#Insurance coverage definitions

[asjinsurance]

The Ultimate Insurance Guide to Understanding Insurance Jargons: Demystifying Policy Terms

Insurance Jargons can sometimes feel like navigating a maze of unfamiliar terms and complex terms and words. From premiums to deductibles, policyholders are often faced with a barrage of terminology that can be confusing and overwhelming. However, understanding these terms is essential for making informed decisions about your insurance coverage.  In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the…

[scriptermubarak]

What is an insurance policy? Explanation of items to be included, necessary situations, and precautions for handling

What is an insurance policy? Explanation of items to be included, necessary situations, and precautions for handling What is an insurance policy? An insurance policy is a legally binding contract between an individual (or entity) and an insurance company. It outlines the terms and conditions of the insurance coverage provided by the company in exchange for the payment of premiums. Key elements…

[eve-was-framed]

in case you didn’t think our healthcare system could be any more demonic:

“Although VAWA is widely believed to guarantee the provision of rape kits without cost-sharing for all, there are many gaps which may leave a survivor subject to out-of-pocket costs. These include a limited availability of rape kits, lack of clarity on coverage policies for non-SANE providers offering rape kits, as well as varying definitions of what services are included in rape kits between states, and unclear processes if a hospital or an insurer charges out of pocket costs (Figure 2).

Our analysis included identified episodes in which an adult women received a sexual violence diagnosis and either a STI test or exam procedure code typical of a rape kit (such as tissue examination or salvia swab), at an outpatient clinic, emergency room or urgent care clinic.

Eighty-three percent of women presenting under these circumstances and receiving an initial sexual violence diagnosis incurred out-of-pocket costs. On average, women facing out-of-pocket expenses in one of these cases faced $466 in cost-sharing, with half of women spending more than $226 dollars for all outpatient services.”

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

By Mary Van Beusekom, MS

A pair of new studies in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report highlight low influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine coverage in US adults, including those in nursing homes, this fall.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that everyone aged 6 months and older receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine and an annual flu vaccine. It also recommends that all nursing home residents aged 60 years and older receive a single lifetime dose of RSV vaccine.

35% and 18% vaccinated against flu, COVID For the first study, investigators from the CDC analyzed data from the National Immunization Survey-Adult COVID Module, a random phone survey that tracks flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccination uptake in US adults as of early November. The team also interviewed unvaccinated participants about their intent to receive the vaccines.

By November 9, 34.7% of adults reported having received a flu vaccine dose, and 17.9% had received an updated COVID-19 vaccine for the 2024-25 respiratory virus season. A total of 39.7% of adults aged 75 years and older and 31.6% of those aged 60 to 74 at high risk for severe RSV had ever received an RSV vaccine.

Uptake varied by jurisdiction and demographic characteristics and was lowest among younger adults and those with no health insurance.

Despite low vaccine coverage, 35% of adults said that they definitely or probably would receive or were unsure about receiving the flu vaccine, and 41% said the same about the COVID-19 vaccine, meaning they hadn't ruled out vaccination. Forty percent of adults aged 75 years and older reported that they definitely or probably would receive or were unsure about receiving the RSV vaccine.

The proportion of respondents who said that they probably or definitely wouldn't be vaccinated was highest for COVID-19 (41.6%) and lowest for RSV (20.3% among those aged 75 years and older and 14.8% among those aged 60 to 74).

In comparison, flu vaccine coverage for the current season was 0.9 percentage points higher than during the corresponding period in 2023-24 (34.7% vs 33.8%) and 3.7 percentage points higher (58.6% versus 54.9%) in those aged 65 and older.

Similarly, COVID-19 vaccine uptake was 4.7 percentage points higher this season (17.9%) than in the 2023-24 season (13.2%) and 13.7 percentage points higher (38.5% versus 24.8%) in those aged 65 and older.

RSV vaccine coverage rose from the end of June 2024, when ACIP first recommended that older adults receive a single-dose RSV vaccine, to November 9. Among adults aged 75 years and older, uptake climbed 9.6 percentage points (from 30.1% to 39.7%) and among those aged 60 to 74 years, increased 8.7 percentage points (from 22.9% to 31.6%).

"Health care providers and immunization programs still have time to expand outreach activities and promote vaccination to increase coverage in preparation for the height of the respiratory virus season," the study authors wrote. "Using these data can help health care providers and immunization programs identify undervaccinated populations and understand vaccination patterns to guide planning, implementation, and evaluation of vaccination activities."

