What is an IHIP?

Okay, in order for you to understand this post, I will need to tell you what went on yesterday.

Yesterday the two younger children went to have their eyes checked. We decided to go to JC Penney. They are having an incredible sale, and we just couldn't pass it by! All children ages 16 and under can get frames and lens (with scratch coating) for $49.00. I know, fabulous right!

Anyway, when I called to make the appointments, I gave them our insurance info so everything would be in order when we get there. I don't tend to the insurance "stuff" in this house, and I am soooooo happy about that. Way too much information for me to keep track of. Wednesday one of their employees called and said that we would have to pay for everything out of pocket and then we would have to submit it for payment. Okay, thank you very much. I mention that to T and he tells me that is not how it works and to only pay for the materials (frames and lens) otherwise, they will not pay for the exam at all. Alright, I am ready. I know what to do, where to go and what to say.

We finish up with school and head out for the appointments. T had been o-o-t and didn't know if he would make it back in time. We arrived for our appointments and the doctor was running a bit late. No problem, that means there is enough time to fill out the paper work and peruse the frames. You all know how LONG that can take with children. OK, maybe you all don't :-)

When the forms are filled out, the nice young man tells me I will have to pay for everything when we are done. I reply with what T told me and then have to fill out another form. Still, no biggie.

While the children were checking out the frames, T shows up and I am really glad. Of course, at the same time Luc is called in for his appointment. Not a lot of time to pass on the info I had. Luc finishes up, he doesn't need new glasses, his are still working fine, no change. Too bad, he had picked out some really cute frames. Lys goes in for her appointment, she isn't so lucky. Her eyes have changed and she does need different glasses. She is excited! She has wanted new ones for a while.

Before we went in for her appointment, she had found some frames that she thought she might like. But once she knew she needed new ones...well, they were just not going to work. She finally selected a pair that she really liked and it was time to settle up.

I am not too worried, T is there to deal with everything, and deal with it he did. I was so happy, did I mention that, not to have to deal with it!?! We ended up paying our portion and hightailed it out of there. It was getting to be supper time, and everyone was getting hungry.

We get home, have dinner, clean up, finish homework/study, and settle in for the night. It's time for bed and I mention to T how happy I was that he was there to deal with the salesman and the insurance person (yes, that did happen while we were there) so I didn't have too. He mentions that it is not that big of a deal and I knew what I was supposed to do and it should have worked out fine.

Anyway, I tell him that me dealing with insurance stuff would be like him dealing with school paperwork and reports. He laughs and says, "no problem, I could handle that" so I ask him, "what is an IHIP?" He again laughs and says " it is one of the forms you have to fill out for school." He is right, I do have to fill one (for each child) out. But I want to know what it stands for. He thinks, he laughs some more, he comes up with the fist two words, he can't think of what the next two are and just picks the last two words out of thin air!

So according to my husband, whose idea is was to homeschool to begin with and we have homeschooled for 12 years, an IHIP is an "Individual Home Instructional Preparedness" form. I was laughing so hard, I was afraid I would wake the children!

IHIP: an Individual Home Instruction Plan - not to be confused with IHOP: the International House of Pancakes.

Phew!! Aren't y'all glad you stayed around for that story! :-) Happy Friday!