Miffed

Within the past year one of our local hospital conglomerates installed a high-tech database which will allow all the physicians and departments under the name umbrella to share patient information. They spent who knows how much money advertising that the slight inconvenience of double checking this information at everyone’s next office visit would be worth it in the long run. Having this in place will supposedly streamline things in the future.

Hmm. Okay. Not sure how I feel about absolutely everyone who works for the newly named Medical Group having access to all my personal records but there was no option that would have permitted me to decline. Hopefully the employees are well-versed in HIPPA laws and understand the meaning of confidentiality. Yes, I know. No need to say it but one should always have hope.

My true displeasure is this. After all the hype of becoming one group, one name, one big happy healthcare family, I discovered that it wasn’t not exactly accurate. Information may be shared but billing is not.

I don’t know about you but my insurance isn’t all-inclusive. There are deductibles that must be paid and charges that are not covered. The hospital was very accommodating in that they will set up a monthly payment plan. The problem arose when the doctor’s office ordered tests that were performed in the hospital proper. The charges were not combined into one nice tidy bill. Oh no. Of course not.  I received a bill last week and a separate one yesterday.

When I called to arrange to add the most recent to my payment plan today my request was met with total silence. I thought for a moment. No, I hadn’t slipped into some foreign language. I was almost certain of it. So I waited and then repeated myself. I was informed, in a very unpleasant tone, that it was not possible, that they are not one and the same and that I needed to make my payment directly to them. I tried again, reminding her of their claim to becoming unified and she got nasty. She insisted that I pay them immediately.

Good luck with that. I already have the check ready for the nice people at the hospital this pay. She can get in line and wait her turn.

Depressed

It wasn’t a bad day. Or it didn’t start out that way. There’s a mini daffodil blooming outside the window where I have my lunch so today I went out and sat with it. It was 68 and sunny. In March. So wrong but I’m dealing with it. The flower makes it worth it.

And then I got home to find a statement from my health insurance people. A few weeks ago I went off for a mammogram. I’m old and they tell me it’s necessary. Not fun but not the most awful experience ever.

My employer has us pay a portion of our insurance costs as just about everyone else who is employed does. On paper, it looks okay. Average. Could be better. It could also be much worse.

I opened the envelope and had to read it three times before it sank in. My routine test, a covered test, performed by an in-network provider is going to cost me $546.31. Yes, that’s correct. Not a typo. $546.31.

The mammogram was in preparation for my yearly check-up. Nothing fancy. Just the standard female stuff. I’ve already gone off and had it done. Now, after seeing that, I’m dreading the next envelope. Breaking out in a cold sweat just thinking about it. Getting more depressed and panicked by the minute.

But I went over to the corner bar for dinner anyway. Hey, everyone deserves a decent last meal. I see many, many more marshmallows in my future. I’ll have to stock up after Easter when the nummy flavors are on sale.

Owie

My head hurts. It has for over 40 years. Longer than many of you have been alive. Can you imagine that? I had a migraine when you were born. I have a migraine now. It hurts. Again. Still. Again. Still. I don’t even know which it is any more.

The company I work for switched insurances at the beginning of the year so the neurologist I’ve gone to forever is no longer covered. I took the last big, scary dream inducing pill that sometimes helps last night. I know. I should have dealt with it before but I hate the whole finding/choosing/going to the doctor bit. I think the insurance company eliminating mine because I’ve cost too much over the years and they’ve decided it would be easier to take me out back and shoot me.

I’m tired. Tired of hurting. Tired of my eyes not focusing together. Tired of being hungry because I’ve reached the point where I know nothing I eat will stay down. Tired of the never-ending frustration. Tired of the tension from fighting tears because I know letting myself cry will make it hurt more. Yeah, I’m just plain tired. Perhaps it really is time to take me out back and shoot me. Any volunteers? Oh wait. This is Reading. I’ll go stand on a street corner for an hour in the wee hours Saturday morning and someone will take care of that for me.

We Interrupt...

…your regularly scheduled blog for a rant.

Health Insurance – Don’t you just hate it?

They can turn even the simplest of things into a major production. Have you noticed that lately? I swear it’s all a plot to avoid paying for anything. But what they don’t realize is that sooner or later it’s going to catch up to them.

What am I on about? Yes, it would be nice if I told you, wouldn’t it? Then you could share my outrage instead of just thinking I’ve lost my mind which I’m sure is going to happen long before this is sorted out.

I had my follow up appointment with my neurologist to discuss how the topamax was working to control my migraines. Sounds perfectly reasonable, doesn’t it? I thought so. Ha! Apparently not to the insurance industry. Nope, they saw it as seeking treatment for a pre-existing condition which is, for whatever reason that is only logical to those in their profession, a big no no. Dumbest damned thing I ever heard of.

So now I’ve forwarded all my paperwork to the parent company where I work for them to deal with the insurance company. In the meantime however, I am going to start getting past due notices from my doctor’s office which will really upset me. If it goes on long enough I will require therapy which, in the end is going to cost them a lot more than just paying the initial bill for my follow up visit would have.

Add on all the paper that’s flying around in a time when we’re supposed to be working towards living greener in any way we can and the insurance people are just not at all likeable right now.

We now resume your regular blog.