Very low COVID vaccine uptake in nursing homes For the second study, CDC researchers and their colleagues used the same survey to evaluate vaccine uptake in nursing home residents.

As of November 10, 29.7% of nursing home residents had received an updated COVID-19 vaccine dose. Of those living at nursing homes that opted to report vaccinations against flu (59.4%) and RSV (51.8%), 58.4% had received a flu vaccine dose, and 17.9% were vaccinated against RSV.

COVID-19 vaccine coverage ranged from 19.8% in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas to 38.6% in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. COVID-19 vaccine uptake was highest in the least socially vulnerable counties (33.6%) and in small facilities (34.7%) and lowest in large facilities (28.0%). Flu vaccine uptake ranged from 50.9% in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington state to 64.1% in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Flu vaccine coverage was highest in the least socially vulnerable counties (60.8%) and in small facilities (62.9%) and was lowest in large facilities (56.7%).

RSV vaccine coverage ranged from 9.3% in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas to 29.2% in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. RSV vaccine uptake was highest in the least socially vulnerable counties (21.3%) and in small facilities (24.1%) and lowest in the most socially vulnerable counties (15.3%) and large facilities (15.9%).

In comparison, by November 12, 2023, 24.0% of nursing home residents had received a COVID-19 vaccine, 68.3% had been vaccinated against flu, and 6.7% had received an RSV vaccine dose.

"During both the 2023–24 respiratory virus season and the 2024–25 season to date, coverage with all three vaccines was highest in small nursing homes and in nursing homes in North Dakota and South Dakota, suggesting that staff members in small facilities might be better able to build trust with residents and families and mitigate barriers to vaccination and that efforts by states to develop strong relationships among stakeholders are effective," the researchers wrote.

"Although CDC and other federal agencies have programs in place to address both the financial and vaccine hesitancy–related barriers to vaccination in nursing homes, more needs to be done at every level to protect nursing home residents, who constitute one of the population groups at highest risk for severe respiratory disease," they concluded.

Study Links: www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7346a1.htm www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7346a2.htm

[morlock-holmes]

Did you know that if your insurance provides you a CPAP machine the medical supplier charges monthly payments until the machine is paid off, such that if coverage lapses before the machine is wholly paid off, the customer must make the payments?

"Hey, Coordinated Care Organization, I had a lapse in Medicaid coverage during which I had trouble paying for my CPAP machine. Since Medicaid covers the CPAP machine, can the supplier send you a bill for the back-payments for this service that you cover?"

"Nope! You can either pay out of pocket or maybe the medical supply company will take the machine back and waive payments, in which case you could get a new appointment with a new sleep specialist, who would prescribe a new machine, which we will cover."

"Hey, that sounds like a giant waste of my time and it will cost your organization like, what, ten times what my plan would?"

"Hey, you can't expect us to make sense, that's just the way it works.

"Okay, well, how would I appeal this decision"

"Well, you haven't filed a claim, so there's nothing to appeal."

^^^^100% true statement which I am not paraphrasing

Call up the Medical supply company,

"Hey, so, I had a lapse in my insurance, and I owe you some back-payments, can you submit that as a claim to my new insurance, which will definitely cover it?

"SIR," Everytime one of these people says "SIR" it is in all caps, "We can't do that, if you want to get something retroactively covered you have to call your insurance, Medicaid will sometimes backdate coverage if you would have qualified during the time you weren't covered."

"They just said literally the opposite but OK."

"Hey, CCO, I was told that sometimes you can backdate coverage in instances where a person did not have coverage but would have qualified for coverage?"

"Oh, no, We don't do that, Oregon Health Plan does."

"I thought you were Oregon Health Plan."

"No, we're the Coordinated Care Organization which Oregon Health Plan assigned you to, we don't make those decisions, but I can give you the number for OHP"

Call OHP,

"Hey, I want to do all the stuff I talked about earlier in this department,"

"Oh, sorry, we're the claims department, you want elligibility, I'll transfer you,"

"Sorry sir, Oregon Health Plan can backdate coverage, but you're on Oregon Health Plan Bridge, and you can't backdate coverage on Bridge plans."

