Good morning.
This is a bitch post about doctors, so if you were looking for something interesting to read, you might want to leave now.
Craig goes to Healthcare Partners. He sees a NP called Matthew Espinosa. NP stands for Nurse Practitioner. He's fairly close and our neighbor Gary goes to him. Anyway, they can't seem to get Craig's prescriptions straight. Twice now he called to have a particular prescription refilled and and they called in tablets instead of capsules. You'd think it should be no big deal as long as they were the same strength, but the tablets cost $130 where the capsules cost $8. :-/ So, he has to recall the office and have them change it. Don't they write this stuff down?
But an even bigger issue........
So when I needed a doctor, I called his office, confirmed they took my insurance, and made an appointment. About a month later, I received a notice from my insurance that the office visit claim was denied because they were out of network. So, I called the office to find out they indeed do not take my insurance. Long story short, They apologized and forgave my bill. So, Then I had to find a new doctor. This time, I went online to my insurance company website, and used them to find a doctor. I decided on Dr Fihn at Well Health. I've seen him twice now and I like him. But for some reason, Health Partners has been billing my insurance company for office visits. One in April and one in June. I called health care to find they don't bill the insurance, the individual doctors do. I'd need to call my insurance to find out who was billing them. I was sure it was Mr Espinosa, so I called my insurance company to make sure. Well, it turns out it was Dr Fihn doing the billing. Long story short, Their practice has switched over to Healthcare Partners as of May 1st.
They apologized and said they were trying to negotiate with my insurance company.
So, now it looks like I'll have to look for another doctor again! But, I also got an e-mail from my insurance company stating that they are not going to make as many plans available next year on the health exchange. I'll find out later this summer if mine is one of them. And then, if Obamacare does get repealed and replaced, I may not be able to afford any insurance. Time will tell.
Okay, I'm done now.
We have been having similar problems. The pain doctor hubby sees has always been covered. Then the last time he went for his shots, she changed the way she was doing them, and suddenly the insurance wouldn't cover it.
ReplyDeleteAnd now that I am 65, I am nervous because the insurance I have had since I was in the military only pays as a second payer. Medicare is first. Except Medicare says they pay second so I have no idea what will happen the next time I see 'my' doctor. Will they or won't they? Only time will tell.