Yesterday was a very hard and very expensive day. A couple of weeks ago Sandi made appointments with the family eye doctor for everyone to be checked. With the vision insurance and Medicaid through the state of Texas we had been assured that everything was covered.
So, we check in yesterday and do the exams on everyone. No surprise--everyone needs new glasses. The good news was that nobody had an eye issues going on. I was very relieved to find out that my blood pressure issues had not caused any new problems. Sandi was ecstatic to learn that the cataract she has had since birth had suddenly vanished. Speculation is chemo took it out.
When we got to checkout, things took a nasty and unexpected turn. Suddenly they were not taking Medicaid at all and we were supposed to pay 530 bucks right then and there. No payment plan either. Sandi tried to explain what was going on and instead of helping the receptionist copped an attitude. We did it but it has created new issues for us.
When you hear about the poor having access to Medical care through Medicaid don't believe everything you hear. At least here, and I am sure this is not the case everywhere, it is very hard to find a doctor willing to take Medicaid. We had hoped to find somebody to take a look at my ongoing back and leg issues and see if he or she had any ideas. Absolutely no luck at all with that. Getting access to a specialist, let alone a primary care doctor, is a real issue.
I don't know if we are allowed to file a claim with Texas Medicaid for the fiasco yesterday or not. But, I am going to write a letter, make a copy of everything, and send it off to the address out in Midland that handles our case. Hopefully somebody out there can do something with it to help.
In the meantime, all that sitting and testing did a real number on me in many different ways. My leg is still swollen today and I am in tremendous pain. So, I am taking it as easy as possible as tomorrow, I have to go out and do the shopping.
Like I've said before, the bastards get you coming and going! You guys have real intestinal fortitude. I would have been tempted to stuff that receptionist into her own computer. At least in jail you get medical/dental and 3 square meals a day....
ReplyDeleteBoy, Kevin, can I relate. My adult daughter, who has developmental disabilities, is on Medicaid, and finding someone who will treat her for various things is a major undertaking. And as you said, sometimes doctors who are on the Medicaid list when you make the appointment are off the list by the time you get there. We had that problem with an eye doctor, too, and several dentists, none of whom seem to be equipped to use the necessary anesthesia on a DD patient. It's an ongoing battle.
ReplyDeleteI would not do well in jail, Steve. It would not be pretty.
ReplyDeleteOur oldest is in the same deal as your daughter and in the past it has not been too bad. But they cut funding again to balance the state books and as a result massive numbers of doctors are bailing out of the program. Something the good governor didn't tell folks when he was running for President.
ReplyDeleteKevin, why give someplace like that your business for the glasses? There are places online where you can order your glasses really inexpensively - my husband did that last time around for our younger son and it worked out very well.
ReplyDeletePS: that's so awesome about Sandy's cataract!
Silly Kevin. Medical care is for rich people!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, sorry you have to go through all this. It isn't right at all.
They have always been really good to us in the past, the little fluffy cat.
ReplyDeletelol....I hear you, Linda.
ReplyDelete