"Okay, I am losing my patience, I need to see where it says that in writing,"

"You can just Google Oregon Health Plan and the website has lots of info,"

"I'm sure it does, but I need you to tell me the place where it has the info I asked for, your policy on backdated coverage."

"Please hold"

And some people say he is on hold to this very-

Oh shit, I typed this entire story up while I was waiting on hold and he just answered.

"I've emailed you an internal document that we've been given, but I wasn't able to find, like, the full rules that are available to the public, that would probably take another hour while I find someone who knows where to look for that."

Anyway that process took about two hours.

Weird nobody has much sympathy for that CEO that got shot.

It is frustrating that my question is, "Hey, Insurance Company, can we do this in a way that doesn't waste my time and will cost you quite a lot less money?"

and the answer is, "No, sorry I'm afraid we're highly dedicated to wasting time and money."

[wildpiercy-art]

Figured out something to draw today!

annoying how I can want to draw The Character(s) but can't settle on an idea so I'm just kinda rotating them and playing a game instead

[disabled-planet]

Gotta love it when people do not realize that a diagnosis requires money, and by some a good amount of money.

Perhaps some cannot obtain a diagnosis due to discrimination by either their gender, sex, race, etc.

Or perhaps it’s because the symptoms are obvious, there are clear clues to what it is, but for some reasons, the doctors ignore it and say it’s merely anxiety.

Please stop thinking self-diagnosis is ableist. At times, the only thing someone can do. What? Do you want someone to suffer completely? It is not ableist. Yes only a doctor can diagnose you but what if this doctor is racist? What if the doctor is sexist? What if you cannot afford more than one visit to the doctor a year? What if you have horrible insurance? By your standards of being against self-diagnosis, it leaves people completely in the dark to suffer in agony. That is NOT okay.

If you have the resources and privilege to obtain a diagnosis, how about you also help go-fundme’s and donate to disabled people who are struggling financially.

By the way, not everyone goes to a tiktok video and immediately self-diagnoses themselves. Like myself, I did countless research, tried talking to many doctors, did some tests… but to no avail. It’s obvious I have this one condition, so painfully obvious but my doctors shrug it off. Seeing people claim that people who self-diagnose just watch a video and go hippity hoppity is so far from the truth. Also, I can’t afford much doctor visits and I am lucky enough to have decent insurance.

Though I acknowledge that some do not have health insurance or have terrible coverage. How on earth can they see a doctor then huh?

Being anti-self diagnosis is truly classist because it’s ignoring the horrible healthcare system (least in the US) and forgetting that many cannot afford doctor visits or tests.

Being anti-self diagnosis in my opinion, is ableist and definitely classist. Especially in the US, it can be sexist and racist too.

[deconstructthesoup]

All right, I've been thinking about the Fantasy High Leverage AU more lately, so have yourself some updates to the story:

-Since there are just too many good Leverage episodes that spring from Nate's thing with hospitals, I decided to change Riz's motivation from Pok dying on the field and it being covered up to Pok having recently died of cancer. I think that Pok never mentioned to Sklonda or Riz that he couldn't get coverage for his treatment, even from his old bosses, so when Riz found out after his death, it was... definitely a shock.

-I wound up throwing my idea of Kalina being Sterling out the window in favor of Kipperlilly being Sterling, because... well, she's too lawful to be a thief, let's be real, and she just gives off Sterling vibes in general. Also, it contrasts nicely with Riz only really caring about her when she shows up to ruin his plans, but the rest of the team absolutely hating her guts.

-The other reason I threw out my idea of Kalina being Sterling is because it makes so much more sense, narrative-wise, for her to be Jimmy Ford. I debated making her Moreau, because that'd be a great way to tie her into Kristen's story, but ultimately, she's had way more narrative impact on Riz than on Kristen, and I adore the concept of Riz growing up idolizing his cool, motorcycle-riding godmother until he found out that she was a criminal, is still a criminal, and cares a negative amount about the sanctity of human life... and then running into her again when he's an adult. And, also? Kalina genuinely caring about Riz is also goldmine storytelling potential.

-Mazey is Tara! I realized I completely forgot about Tara when I made the original post, and after much deliberation, I decided that if it's Fabian who goes on the sabbatical, and if whoever he calls in to replace him is someone that even Fig wouldn't know, then Mazey would be the best choice. I think that Fabian knows her due to them targeting each other at one point, not realizing that they were both grifters, and after that hilarious misunderstanding, they kept in touch---Fig knew about it, just not what Mazey actually looked like. Mazey's a bit nicer than Tara is, but she's definitely constantly confused by all of the inside jokes.

