No more medical offices for me!

[Alcott]

I don't think I will be going to any doctor's office again. I went almost a month ago for abdominal pains, got 2 prescriptions, had an xray and blood work sent to a lab. Then I got a call that the workups showed a liver enzyme with a high reading, recommending a specialist to check it out. I went there today, he said it was most likely insignificant, but they want more lab work and an out-patient procedure for which I wouldn't be able to drive the rest of the day. All that was scheduled for Sept. 25. Then after going home I got a notice in the mail from my 'provider' that the previous billings came to $809, NONE of which is covered. That made me so mad I called that new office and told them to shove it and cancel everything, that I'm not having any more tests that likely show nothing just to get my money.

All the hell I needed was a confirmation that I had diverticulitis, as I had already diagnosed the situation myself, and a prescription that should help get rid of the infection. But the advantage they take of people they think have coverage, when not giving a #%&@ we may have to pay a lot of $$$ out of pocket as long as they get theirs..... I am not in a happy state of mind right now-- in fact, circumstances seem to be very frugal about that lately.

 

[dcorbett]

I am sorry this happened. I will be praying for you!

 

[Crabtownboy]

I don't think I will be going to any doctor's office again. I went almost a month ago for abdominal pains, got 2 prescriptions, had an xray and blood work sent to a lab. Then I got a call that the workups showed a liver enzyme with a high reading, recommending a specialist to check it out. I went there today, he said it was most likely insignificant, but they want more lab work and an out-patient procedure for which I wouldn't be able to drive the rest of the day. All that was scheduled for Sept. 25. Then after going home I got a notice in the mail from my 'provider' that the previous billings came to $809, NONE of which is covered. That made me so mad I called that new office and told them to shove it and cancel everything, that I'm not having any more tests that likely show nothing just to get my money.

All the hell I needed was a confirmation that I had diverticulitis, as I had already diagnosed the situation myself, and a prescription that should help get rid of the infection. But the advantage they take of people they think have coverage, when not giving a #%&@ we may have to pay a lot of $$$ out of pocket as long as they get theirs..... I am not in a happy state of mind right now-- in fact, circumstances seem to be very frugal about that lately.

Yes, isn't the current USA health care insurance system just wonderful.

 

[just-want-peace]

Have had no experience like yours, but just from the scenario you present I would say that most, if not all, the "required" tests were nothing more than CYA for the physicians due to our current warped legal system.

 

[annsni]

Most doctors cannot diagnose something just by looking at you. They use the tests to check for deeper issues. A stomach pain could be caused by so many things and while you have self-diagnosed yourself with diverticulitis, what if it's not? That cannot be diagnosed just by symptoms alone.

I do think that the tests can sometimes be overdone but as JWP said, with the state of things today, the doctors need to be sure that they have done all they can to be sure of the diagnosis.

I do hope that your self-treatment is effective. Oftentimes, it is not.

 

[InTheLight]

I'm sorry to hear about your experience. Unfortunately, it happens on a daily basis. In order to keep health insurance premiums as low as possible (low is a relative term) most people have to choose a high deductible plan. Until you reach your deductible almost nothing is covered. This sort of thing leads to self-rationing of health care and self-diagnosis (which you are doing.)

A few years ago I had intermittent abdominal pains. There were many possibilities, including diverticulitis, as the cause. I had an abdominal MRI, an upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy, and a colonoscopy (I was due for one anyway.) Nothing was found. The pains went away. I spent over $4,000. The only benefit I had for carrying insurance was a slight price discount on the procedures. I have a CD showing images of inside my body which is simultaneously cool and repulsive to view and peace of mind that my internals should be good to go for at least another 10 years.

I wouldn't mess around with self-diagnosis. This is a critical life issue. I would get the tests done. Ask for a payment plan.

 

[annsni]

I have a CD showing images of inside my body which is simultaneously cool and repulsive to view and peace of mind that my internals should be good to go for at least another 10 years.

Not to mention that now you have a baseline for what you are like healthy.

 

[Deacon]

I don't think I will be going to any doctor's office again.

You are a health insurace company's dream - a paying customer that refues to understand and use their benefits.

Rob

 

[Alcott]

You are a health insurace company's dream - a paying customer that refues to understand and use their benefits.

There are no benefits unless I spend another $200 in order to spend another $200 to get maybe $800 worth of "benefits." If I went through with everything that Hindi-named doctor tried to push it's too easy to see spending 3 or 4 thousand to get 6 or 8 thousand in "benfits."

Rob

Yes, you probably do.

