General Discussion

Major Nikon

(36,925 posts)

29. And not just your doctor, but your insurance company too

Sat Jun 2, 2012, 07:49 PM

Jun 2012

Back in the heyday of HMOs, my wife and I decided to switch to one because our family doctor was already on the plan.

Later on I injured my ankle in a cycling accident. I had to go to the HMO's referred orthopedic surgeon (who was a hand specialist). 4 hours into what was supposed to be a 30 minute laprascopic sulaparoscopic surgery, the doctor calls it quits and leaves without even telling me how the surgery went. Two weeks later he tells me he couldn't get into my ankle joint and will need to saw through the bone to expose the joint. Needless to say I never went back to him again. I hobbled around with a cane for a few months until we could change the insurance plan, then I went to a better surgeon who fixed my ankle with a 30 minute laparoscopic surgery.

I'm just glad it wasn't my heart or something else more serious.

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Do you have a doctor that you can trust with your life? [View all] NNN0LHI Jun 2012 OP

Doesn't say much for the emergency rooms either. dkf Jun 2012 #1

Emergency rooms are only going to do what the doctors order NNN0LHI Jun 2012 #2

Huh? Don't the ERs have their own docs? dkf Jun 2012 #9

Sure they do NNN0LHI Jun 2012 #11

Odd...in my experience the primary is barely notified. dkf Jun 2012 #31

Yes, but I don't have health insurance. undeterred Jun 2012 #3

Our health insurance has never covered office visits NNN0LHI Jun 2012 #8

I don't either, but my doctor gives a discount for cash for office visits. Rhiannon12866 Jun 2012 #32

It's also important to consider getting a second opinion if the diagnosis doesn't sound right. Arkansas Granny Jun 2012 #4

No. RagAss Jun 2012 #5

No. Haven't had a doctor since 1994 or so. EFerrari Jun 2012 #6

Ditto that, not since 1998. bemildred Jun 2012 #35

My primary is quite competant but my comfort level has never been high. Gidney N Cloyd Jun 2012 #7

I never had an "equal player", type of relationship with a doctor either NNN0LHI Jun 2012 #10

I had one time in my recent experience of being put thru the wringer by doctors... CTyankee Jun 2012 #34

I do. cloudbase Jun 2012 #12

Yes n/t tammywammy Jun 2012 #13

Having any kind of doctor is a luxury I cannot afford. DLevine Jun 2012 #14

Me, too! longship Jun 2012 #22

A colleague nearly died from pneumonia. It is still a deadly disease FarCenter Jun 2012 #15

Yes, three of them in fact 1-Old-Man Jun 2012 #16

Sounds like you've found the right medical care. Rhiannon12866 Jun 2012 #33

I believe I do slackmaster Jun 2012 #17

I did, until I moved. a la izquierda Jun 2012 #18

Thank you very much for the good wishes for my daughter NNN0LHI Jun 2012 #19

I am very fortunte drlindaphd Jun 2012 #20

Nope sorefeet Jun 2012 #21

We have a great PCP. We've gone to him for about 20 years. femmocrat Jun 2012 #23

You will have to get a plan that covers what Medicare doesn't. CTyankee Jun 2012 #24

Thanks, CTyankee. femmocrat Jun 2012 #26

I know, we had to face this too! It's hard but you get through it. Do look into AARP, tho... CTyankee Jun 2012 #27

No, Medicare alone is not sufficient coverage. crunch60 Jun 2012 #30

Yep. But she's a Nurse Practitioner........... socialist_n_TN Jun 2012 #25

I have been extremely lucky with my doctors. CaliforniaPeggy Jun 2012 #28

And not just your doctor, but your insurance company too Major Nikon Jun 2012 #29

Nope. nt BlueIris Jun 2012 #36

Yes, and not just one. Tracer Jun 2012 #37

No Amerigo Vespucci Jun 2012 #38