-Some people have already guessed this, but Porter is Dubenech, and Jace is... uh, his millionaire sugar daddy whose name I've forgotten, whatever, the season 4 antagonist. Yeah, I know, I'm switching up the usual Porter-Jace dynamic, but what can I say? I like making Jace a genuine threat.

-The Abernants are a version of Moreau, because... well, they're way too interesting and way too malevolent for me to make them anything but full-season baddies, and I've already established that they made their family fortune off of theft---why not turn that into also funding every single bad guy in the world? And honestly, given that they stopped acting like Adaine existed after she got caught, it wouldn't be too far from the realm of possibility for Kristen to have worked with them in the past without knowing that they were Adaine's parents... but, of course, this is mere speculation at this point.

-Fig and Fabian's little sister---who I've named Faroe---does appear, but I'm giving my girl her own unique role. Yes, I did have the option of making her an equivalent of Breanna or Astrid, but as much as I love Redemption, this is an AU that follows the OG Leverage... and I like Riz too much to have him be dead, even in the future.

-Lucy is now Peggy, because she's sweet enough, I love the idea of Adaine accidentally becoming friends with her, and I also love the idea of her and Ragh becoming best friends---since, well, Ragh is Hurley and all. Gay man and lesbian solidarity for the win.

-Kalvaxus is our season 1 antagonist, the CEO of KVX Insurance and Riz's sworn enemy. Honestly, there was no better character role for him.

-Baron is The Italian. I don't want to explain, because it's too perfect for me to attempt to put into words.

I've got other stuff in the back of my mind---like, for instance, Gertie being Kristen's ex from back home, there being an episode called "The 3 Dads Job" where suddenly all of Fig's various dads are in seemingly wildly different crises that are, against all odds, intrinsically connected at the source, Sklonda acting as the Detective Bonano equivalent---but I think that's a good stopping point for now.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Stephen Robinson at Public Notice:

Donald Trump repeatedly promised voters during the 2024 campaign that he was going to reduce prices to pre-covid levels. This pledge was never rooted in a real plan, but he skated by with help from a press that has spent nearly a decade normalizing his lies. When Trump gave a speech in August detailing his “vision” for a second term, he declared, “From the day I take the oath of office, we will rapidly drive prices down, and make America affordable again"

“Prices will come down,” he said. “You just watch: They’ll come down, and they’ll come down fast, not only with insurance, with everything.” And during a speech in October, Trump proclaimed that he would “very quickly” make groceries more affordable.  These comments and others he made on the campaign trail were quite definitive, but now that he’s won the election and is set to return to the White House next month, Trump has dropped his Santa act and gone full Grinch. During his Time Magazine “Person of the Year” interview, he all but laughed in voters’ faces when asked about lowering prices. “It's hard to bring things down once they're up,” Trump said. “You know, it's very hard. But I think that they will.” This sudden about-face is hardly shocking considering Trump is a world historical liar. What’s damning, though, is that the mainstream press enabled Trump’s scam by helping him create an impression that he had an actual plan to lower prices instead of reporting the obvious truth — that he was offering nothing but bluster and empty talking points all along.

Double standards

Trump’s correct, of course, that it’s hard to lower prices once they’ve gone up, but any freshman economics student could’ve told you that before the election. The coverage of Trump’s shameless backtracking is revealing. A USA Today headline read, “Trump says bringing down grocery prices is 'very hard' after vowing to cut costs on the campaign trail.” From ABC News: “Trump now says bringing down grocery prices, as he promised, will be 'very hard.’” And Vanity Fair: “Trump Promised No Wars and Lower Prices. Now He's Walking That Back.” Absent from these headlines is the simple word “lied,” which is what Trump did.

Compare this to the media’s reaction when Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter. PBS declared, “Biden broke a promise pardoning his son Hunter, raising questions about his legacy.” The Guardian tut-tutted, “With his pardon of son Hunter, Joe Biden delivers a heartfelt hypocrisy.” Trump isn’t responding to compelling new information, as Biden did when he pardoned Hunter after Trump nominated malevolent conspiracy theorist Kash Patel to be his new FBI director. And economic indicators haven’t drastically changed since Trump’s carnival barker routine was in full swing during the campaign. Legacy media gullibly accepted Trump’s promises to magically lower prices even though there was no coherent economic agenda behind his empty talk. In fact, Trump’s signature tariffs proposal would only cause prices to increase. But the press mostly let the conman behind the curtain do his thing.

