Hate not having health insurance...

• 09-23-2009 3:05 PM

  daisyprincess Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 629 Points 0

  Hate not having health insurance... Reply Contact  My doctor is the doctor at the health department, well I've had an appointment since June to see him today Sept 23rd I get a phone call this morning they need to reschedule because the doctor is sick, she tells me I won't be able to get you in until the end of October.  I told her I had that appointment since June I'm not waiting until the end of October.  I told her you know I have high blood pressure and diabetes and diabetes patients are suppose to be seen every 2 months from what the doctor told me. She tells me hold on let me see what I can do so now Sept 30th I go. I really hate not having health insurance and having to pay the health department to see me other doctors are just to much.  I've had so many problems with this place, funny thing is that I'll go to my appointment and people just walk in and say oh I need to see the doctor they get in, I've tried this myself and I always get oh no we can't get you in, guess its just my luck. The receptionist tell me well your only coming here for test results so its not like you really need the appointment. I said I need to see the doctor I've got problems going on oh ok.

  Post Points: 0

• 09-23-2009 3:52 PM

  In reply to daisyprincess

  Liesje Joined on 03-02-2007 Posts 9,907 Points 655

  Re: Hate not having health insurance... Reply Contact Aren't the waits ridiculous?  It always makes me wonder b/c people in Canada complain about the waits.  We have health insurance (pretty good too) and DH scheduled a late Sept. physical in June just like you.  His Dr. also bailed, but luckily he was able to see another Dr. at the same practice and the insurance company didn't care.  He is switching Dr's b/c he can never get in. http://vankelderdogs.dutchbingo.net http://www.schhmi.com

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• 09-23-2009 4:15 PM

  In reply to daisyprincess

  Firestorm Joined on 03-15-2006 Posts 1,610 Points 50

  Re: Hate not having health insurance... Reply Contact Sorry you don't have health insurance.  Doctors offices always act like they are soo busy yet drive by their office and the parking lot is empty, lol.  If you don't act like you are practically dying they won't bother to squeeze you in. Luckily, our family has good health insurance and good doctors.  The receptionists could be better though. What is the world coming to? An interesting question to try and answer! LOL. Life with rules and constrictions until will all cannot breathe and express our opinions. Thats alot to fathom. No link to click here.

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• 09-23-2009 4:36 PM

  In reply to daisyprincess

  jenn52 Joined on 08-11-2007 Ventura County, CA Posts 520 Points 130

  Re: Hate not having health insurance... Reply Contact Just because you have health insurance doesnt mean the waits will be better or you will get everything for free.  DH & I have really good health insurance, but we pay about $150 a month out of his paycheck for it (his work picks up the rest) and we have a $10 or $15 copay per office visit.  And this is cheap compared to a lot of my friends. Not many companies offer health insurance for free anymore.  So if you think about it, if you had to pay that same $150 for insurance, you could use it for an office visit with a doctor that takes cash.  I know there are a lot of doctors who will take reduced office visit fees if you are paying cash or only charge between $75-125 a visit.  Even our local urgent care will do routine stuff and a cash office visit if only $80.  My dad always pays cash and gets all his meds from Canada because he doesnt have insurance.  It also can take me several weeks/months to get into my gyno unless its an urgent and even then they may not be able to squeeze me in. My primary doctor can always get me in within a few days if its not urgent and same day if it was truly an urgent matter.  Not that it doesn't suck to not have insurance, I'm not disagreeing with you.  Heck, several years ago I was on a HMO and I might as well have had no insurance because of the crappy doctors.  I was just trying to offer a different way of thinking about it.

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• 09-23-2009 5:43 PM

  In reply to jenn52

  Cita Joined on 12-13-2006 CT Posts 5,627 Points 850

  Re: Hate not having health insurance... Reply Contact  Yeah, Jenn... I think that is dirt cheap! My last insurance plan, paid for entirely by yours truly (no insurance through employer).... $65 copay per office visit, $50 deductible for prescription drugs, $120/month (for a 22 year old just-graduated college kid with no health problems), no coverage for "specialist" visits. Like the yearly OBGYN checkup. My current insurance is a lot better (still paid for by me myself), but.... it's still really hard for me to find a doctor right now. "Oh, we're not taking new patients," the receptionists sneer. So how's a girl supposed to become an "old patient" around here?! If I have to go to the walk-in clinic and wait for hours every time I have a problem? I was looking into dental insurance, too, since I have to get my wisdom teeth out.... 6 month wait for oral surgery, for it to be covered by insurance. What the heck? So if I get my insurance now, go into the doctor next year, and the doctor next year thinks I need oral surgery, then I have to wait for an additional 6 months before I'm eligible to have surgery covered? Ouch! No insurance sucks, and under-insurance sucks too!!! I am SO SICK of the health care state of affairs in this country! I don't know if the current healthcare bill(s) are going to cut it or not, but it's pretty clear that *something* has to change.

