Of course he's attracted to both of them - they are the same person. But they are also unique individuals, and he'll need to pick one.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Fringe: Reciprocity
First of all, a giant pat on my back that they are using MY name for Fake Olivia: Fauxlivia. Woohoo! Clearly, they read my tweets...
Lots going on in this episode - the main story is the link between Peter and the machine, while the sub-stories are the assassination of the shape-shifters and the relationship between Peter and Olivia. Peter and the machine interact in the very beginning of the episode - the machine changes position, and Peter gets a nosebleed. For a while, it appears that the nosebleed is the only impact to Peter, but of course, by the end of the episode we know that there has been a bigger change. There are hints all through. When Peter first sneaks home, right after the credits, we know that he's up to no good. Later we see him carefully eying Dr. Falcon, presumably because he already knows that Falcon is a shape-shifter. Then there's Peter's resistance to Olivia reading Fauxlivia's files. He says this is so Olivia won't think badly of him, but in reality, it's because he knows Olivia will crack the code. And then there is the obvious lie to Olivia, immediately after she offers him a relational olive branch. (Note to Peter: lying to the woman you love just after she forgives you is not a good strategy).
A few important repercussions of this main story. Walter and Peter are now holding a secret from the rest of the team. If Walter's theory is correct, then what will happen to Peter in the future? Will the weaponization continue? What else has Peter gleaned from Fauxlivia's file and how will he use it?
Sub-story of shape-shifters. I really enjoyed how this ties back to Peter's shady past. Naturally he would have access to guns with silencers, know how to break into houses, etc. He was basically a criminal before he hooked up with Fringe division. This episode is a nice reminder of all that. Then there's the question that Walter asks him: if what he's doing isn't wrong, then why does he keep it a secret? I think there are two answers to this. One is that Peter keeps it a secret because that's in his nature. Thinking of that book in the last episode, Peter wants to find his own answers - he acts independently. He knows that telling the others will delay the mission and possibly jeopardize its efficiency. The other possible answer is that Peter does feel shame over what he's doing. After all, he's deceiving people he loves. It can't be easy to watch Olivia's frustration over being just one step behind.
Sub-story of Peter and Olivia's relationship. I really like how they're handling this. It's very believable. Olivia has had time to get over the sting of Peter's failure to recognize her alternate, and now she's able to think about what it must have been like for Peter. Yet at the same time, Peter is now throwing complications into the situation. He's read Fauxlivia's notes, so he now has a better understanding of what she was really thinking. How does it affect him, to realize that she was truly starting to have feelings for him? Is he wondering which Olivia he cares about? In addition, he lies to Olivia and is keeping a pretty significant secret from her. He must know that this will be a pretty big problem for her. Is he intentionally keeping her at a distance while he sorts through his own emotions? This is a great way to maintain tension between them without getting all Rachel-Ross on us.
Loose ends:
Peter's heart raced during the test. Nerves because he knew Falcon was a shape-shifter? Or something else?
Broyles' near accident while driving to Alpert's house. Last time we saw that, Olivia went to the other universe.
How did Peter read those hard drives?
Funniest moments:
1. When Walter "shows dominance" at the lab.
2. When Brandon is held at gunpoint and asks if he can swallow.
Lots going on in this episode - the main story is the link between Peter and the machine, while the sub-stories are the assassination of the shape-shifters and the relationship between Peter and Olivia. Peter and the machine interact in the very beginning of the episode - the machine changes position, and Peter gets a nosebleed. For a while, it appears that the nosebleed is the only impact to Peter, but of course, by the end of the episode we know that there has been a bigger change. There are hints all through. When Peter first sneaks home, right after the credits, we know that he's up to no good. Later we see him carefully eying Dr. Falcon, presumably because he already knows that Falcon is a shape-shifter. Then there's Peter's resistance to Olivia reading Fauxlivia's files. He says this is so Olivia won't think badly of him, but in reality, it's because he knows Olivia will crack the code. And then there is the obvious lie to Olivia, immediately after she offers him a relational olive branch. (Note to Peter: lying to the woman you love just after she forgives you is not a good strategy).
A few important repercussions of this main story. Walter and Peter are now holding a secret from the rest of the team. If Walter's theory is correct, then what will happen to Peter in the future? Will the weaponization continue? What else has Peter gleaned from Fauxlivia's file and how will he use it?
Sub-story of shape-shifters. I really enjoyed how this ties back to Peter's shady past. Naturally he would have access to guns with silencers, know how to break into houses, etc. He was basically a criminal before he hooked up with Fringe division. This episode is a nice reminder of all that. Then there's the question that Walter asks him: if what he's doing isn't wrong, then why does he keep it a secret? I think there are two answers to this. One is that Peter keeps it a secret because that's in his nature. Thinking of that book in the last episode, Peter wants to find his own answers - he acts independently. He knows that telling the others will delay the mission and possibly jeopardize its efficiency. The other possible answer is that Peter does feel shame over what he's doing. After all, he's deceiving people he loves. It can't be easy to watch Olivia's frustration over being just one step behind.
Sub-story of Peter and Olivia's relationship. I really like how they're handling this. It's very believable. Olivia has had time to get over the sting of Peter's failure to recognize her alternate, and now she's able to think about what it must have been like for Peter. Yet at the same time, Peter is now throwing complications into the situation. He's read Fauxlivia's notes, so he now has a better understanding of what she was really thinking. How does it affect him, to realize that she was truly starting to have feelings for him? Is he wondering which Olivia he cares about? In addition, he lies to Olivia and is keeping a pretty significant secret from her. He must know that this will be a pretty big problem for her. Is he intentionally keeping her at a distance while he sorts through his own emotions? This is a great way to maintain tension between them without getting all Rachel-Ross on us.
Loose ends:
Peter's heart raced during the test. Nerves because he knew Falcon was a shape-shifter? Or something else?
Broyles' near accident while driving to Alpert's house. Last time we saw that, Olivia went to the other universe.
How did Peter read those hard drives?
Funniest moments:
1. When Walter "shows dominance" at the lab.
2. When Brandon is held at gunpoint and asks if he can swallow.
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