[...] When he accepted the Republican presidential nomination for the third time last summer, Trump vowed to “make America affordable again.” At a press conference, he claimed that prices for everyday grocery items had surged specifically because of the Biden/Harris administration’s policies, with no mention of the pandemic he’d mismanaged. Reporters rarely pressed him on this omission. "Harris has just declared that tackling inflation will be a day one priority for her," he said. "But day one for Kamala was three and a half years ago. Where has she been?" Trump went even further, though, and vowed to outright lower prices. That’s all but impossible without a recession or deflationary period, both of which would be far worse for the average American’s wallet than a $3 carton of eggs. The press would have been doing the country a service by exposing Trump’s pandering instead of nitpicking Harris to death. But even Trump’s most ridiculous campaign proposals — such as trying to rebrand himself as an advocate for women by floating the idea of taxpayers picking up the tab for costly IVF treatments — received exactly the sort of credulous coverage he was hoping for.

It’s just a fact that Trump will says anything to win an election and more often than not is full of it. But stating that clearly would make mainstream outlets like the New York Times seem like they were in the tank for Harris. And so instead of being straight with their audiences and telling them what Trump himself now admits — that he has no real plan to bring prices down — journalists far too often took him at face value.

Donald Trump lied to the American people on the campaign trail pitching himself as a man who’ll lower your gas and grocery bills. In reality, he never had a real plan to tackle those issues, and most of the mainstream media gave Trump’s lies credence.

[brain-rot-hour]

Another little update for you all

The house is "safe" in that once they return power and we have water it will be livable again for my sister and her kids. There's some smoke smell left but it's like....campfire? Oddly comforting. 7/10 only because circumstances.

I'm going to the DMV today to replace my license. I only JUST received a piece of mail that I could use as proof of address yesterday in the form of an Amazon package I ordered more than a week ago. A pack of fletches and side reins. Funny how fast things can change.

My husband's car was fully insured and we'll be getting a settlement from that, as well as my parents' truck that I was using and had JUST put on full coverage a week before this happened. We will, of course, be giving them the full amount.

My parents also have homeowners insurance so the barn and main storage building (and 20 years of "go put this out in the 1000 sqft") should maybe be covered. The buildings for sure though.

I believe that the bow that I got from my mentor (the only one that's broken me about losing) has a lifetime warranty from the bowyer that he may follow through on, even if I'm not the original owner

We know that two cats were inside the RV but the old barn cat has been seen and we go up to feed her every day. Still no news on our boys.

We definitely are not without. The local community and this amazing fandom have done so much for us that it's been overwhelming. I've had to swallow my pride and accept help from strangers the world over. There aren't enough thank yous to go around. If you've donated, please feel free to send me a chat or ask about a personalized sketch. It's not much but right now it is literally all I have to offer other than ALL my gratitude 💚💚💚

[transmutationisms]

thoughts on adhd diagonsis and the rising numbers of it? heard a couple different theories, including a school therapist saying that he thinks children are just getting misdiagnosed because they’re cutting recess times, but interested in your thoughts! lol

yea i talked about this a bit here but i would add for clarity:

this kind of narrative of 'rising rates of' [any dsm diagnosis, in this case adhd] is kind of misleading on the surface because these numbers, and cultural and medical attitudes toward these labels, vary widely. matthew smith gives a very abridged introduction to varying attitudes toward adhd globally, and points out that countries that have 'embraced' the adhd diagnosis and its corresponding drug treatments tend to be countries where pharma companies have pushed to expand their market for these drugs, and have been able to succeed in partnering up with local and regional medical guilds and practitioners' professional interests. which is to say that any 'rise' in 'adhd' should be interpreted with an eye to material factors, meaning, specifically, profit-seeking and broader patterns of imperialism and global market expansion.

none of this is to say that the impairments people experience in adhd are any less real, debilitating, or distressing. however, when we ask about those impairments becoming more widespread or severe, often the conversation becomes rapidly re-routed to cover only a narrative of individual cognitive or neurological 'failures' constituting a distinct 'disorder'. elided from this framing is the idea that an impairment of this sort arises not just from the individual's brain-mind-body, but from the extent to which that person is being accommodated by their social context, specifically demands for productivity, sustained attention, &c in the home / school / workplace.

