General Discussion

moriah

(8,312 posts)

30. Trouble is, since Arkansas didn't actually expand *Medicaid* but did the "private option" thing....

Sun Jul 13, 2014, 11:51 AM

Jul 2014

.... the people the insurance companies wouldn't take because they were too sick were added to an already overburdened Medicaid system with no actual improvements made to the infrastructure.

So my friend with fibromyalgia, degenerative disk disease, and a history of depression, despite no hospitalizations in over a decade, can't find a PCP in her county. None of the doctors on the state Medicaid website will take new adult patients in her county, she has to drive 50 miles to Pulaski County to see her doctor.

Still, here in Pulaski, it was a lot easier to find care even under Medicaid (until my disabiilty was approved I was also one of those who the insurance companies wouldn't underwrite), and 90% of people got to get Exchange-level insurance with 0% or 6% cost sharing.

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Long Waits for Doctors� Appointments Have Become the Norm [View all] eridani Jul 2014 OP

Become? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #1

The study was done last year. surrealAmerican Jul 2014 #2

Important point. Thank you! nt elias49 Jul 2014 #3

The right-wing was lying! Say it ain't so! stillwaiting Jul 2014 #5

Weird. I can usually get in to see my GP the next day. onehandle Jul 2014 #4

the Canadian wait times meme was always a big lie Doctor_J Jul 2014 #6

+1,000! I've got close Canadian family. The waiting line meme is BS. n/t RufusTFirefly Jul 2014 #26

When my daughter was a child, she woke up one day with a fever... KansDem Jul 2014 #7

Well, you are in Kansas and they seem to hate people WhiteTara Jul 2014 #9

Trouble is, since Arkansas didn't actually expand *Medicaid* but did the "private option" thing.... moriah Jul 2014 #30

Hubby and I now pay for the privilege of being able to get in to the primary doc. mnhtnbb Jul 2014 #8

eridani Diclotican Jul 2014 #10

I've been really lucky with this. noamnety Jul 2014 #11

America needs more doctors, not less patients IronLionZion Jul 2014 #12

Can't blame this on Obama .... Shoonra Jul 2014 #13

In 2007, my sister sat in a wheelchair for 6 months waiting for a knee replacement.. mountain grammy Jul 2014 #14

One month typically to see my doctor abelenkpe Jul 2014 #15

That's been my experience too aint_no_life_nowhere Jul 2014 #31

For me it depends on which doctor and severity of symptoms. NightWatcher Jul 2014 #16

We wait for ANY kind of physical exam in WI AllyCat Jul 2014 #17

Wow Cal Carpenter Jul 2014 #36

I could have mercuryblues Jul 2014 #18

Oh look, there's an app for that. proverbialwisdom Jul 2014 #19

You mean we can't have everything immediately ? Whatever will our "instantaneous gratification" Trust Buster Jul 2014 #20

If you are sick, you might need to get care immediately The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2014 #29

So what do you do if you need an antibiotic or else the infection will get worse? davidn3600 Jul 2014 #33

We're talking about *health*, not ice cream cones. Cal Carpenter Jul 2014 #37

At least one component of this problem is an insufficient number of primary care providers. Aristus Jul 2014 #21

Does forcing people to buy private insurance help? Because we "fixed" healthcare, and no further Romulox Jul 2014 #22

Forty some years ago SheilaT Jul 2014 #23

I had to cancel my Dermatologist (been a regular patient for years) last December. Dustlawyer Jul 2014 #24

The practice that DH and I MissB Jul 2014 #25

My father had a medical practice. I worked there in the Seventies and Eighties. no_hypocrisy Jul 2014 #27

I noticed the article did not include France. My friend was visiting in 2013, broke her ankle. Thinkingabout Jul 2014 #28

I'd rather be in line that not be in line at all. nt conservaphobe Jul 2014 #32

Let's put that on a bumper sticker! woo me with science Jul 2014 #38

Go right ahead. No one is stopping you. nt conservaphobe Jul 2014 #39

My wait time is about 20 minutes. justgamma Jul 2014 #34

Kick for weekend visibility. area51 Jul 2014 #35

I had a suspicious lesion once spinbaby Jul 2014 #40