Guaranteed Healthcare

I am not uninsured, but Medicaid HMO is not an Option up there: I have many stories of the HMO's to tell, this is just the most recent. Last week, I went to see a neurologist in a suberb of Toledo, Ohio. The appointment had been set for quite some time as they would not see me without a refferal from my family physician and a script was not good enough.

I had a choice of only 2 drs in the area that I could see due to the new HMO standards. This particular dr in the plan was affiliated with the same hospital with my PCP. they received all the paperwork, and then called to set up an appointment. It took 2 months or so to get in. I go to the appointment. this is how the appointment went: The doctor said hello, and then went on to ask me who referred me. I told him my PCP. He said he had never heard of my PCP, and that he did not take charity cases from drs he didn't know. He left the room for a moment and then came back. He stated that he had received a few referrals from my PCP, but still didn't like the fact that he was taking on a charity case and accused me of seeing him for free. Needless to say, I went to see him for a migraine, and I didn't have one when I went, but I did when I left!! He then proceded to ask me how I got his name. I told him from the insurance company. Then, he accused me of getting the referral from the ins company and not my dr. This went on for 20 min. And, he accused me of not understanding. I told him, he didn't understand. The referral came from my dr. The name came from the ins.

He then asked me if I knew what he was going to get paid for the visit that day, and I replied that he would probably not get anything. He then ranted and told me that I was correct, that I get it for free. At this point I was furious and just let him be the dr, and then left. He wants me to come in a month for a nerve block, and in 2 months for a follow up so he has time to read the papers on me. Mind you, he has had the papers already for 2 months which is when they set up the origianl appt. He was holding them in his hands. I left, but at that point, I was mad!! My blood boiled.

See, it isn't free. I have over 40+ chronic conditions and chronic pain daily. I receive a measely $115.00 a month to live on and $163.00 in food stamps, and the free HMO medicaid (which by the way sucks!!- I have been sicker in the last year since they went to HMO than I was before they did when it was just reg. medicaid- as I have had to battle my way with the insurance HMO daily- all the way to the point of going into the psychiatric unit and breaking out with shingles at age 32 last summer). I wish that for just one day, someone would come and live in my shoes. Understand what it is like not to be able to leave your house. To be in pain 24/7, to have to be dependent on someone else. That dr and the gov needs to get off their high horses and some of those who put those of us dependent on this crappy system down and live in our shoes for a day and see what it is like.

It's not free. My body pays the price everyday one way or another. I am rejected like a piece of meat. I am no longer human. I am a number. Are you human? Do you have a name? I no longer do. I am a number in a system that lets all involved down. Down in so many ways, that just to work with them hurts emotionally, then you are drained physically, then you have nothing more to give at what price do you put on my head? I am a person. A living, breathing human... with a name... and a face... Sincerely, Sharronda

PS: I really do hope someone actually reads this... I poured my heart and tears out. Thanks if for nothing else than for listening and letting me get it out. God Bless!!