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So

in order to discuss the testing results with the genetics counselor we met with before L. was born, there's a sadly usual, these days, tale of woe. I'm not even all that angry, because I've been overwhelmed by how awful other women have been treated by their insurance companies in times of terrible grief. I should count my blessings that the insurance company and the hospital managed to work out their differences over the $7,500 bill we'd been charged in triplicate, after one phone call of complaint. But still, but still. Permit me one moment of disbelieving frustration. Yesterday and today have involved this series of perplexing events:

1. Called the insurance company to straighten out whether we need a new referral (we do) even though we have a pre-existing relationship with this practitioner and had a previous referral (doesn't matter)

2. Was told I'd need a referral from my primary-care physician, rather than my OB, because I am no longer pregnant (thanks for that one, guys. Really appreciate the zinger served along with the illogical reasoning on that one)

3. Called my primary-care physician, who will not give referrals without seeing patients. And while I'm sympathetic to the thinking behind this policy, in essence, there's nothing here a phone call wouldn't handle (and yes, I asked about that)

4. Will be carting all the way across town this afternoon to sit on crinkly paper in a room where germy people have been and talk to a doctor who has no history with any of these events, to get a referral for explaining tests that have already been done, with a counselor we've already met with

5. (which means, of course, having to explain the whole story to this doctor from the beginning, as if the days weren't hard enough. She's an excellent dr.; it's not that. It's that every time I have to tell the whole story, I feel like I need to sleep four days afterwards, because it takes me right back to the center of that pain.)

6. Because it's really good for your health to have to go through all kinds of unnecessary steps and have to fight for your right to the care you pay for every month (handsomely, I might add).

7. And damn, I was so looking forward to scamming the insurance company by sneaking in to see a specialist (because seeing a genetics counselor is just so much fun). And getting all those great drugs a genetics counselor will give you. Because, you know, they're all cool like that. 

Grrrrrrrrr.

Comments

[caitsmom]

What an ordeal. It upsets me that the system becomes less and less about taking care of people. ((((hugs))) Your #6 was particularly frustrating to read. UGH.

[Catherine W]

Grrrr indeed. It sounds absolutely awful, verging on the bizarre. That you have to go through all of this to see a genetics counselor. As you say, that would be a glaring obviously scam to pull it being so much fun and all.
I am incredibly grateful to live in the UK where the National Health Service, for all its faults, doesn't put us through this particular wringer. I'm so sorry, all these additional zingers are just too much.

[Michele]

That really blows and is totally unfair. I am so sorry. I can understand referrals in theory but it seems insane that you would need one for a preexisting relationship.

[tash]

Oh my good god. I remember having to do this about 15 years ago when a dermatologist I was seeing decided to move. I had to pay another $25 co-pay to go back to the PCP and get another referral, even though they had just referred me six months earlier. So I go back, 'splain, and PCP who doesn't know me from adam and has only ever seen me once for a sinus infection, offers to put me on all the various drugs and whatnot himself -- without, I'm presuming, the constant care and supervision of a specialist who knows what the hell they're doing. I told him no thanks, I'd take my referral.

I Hope the day goes slightly better for you. I hate the explanation, even 2.5 years out. Had to go through it when asked the "how many pregnancies?" questions by a GP here who I was seeing for Poison Ivy. We have seriously shitty insurance, but at least it's a network so I don't need referrals. There really should be some "grief" clauses in there. It shouldn't be that hard to get your own effin' information.

[Catherine W]

I found the Stafford poem that you posted a little while ago written in my notebook. I read it and thought of you and E. Hope you are okay, okay as can be anyway. x

[C]

Catherine: Thank you for checking on me. I've been away from the blog but am trying to come back to it. Your message was a lovely welcome back.