I try to avoid doctors. Doctors and hospitals make me nervous. There are too many sick people in doctor's offices and hospitals.
For the last five years my only doctor paid me to take an experimental drug. I had one dose of the drug and got two checkups a year complete with blood tests and counseling. When there were some abnormal levels in my blood, we would talk about how diet and exercise could help fix the problems.
Once the drug trial was complete a couple years ago, I could no longer get paid to visit the doctor. In September I had an ingrown fingernail that had become infected. I made an appointment with my "real" doctor to get it taken care of. Sometime in the last five years my doctor had retired and I had been assigned another doctor in the practice. Even better, because I had not been to the practice in so long, they had deleted all my records and assumed I had died or moved on. I was considered a new patient and had to wait for a new patient appointment. New patients appear to be secondary and have to wait longer to see the doc.
When I finally got an appointment, my new doctor (who I and the insurance company, Anthem - Blue Cross, are paying) wanted a battery of blood and other tests. The results of my tests blew off the charts. Some numbers were higher than the sum of the Saints/Giants game yesterday. My new doc. was very concerned and wanted to get me started on one of the highly publicized drugs right away. You have to love those drug commercials - ten seconds of how great the drug is follow by 40 seconds of how it will kill you. He considered my blood report and chatted to himself that this one won't work because of my Liver and that one won't work because of my Kidney. He settled on one and said it would be called into my pharmacy.
After work, I went to my pharmacy/grocery store and picked up some frozen vegetables and strawberries to start my new diet. When I got to the pharmacy I was told that my insurance company, Anthem - Blue Cross, would not cover any of the cost of the drug and that they had notified my doctor and he would have to contact the insurance company, Anthem - Blue Cross.
When I got home, I called Anthem - Blue Cross and asked why they would not cover the cost of this life-saving drug my doctor had so carefully considered. According to Zeke R., That particular drug was not on their "preferred" drug list. I asked what that meant. Zeke R. said that the insurance company, Anthem - Blue Cross had identified lower cost drugs that would do the same thing as the drug my doctor had ordered. I explained to Zeke R. that the doctor had researched the drug and decided which one would be best for me. Zeke R. said that my doctor should call Anthem - Blue Cross and request approval.
We have been warned that health care would be changing in a big way - death panels, gatekeepers, etc. This is my first experience with the new age of healthcare and it makes me nervous. Almost as nervous as a visit to the doctor or hospital.
Hope I don't die before my doctor can negotiate with Anthem - Blue Cross coverage for my drug!
For the last five years my only doctor paid me to take an experimental drug. I had one dose of the drug and got two checkups a year complete with blood tests and counseling. When there were some abnormal levels in my blood, we would talk about how diet and exercise could help fix the problems.
Once the drug trial was complete a couple years ago, I could no longer get paid to visit the doctor. In September I had an ingrown fingernail that had become infected. I made an appointment with my "real" doctor to get it taken care of. Sometime in the last five years my doctor had retired and I had been assigned another doctor in the practice. Even better, because I had not been to the practice in so long, they had deleted all my records and assumed I had died or moved on. I was considered a new patient and had to wait for a new patient appointment. New patients appear to be secondary and have to wait longer to see the doc.
When I finally got an appointment, my new doctor (who I and the insurance company, Anthem - Blue Cross, are paying) wanted a battery of blood and other tests. The results of my tests blew off the charts. Some numbers were higher than the sum of the Saints/Giants game yesterday. My new doc. was very concerned and wanted to get me started on one of the highly publicized drugs right away. You have to love those drug commercials - ten seconds of how great the drug is follow by 40 seconds of how it will kill you. He considered my blood report and chatted to himself that this one won't work because of my Liver and that one won't work because of my Kidney. He settled on one and said it would be called into my pharmacy.
After work, I went to my pharmacy/grocery store and picked up some frozen vegetables and strawberries to start my new diet. When I got to the pharmacy I was told that my insurance company, Anthem - Blue Cross, would not cover any of the cost of the drug and that they had notified my doctor and he would have to contact the insurance company, Anthem - Blue Cross.
When I got home, I called Anthem - Blue Cross and asked why they would not cover the cost of this life-saving drug my doctor had so carefully considered. According to Zeke R., That particular drug was not on their "preferred" drug list. I asked what that meant. Zeke R. said that the insurance company, Anthem - Blue Cross had identified lower cost drugs that would do the same thing as the drug my doctor had ordered. I explained to Zeke R. that the doctor had researched the drug and decided which one would be best for me. Zeke R. said that my doctor should call Anthem - Blue Cross and request approval.
We have been warned that health care would be changing in a big way - death panels, gatekeepers, etc. This is my first experience with the new age of healthcare and it makes me nervous. Almost as nervous as a visit to the doctor or hospital.
Hope I don't die before my doctor can negotiate with Anthem - Blue Cross coverage for my drug!