the core research methodologies & data interpretation in the psy-sciences embed social valences into neuro-psychological investigations, heightening the perceived contrast between, eg, 'normal' and 'adhd' brains / neurotypes / &c. susan hawthorne points out that this is a powerful feedback loop: social values are embedded in the scientific investigations, the results of which are then of further social interest, and together social and scientific values tend to converge, mutually reinforce one another, and strengthen the ideas and data interpretations supporting the concept of a discrete, pharmacologically actionable, transhistorical and cross-societal brain disorder.

i truly cannot overstate the extent to which it matters that when ritalin arrived on the us market in 1955, psychiatric diagnosis of and pharmacological prescription for children's behaviours were in a very different state to how they are today. it is quite common (in psychiatry but also in other branches of medicine!) that diagnostic definitions and categories change, or even come into existence altogether, at the behest of pharmaceutical companies who need a diagnostic label in order to ensure insurance coverage for patients interested in taking their patented drugs. this combined with marketing direct to patients, and paid promotion to physicians, is a critical piece of the history of the adhd diagnosis.

because i always feel the need to make this crystal-clear: i do not oppose or object to people seeking or using stimulant medications lol. i <3 stimulants. that's not what this is about. i want you and me both to be able to use white-market amphetamines whenever we damn well please and you don't need to justify that on any moral or medical grounds. xx

[curio-queries]

Run BTS: 100 | 100th Episode Special part 1

Original Air Date: 14 AR 2020 Episode Length: 37:12 Total Parts: 2 YouTube English Subtitles: No Title Song: On

Synopsis: The members are at a gym to celebrate their 100th episode! First a few quiz questions to divide teams and then rounds of silly Badminton with odd tools for rackets and more foot volleyball.

Production: There definitely was a nice budget for this episode being sponsored by Fila. Honestly, I think the flow of the show was well-designed and the editors did a great job of keeping the pacing going with the footage that could have seemed repeatative. They knew exactly how to cut it to insure we were thoroughly entertained the whole time. I do have one teeny tiny note though: Jin, Tae, and Jimin have VERY little footage. Like I get it, go with where the story is but there definitely could have been a little more balance. For example, there's a beat where Jimin and Hobi have a nice rally going between the Pot Lid and the Fry Pan but ALL of the coverage is of Hobi. Maybe they just didn't have the footage for Jimin's side and I likely wouldn't have noticed it in a different episode but these three members get so little screentime in this episode that it's unfortunate the few instances it would have fit in weren't really capitalized.

Endearment: This is easily one of the most iconic episodes for endearment. There are definitely some moments that don't typically get talked about though: I love hearing the members reminisce at the beginning about the very early episodes. The fuss that everyone makes when they learn they can't immediately ring back in with their buzzers! How enamored everyone is by the Fry Pan and Pot Lid sounds.

Winner/Loser: see final part

Best Cheater: I didn't see any. I suspect any sus moments were left on the editing room floor to leave as much screentime as possible for the Badminton and Foot volleyball shenanigans

Member Moments:

RM: RM is so joyfully pessimistic as soon as he realizes it's the rapline against the vocal line

JN: Jin immediately saying he was picked for Good Luck instead when Tae said he was going to pick someone for brains. 

YG: Yoongi really killing it with applying strategy to the ridiculous badminton game and then continually being accused of being a spy on his team for foot volleyball

JH: As expected, Hobi has the most entertaining reactions to getting hit by the birdy

JM: Jimin always trying to feed everyone else. And that look he gives to camera when RM declines! Such a shame he was mostly out of frame

V: Tae catching that birdy like it was nothing

JK: JK being so teased during the cake cutting

Bonus Content: THANK GOODNESS THEY STOPPED DOING THE LOUD SCREECH SOUND BETWEEN CLIPS! I know I'm a little more sound-sensitive than others but it seriously made me want to not watch the Bonus content.

CQ Rank: 4.5

(CQ Eval Date: 10 MAR 2025)

Check out this post for my Masterlist of all episodes and descriptions of how I'm evaluating these.

