Just spent over an hour on the phone with a therapist office representative (the therapist was in session). The therapist, Mel Whalen, was recommended by the U of M Comprehensive Gender Services Program (CGSP). CGSP knows that I'm on Medicare and that my Social Security Disability, plus my mother's survivor's benefits, total barely over $1,000/month. While Ms Whalen technically takes Medicare with a $25 co-pay, she also charges $110, out-of-pocket, for the letter confirming that I can have my hysterectomy (I already have one letter from my full-time therapist, the Standards of Care just wants a second opinion, especially if Medicare is involved). I cannot pay that. I can barely afford a $25 co-pay. The rep spent all this time on the phone with me, insisting that I "try to dialogue" with Ms Whalen, after Whalen sends me an email with a list of other therapists I can perhaps try. I have no idea what she thinks will come of any kind of dialogue, as Whalen already knows the information relevant to her decision to make me someone else's problem: I am on Medicare, my primary income is barely over a thousand dollars a month, and I cannot afford her separate "letter - writing fee", which I was informed is something she herself sets, not the non-profit organisation that she sees people out of. I don't know what this office personnel thinks could possibly be accomplished by trying to "dialogue" with a mental health professional who was even pleaded to by the same office personnel to do something about the fee, before she decided to just try and pass me on to someone else. It's clear that she doesn't want to see poor people. I don't know why this other person seemed to be taking it so personally. I'm so tired, bow. I missed my chance to get my mail, and I'm exhausted from the frustration and the crying.
