Community Chat

[terrier3]

On 1/3/2014 Dagna said:

On 1/3/2014 Sox2 said:

Thanks for the information, Terrier ... this hits home because we have a PPO with BC/BS ... thought I could use it anywhere we travel. Guess I'm wrong

I think emergency care (actual emergency care not treatment for a sore throat) would probably be covered by most plans even out of state.

Not so for every policy.

That is why AAA (and others) offer travel medical insurance.

My new policy has out of town coverage with higher co-pays.

[tansy]

On 1/3/2014 corita said:

On 1/3/2014 Dagna said:

On 1/3/2014 Marianne is said:

Case in point today. We are fortunate to have (and pay for $$$$) very good insurance; however, I called this am for my son who is sick. No answer (snow here). Even if they were there, chances are they would not be able to fit him in (and it is a Friday, so he would have to wait until Monday).

The good news…our insurance also covers Urgent Cares and Minute Clinics, with the same $20 copay as the regular doctor. So, he will be seen today (he is there now, I believe).

The doctors' offices are difficult to get into for "emergency" (non-scheduled) appointments, but he does not need an ER visit--so clinics are great for the stopgap.

And you think it will be easier for all the folks on newly expanded Medicaid to get doctors appointments?

Around here, many docs are not accepting Medicaid. And the ones that do take it are definitely not on the best doctor list!

Mistake.

[kdgn]

Tansy, Medicare is not the same as Medicaid.

[viva923]

this is a good idea.

if you have a health insurance that covers that kind of care. I know my health insurance does not. cover this kind of care, you either wait for doc. office to open or go to ER, that is it.

I did use this facility once (several years ago),oh my goodness the red tape I had to cut to get this appointment paid for. pulling good teeth for me.

[tansy]

On 1/3/2014 kdgn said:

Tansy, Medicare is not the same as Medicaid.

Oops! Of course not. I misread the post.

[Shorty2U]

People who are on assistance use the hospital because the clinic you go to on state insurance doesn't get you in for a week or more. I know this because my friend and former coworker had back surgery and had to go on assistance. She called the clinic with symptoms of bronchitis and they told her they cant see her and instructed her to go to the ER. Everyone thinks having state insurance (As in welfare type insurance) is so wonderful well its not. She feels degraded and hates it and is used to working and never wanted to live like she does. I stand by her because although I no longer work due to spine problems at least I HAVE insurance via my husbands wonderful job. And she needs my friendship AND support. And PS DH and I don't mind paying extra to help others. Our insurance recently went up 3 dollars a week. Oh WELL. We are blessed to have insurance, others are not (and should and hopefully will now with the NEW plans) and they are struggling.

[Qwackertoo]

Last time daughter had to go to the emergency "doc in a box" place . . . I think the wait was 3-4 hours. And that was a sorta slow day for them. In prior times, it was usually around 2 hours wait. And like all doctors these days, they want, they expect and they receive their payment upfront before you ever go back to the examination rooms.

I even asked at my dentist office recently, a few months ago, "hey do you think I'm going to skip out on the bill?" and she said "no, that is just the way we do things." Sure ya do. I know why. haha

[bikerbabe]

Bottom line

There there is a huge shortage of health care providers and not enough who accept Meidcaid.

[Marienkaefer2]

I saw a report a few weeks back on The Newshour about a clinic somewhere (forget which city) that has gone back to house calls. It's been effective and cost saving.

Also, I have read this has been successful in The Netherlands as well.

[terrier3]

On 1/3/2014 bikerbabe said:

Bottom line

There there is a huge shortage of health care providers and not enough who accept Meidcaid.

There may be a shortage, but it isn't because no one wants to go to med school. It's because med schools have kept their enrollments very low for decades (thus bumping up the salaries for MDs - whenever anything is in short supply, they can charge more.)

Part of ACA is boosting med school enrollment and expanding fields like PAs and NPs. Our local medical school is building a new school and will be enrolling 10% more.

It will take time...but it will happen.