Previous Episode: 099

Next Episode: 101

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[cripplecharacters]

hello! thank you for your work, ive learned a lot from this blog :) (smile). i am designing an OC who has a hypermobility spectrum disorder (i havent decided if it is hEDS or not because i dont really understand the difference between hEDS and other types of hypermobility; i am still doing research). i want her to sometimes use a wheelchair, sometimes use a cane, and sometimes not need a mobility aid, depending on how she is feeling. she is in high school, and i am not sure how having these good days and bad days would work. my friend with hypermobility said that she would probably keep a collapsible cane in her (rolling) backpack, but would she need to have a backup wheelchair at school in case she suddenly needed it during the day? would she only need a wheelchair if she planned on going long distances or had overtaxed herself the prior day? is it realistic for her to have such a wide range of mobility needs? thank you!

Hello!

A lot of people with hypermobility and chronic pain use a range of mobility aids depending on the day so that portion is definitely true to life!

However, there are a few things to consider with this concept, especially if you're going for realism.

Mobility aids are expensive. It sucks, but it's true. Depending on where your character lives and what their circumstances are, they may be able to get a wheelchair through their insurance but unfortunately many people are only able to get partial coverage at best (Though there are usually grants available to help cover the rest).

If they also have other mobility aids, that may cause some issues. Multiple mobility aids (Especially ones as large and expensive as wheelchairs) can cost a lot of money and, unfortunately, insurance and grants are less likely to cover it/more likely to cover less of it if you already have another mobility aid.

Depending on your character's needs and their situation, they may be able to get away with buying a cane second-hand or from Amazon or getting one from a drug store but getting a second wheelchair specifically to keep at school as a 'just in case' may be more difficult to the point where it wouldn't be worth it. Maybe she has another solution in place at school for if her cane isn't enough such as temporarily using a rolling office chair, going home for the day, or calling her parent to bring her wheelchair?

There are a few different circumstances that may cause her to need a cane versus a wheelchair on a given day.

Like you mentioned, overtaxing herself the day before or if she planned to go long distances can be some of them. Other examples can be suffering a dislocation or subluxation (Both of which are common in hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome [hEDS]) during the day, especially in her lower joints; having a bad pain day (Which can be brought on by anything from sleeping weirdly to sudden changes in the weather [Link]); being in a place that isn't wheelchair accessible; etc.

As a note, there are a few differences between hypermobility and hEDS. hEDS comes with very strict diagnostic criteria involving things beyond hypermobile joints such as stretchy skin, certain types of scarring, dental crowding, etc. but I'd advise you to look into the full diagnostic criteria yourself.

Cheers,

~ Mod Icarus

[our-ftm-experience]

Hi! I’m not sure if this is the right blog for this, but I’m having trouble finding resources online and this is the first blog I’ve seen that might be able to help. I want to specifically get nipple removal for my chest, not full top surgery, and I’m having trouble finding out if it’s a procedure ppl do, how I would find these ppl, and how much it might it cost. I don’t have any issues with my chest outside of my nipples, so it seems pointless to get full surgery, but if getting just my nipples removed would be more expensive due to no insurance coverage I might go for a breast reduction or smth and ask them to leave the nipple off. I��m mostly trying to find some options. If this is the wrong blog for this then I apologize. Hope you have a great day!

I found a few instances of this procedure being referenced from some plastic surgery studies, but it definitely seems like it's a pretty rare surgery and, in my opinion, would likely be expensive. Breast reduction/regular top surgery may be your best bet; I know many people who chose to not get nipple grafts/tattoos afterward. But also keep in mind that I am not a medical professional, and I'd definitely recommend getting a second opinion from one!

If anyone in our community has more info/advice on this please feel free to share :)

[all-that-glitters-is-goldfish]

How would you seduce podiatrist Larys?

I think the girlies need to hear this!

Oops! Here's a short story for you.

Title: Dr. Strong

Pairing: Modern!Podiatrist!Larys Strong/Female Reader with foot fungus

You were surprised that the student health plan at Westerosi University had coverage to see an on-campus podiatrist. It was disappointing not to have dental insurance, but your current dilemma involved your toes, and not your teeth.

Your mother drilled it in your head before leaving for school.

Make sure you always wear your shower flip-flops. Those communal bathrooms are bacteria mines! Her voice echoed in your brain as you made your way into the small, brightly lit office where a handsome, muscular, curly-haired receptionist sat, his eyes glued to the computer screen in front of him.