 

[webdog]

Health insurance is not free healthcare unless your employer pays 100% of the deductible. It is what it is...catastrophic insurance. It is not an investment. We have a 10k deductible and STILL pay hundred each month. This is to ensure that if something horrible happened to one of us, 10k is the max we pay and not the possible 6 or 7 figures it costs to treat some illnesses.

 

[Gina B]

...If I went through with everything that Hindi-named doctor tried to push...

Oh la. Let me guess...it'd be different if his/her last name was "Smith" or "Johnson?"

 

[Benjamin]

Then after going home I got a notice in the mail from my 'provider' that the previous billings came to $809, NONE of which is covered. That made me so mad I called that new office and told them to shove it and cancel everything, that I'm not having any more tests that likely show nothing just to get my money.

I would want to know why the provider had not pre-approved the testing whether it was covered with my insurance company before doing the procedures.

If the testing was necessary I would want to know why my insurance company did not cover it.

If my provider takes my insurance company as one of those it works under then I expect them not only to be familiar with what they cover but to check on and inform me when they don’t cover a procedure.

In the future it would be good to ask if these things are covered, since some providers may be incompetent about this, do not feel ethically responsible and/or maybe not even concerned as long as they know they’re getting paid one way or the other.

A long time ago I had an orthopedic surgeon do a procedure on my hand in his office that I was not happy with and which was completely unsuccessful in solving the problem (he was trying to get out a piece of glass from between two knuckles, I told him exactly where it was at yet he took too long to get there and locate it and then decided it too difficult to get out, this while running out of time because of the blood supply being cut off too long; he closed it and left the glass in) then sent me a bill for $1500. I refused to pay and when the bill collectors called and began to threaten my credit and whatnot I told them I was considering suing him and at the first sign of them taking action against me I would guarantee that I was going to file suite. Upon this info getting back to the doctor he waved the charges.

I don't think I will be going to any doctor's office again.

One way I would look at it is to consider it a lesson learned to be a stickler about asking if procedures are covered before going ahead, if the doctor does not know and/or doesn't want to take the time to find out before doing it then simply he just wasted his and my time because I'm leaving and at the most he is getting from me is a minimum office call payment, if that, because I consider my time as valuable as his and he just wasted mine.

Most importantly, I urge you not to neglect this condition and your welbeing because of that doctor's office incompetency but to go foward with a new doctor that is upfront, understanding of what you expect and concerned with getting pre-approval from the insurance companies they work with.

 

[Alcott]

Oh la. Let me guess...it'd be different if his/her last name was "Smith" or "Johnson?"

How do you figure?

 

[Gina B]

It doesn't seem as if you'd feel the name to emphasize, as you stated, "Hindi-named doctor" if you weren't expressing some sort of prejudice.

So, just so I can say I asked, why DID you feel the need to point that out?

 

[Alcott]

And you needed to point out the spelling, "Mormoons." and said it was hilarious. Are Jooze, Muzzlims, and Bootists hilarious spellings?

I could have said that doc was about 5'9", 185 pounds, 55 years old, not much hair left on top; but the only description I gave was that his name appeared Hindi, and none of those things should have mattered. Okay. It would have been more relevant if I'd mentioned he gave a hint of a smile when he started saying, "But to be as sure as we can ..."

 

[Gina B]

So, finding humor in a word that ends up spelled wrong so it evokes images many moons floating about is the same as pointed out a person's racial identity in anger?

Otay then. Question answered, thanks, have a good night, be happy, be healthy, have some honey-nut Cheerios and feel better, no matter if you're orange or green or orange or purple or any other shade of creation.

 

[Alcott]

Honey Nut Cheerios? On those rare occasions when I buy cereal, it's always store brand. What kind of a crack do you have for that?

 

[annsni]

And you needed to point out the spelling, "Mormoons." and said it was hilarious. Are Jooze, Muzzlims, and Bootists hilarious spellings?

I could have said that doc was about 5'9", 185 pounds, 55 years old, not much hair left on top; but the only description I gave was that his name appeared Hindi, and none of those things should have mattered. Okay. It would have been more relevant if I'd mentioned he gave a hint of a smile when he started saying, "But to be as sure as we can ..."

Ummm - how about "So you can't sue me if I am wrong about my gut instinct on this, I'm going to run the proper tests to diagnose you."

 

[Alcott]

"Gut instinct?" This thread sure has turned into a bellylaugh.

 

[annsni]

"Gut instinct?" This thread sure has turned into a bellylaugh.

Yep - gut instinct. Doctors have it. So do mamas. It's something that is based on our training and experience. Gotta say, I've had twice where the doctor's "gut instinct" was really weird - but right on. I'm grateful for those times.