Welcome to my blog dedicated to my Journey with Teal....Ovarian Cancer. This blog is where I will make updates to my treatments and tests....hoping to keep blog friends updated and answer any questions from visitors. I did not pick this journey, but am doing the best I know how to walk strong and gracefully, with my Lord's continual strength!

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

I am getting on my Soap Box!

You know, I don't like to get political on my blogs....but, I am making an exception today.

I got a call from my Oncologist's office today.  I need a referral from my HMO doctor.  They tried to get one, but unknown HMO doctor doesn't know me.  See, I have never seen him....why????  cuz everything I need done, is done with my oncologist.  Who I have been seeing for 5 years.  So, I called the main number.  Ugh...sorry, but yes, you must have a referral.

I say (not so sweetly, sorry) so, what is this unknown hmo doctor going to do for me?  I have cancer.  The last time I saw one in 2009, they wanted me to sign a Living will. ( Which I didn't do)  So, what, I pay him the office call so he can give me a piece of paper.

Yes maam.

I said, I have a chemo treatment tomorrow.  Will this be covered, because I can't get in to see the unknown hmo doctor today. 

Thank God, he said, yes.....but in the next few weeks I have to take care of this.

Ok, so I ask, can I make my oncologist my HMO doctor.

No, but, you can take out the PPO insurance and he can be your listed doctor.

Me:  That costs more right.

Yes maam.

Thrilling.

Here is my final opinion.   Don't get sick.  Don't get a chronic illness.  If you do, make sure you have Xanex available....because if the disease doesn't kill you....the insurance stress will!!

4 comments:

Thoughts on Life and Millinery. said...

I hear ya!
Our insurance will or won't cover prescribed meds, and has various agreements going. During a ER visit my husband was asked if he would like a tetanus shot, even though he didn't have an open wound of any kind. He said OK. Our co-pay for the shot was OVER $800!
As crazy as all the stuff is, I still am wary of what full on Obama care will mean. At least we can see a doctor now.

Anonymous said...

No person dealing with an illness should have to endure insurance insanity! Sorry you had to put up with this!

Vee said...

This is just not right. I am so sorry that you are dealing with this stress now because stress never helped anything. The whole thing is such a mess and I'm really worried about when the new system kicks in. I figure I might be living in a jail cell for not being able to do what they want done.

Rettabug said...

How stinkin' unfair, CK!! With all the other $hit you have to deal with, to have this kind of bureaucratic nonsense added to the list is just unconscionable!! I'm angry for you!!

Give me their number...I'll give 'em a piece of my mind!!! Grrrrr!

My DH HATES insurance companies with a passion!
I remember once, they wrote him a letter, telling him they wanted him to prescribe a different stomach medicine, not the Tagamet that he had the patient already on. I'm sure they wanted the cheaper copycat version of it.

He took a RED Magic Marker & wrote in HUGE big letters "I ORDERED TAGAMET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" on the letter & mailed it back to them. Never had that company try to tell him how to care for his patients again.

*sigh*
Hugs to you, Honey,