Of course, your mother was right. One time. One time without shower shoes and your big toenail on the right foot turns a shade of Simpson yellow.

Foot fungus. You were sure of it.

And it was your resident advisor who suggested taking a visit to Dr. Strong's office down at the student health clinic.

You hand your ID to the receptionist. The silver rectangular nametag had HARWIN written in bold print. His large hands point to an empty exam room to his left. "Room 4. My brother will be with you in a minute."

The posters with graphic images of foot diseases along the walls made you queasy as you make yourself comfortable, sitting down and taking off your socks and sneakers.

As promised, Doctor Larys Strong entered the room not 5 minutes later, his greasy curls falling over his eyes as he limped towards you.

You felt a pain in your heart, seeing his struggle as it came to your understanding that this job must be personal to him.

"Good afternoon. I'm Doctor Strong. And you must be Miss Y/LN."

"Y/N is fine." You smile, his blue eyes shining brightly as he returns it.

"So what seems to be the problem today?" He flips up the chart in his hand, clicking the back of his pen, already jotting down several notes.

"Well... um..." You place your naked foot onto the stool provided in front of the chair, flexing your big yellow toenail.

His eyes divert to the ground and his cheeks seem to redden.

"Oh god... It's bad isn't it?" You panic. You knew it. Your toe would have to be amputated.

"Well-" Doctor Strong begins, leaning down, carefully supporting his weight on the wooden cane he carried with him. "It's definitely not ideal."

A tear rolls down your cheek. "Are- Are you going to chop my toe off?"

Larys' eyes shoot up to meet yours, carefully examining your expression, unsure if you were being serious. "Chop it-? No! Of course not. I'm just going to prescribe some anti-fungal cream and advise you to keep your feet dry."

"Oh thank god." You breathe out a huff of air you hadn't realized you had been holding.

"Might I be so bold?" The doctor interrupts your thoughts. "As to mention that yellow is my favourite colour." He smirks, causing you to chuckle, a tiny snort erupting from your nose as well.

"Oh..." You twirl your ankle around, examining the infected nail. "It's actually... mine too."

Your heart flutters has he takes your heel in the palm of his hand. "I feel like your gentle foot would benefit from a massage."

"I don't know if my coverage-" You begin.

"It would be on the house." He replies, his nose pressing against the skin and taking a sniff.

You're surprised by his actions, but you admit that the attention feels nice. Cinderella had always been your favourite Disney movie growing up, and though your sneakers were no glass slippers, you had still found a prince.

"Would it be possible if I could take some pictures of your feet... for the medical journal I am publishing, of course. Some before and after shots of the treatment progressing." Larys asks, and you nod shyly as he pulls out his phone.

Your foot still rests in his hand, as he snaps a few pics. Moaning as he does so, causing you to raise an eyebrow.

"Is everything okay?"

He nods. "I've had many patients walk through those doors... but none with feet so... immaculate as yours."

He puts his phone away as he finishes, quickly jotting down some more notes and handing you a prescription pad.

"Apply this cream twice daily and we should start seeing results within the next couple of weeks."

You nod, as he holds out his free hand to help you from the chair. "Follow the instructions closely. We don't want to risk the infection spreading... though a pop of colour isn't the most... horrible thing..."

You feel your face heat up with embarrassment and flattery.

"I would like to schedule you in for another appointment 4 weeks from today."

4 weeks? Could the throbbing between your thighs wait that long for your feet to be touched again?

"Yes, Doctor Strong."

"Please, call me Larys."

Tagging: @pendragora @aemonds-holy-milk @chompchompluke @the-invisible-queer @simp-aholic @worms-on-a-single-stringand @madame-fear as if I haven't traumatized ya'll enough today

[doubleca5t]

Is there insurance for things like pest infestations or related damage?

I think some carriers might offer a specialty coverage for something like this but most home policies will not cover that. This is because a "loss" in insurance terminology must be sudden and accidental. In general, insurance companies do not want to cover wear and tear to the structure because it does not fit that definition and would discourage people from taking proper care of their property (i.e. why bother spending a bunch of money on building upgrades and maintenance when your policy will just pay for anything that breaks regardless). Because pest infestations represent gradual damage to the structure over a long period of time as opposed to a sudden loss, insurance policies will usually have a specific exclusion form for this kind of damage.