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• 09-23-2009 8:05 PM

  In reply to daisyprincess

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 10,868 Points 3,330

  Re: Hate not having health insurance... Reply Contact daisyprincess: The receptionist tell me well your only coming here for test results so its not like you really need the appointment. I said I need to see the doctor I've got problems going on oh ok So ok, hang on a minute -- she's telling you something here. When you MAKE the appointment, you have to tell them specific things in order to GET the appointment in a timely manner in the first place.  If you just call for an 'appointment' -- or if it's scheduled AFTER you have a test done, then they have some particular set of guidelines as to then WHEN to place you for an appointment.  So, do you say "No, this isn't an appointment just to have test results read -- I am diabetic and I've been told I need to see the doctor every 2 months to monitor my disease."  BEFORE YOU LEAVE after the appointment you say to the doctor "When do you want me back?" and he will tell you usually how long.  You go BEFORE YOU LEAVE and say "Dr. Schmuckatella says I need to be seen by ___________________."  Usually that makes a difference.  If you go in because of a problem -- you're having problems regulating your insulin, you're suffereing side effects or something like that -- then you will get in and get seen easier. But the temptation is to just ask for an appointment, or take what they tell you at first.  But learn to speak their language --  and often you will get a more timely appointment if you TELL THEM the reason for it.

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• 09-23-2009 8:55 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  huskymom Joined on 09-10-2007 Thunder Bay ON Posts 7,536 Points 630

  Re: Hate not having health insurance... Reply Contact  I agree with Callie.  You need to be proactive.  Tell them why, and when, and if you don't get an appointment right away(my doctor just has a waiting list and you get a call when they have a spot open) you have to call back and remind them.  Its really bad here.  I have actually emailed my doctor personally to make appointments.  He has the ability to bump me up, and he does, cause he cares.  The office staff doesn't really care.  They just have a puzzle of appointments to fill and doing it the easiest way possible is what they want.  If you're willing to wait, you're gonna wait.  And by not bugging them, they assume you're willing to wait. Candace

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• 09-23-2009 9:53 PM

  In reply to huskymom

  daisyprincess Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 629 Points 0

  Re: Hate not having health insurance... Reply Contact  The appointment was made after my last check up for my diabetes, thats what the appointment was for, but what she is talking about is results done months ago from the hospital that the health department have been waiting for. It does not matter if I say diabetes or anything the wait time is always 3-4 months they are always packed it's the local health department, and they only have one adult doctor.  I live in crystal river we have a health department but that department doesn't have a doctor it hasn't had one for about 6months now and they say it isn't going to have one so, I get seen in lecanto.

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• 09-24-2009 12:36 AM

  In reply to daisyprincess

  Sunshinegirl Joined on 05-03-2007 Florida, USA Posts 1,540 Points 565

  Re: Hate not having health insurance... Reply Contact It really sucks not having health insurance. I've had employment where it was paid for 100% and never really had any issues with waiting or anything. Years ago, when my girls were little and we had no insurance I established all three of us as patients at a local clinic that is based on your income. I've been going to the same Dr. there off and on - depending on whether I've had insurance or not - for years. This is mainly for general health issues, i.e. colds, etc. They also have a pharmacy there that is based on income. I go to the health dept for my annual exams and birth control and have to make those appointments months in advance and the wait is long even with an appointment. The problem is that I need to see a specialist for my leg and I can't. I do have a pain management specialist, but it's $125 just to walk thru the door and they won't do any treatments or testing without insurance, so they write scripts to try to manage the pain and it costs $$ for the meds. (I posted about this recently). Needless to say, I won't be going back to this doctor anytime soon becuz I simply can't afford to. So I struggle with the pain every day and hope it doesn't get worse. Something definitely needs to change with healthcare in this country. I feel like I've paid in so much in taxes, medicare and social security over the years that it's time to get some of that $$ back - in the form of healthcare or whatever...... Social Security and Medicare probably won't be there when it's my time, which is horrible and so unfair. A friend of mine is ultra conservative and drives me crazy with her numerous postings on Facebook bashing Obama and the reform measures he is pushing - she gets nasty and personally insulting if you post an opposing viewpoint. She basically told me that if I want FREE healthcare that I will probably have to wait 5 years for it - I was insulted! I'm not looking for a freakin hand out - I've more than paid my share and when I actually *need* medical attention - desperately, I CAN'T get it!!!! Yes, it pisses me off!! But, she has insurance and no major health issues - maybe if she walked a while in my shoes, she might feel differently.... until then, I wish she would shut the hell up and stop spewing negative propaganda about a president who is actually trying to make positive changes for this country. JMO *Sorry, I'm just slightly passionate about this topic.... Sunshine Girl

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• 09-24-2009 7:27 PM

  In reply to Sunshinegirl

  fuzzy_dogs_mom Joined on 09-10-2007 Davis, CA Posts 8,315 Points 325

  Re: Hate not having health insurance... Reply Contact Sunshinegirl:  But, she has insurance and no major health issues - maybe if she walked a while in my shoes, she might feel differently.... until then, I wish she would shut the hell up and stop spewing negative propaganda about a president who is actually trying to make positive changes for this country. JMO *Sorry, I'm just slightly passionate about this topic.... I hear ya!  I have a sister who thinks pretty much the same way and I have to gently remind her that we (she & I) have been blessed in that there has never been a time that we were literally unable to take our kids to a doctor due to lack of insurance. According to the news the other night, there are about 45 million people out there with a completely different story.  And sure, it might take awhile - but at least he can see that there's a  problem and he's trying to fix it. Joyce

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