Health Insurance

One of the things I didn't really consider in a move was changing doctors. Since we really don't know people in Colorado Springs, there aren't many recommendations so we just have to look at the yellow pages and pick doctors who are convenient to the house. That in itself is a task, but add onto that mix all the health insurance hubaloo and it is a nightmare.

It has been the biggest blessing that my car accident and subsequent injuries were covered by workman's compensation. Steve and I would probably be homeless by now with all the couple of million my medical care has been. Before considering leaving Texas, I asked my adjuster if there would be any problems with getting workman's comp when I moved and the reply was "no problem you will just need to find a doctor who accepts workman's comp". She should have said "you might want to call and see what they say before you make the move". Because guess what?? There is not a single orthopedist in Colorado Springs that will accept out of state workman's compensation!! I have called them all!!! So then I called back and said "can I talk to someone who might have the power to make an exception". I found one doctor who said if I get my records sent and they get it in writing the insurance company will pay Colorado rates that he will consider it. So I am waiting for an answer.

The crazy thing is I am caught between a rock and a hard place, because if I can't find a doctor, they are telling me I will just have to go back to Texas! Are you kidding me?? I can't go to the doctor and just put it on my regular health insurance because it was a workman's comp accident. Now just a few months ago I became eligible for disability and little did I know that meant I would qualify for Medicare, until I got the card in the mail. Since our health insurance premium for me is $650 a month, we thought that would be a blessing. Well guess what?? Neither will Medicare cover anything to do with my leg because it is a workman's comp injury. So I called and asked what if I just close my workman's comp case? I was told it was illegal????? They are legally responsible for paying for my leg the rest of my life. Well that does a lot of good if I can't find a doctor to accept the insurance.

I have spent hours on the phone the past two weeks dealing with all of this and it is just so frustrating. Then on top of that who knew being put on Medicare would not be a blessing??? Doctor's are all running "gun shy" of accepting it because the government is threatening to reduce the amounts they get reimbursed. Naive me had no idea a doctor had the freedom to chose whether they accepted Medicare or not? Perhaps if you didn't have supplemental insurance this would make sense to me, because they may or may not get paid when Medicare doesn't pay the total bill. But when you have supplemental insurance it pays what Medicare doesn't so what is the risk to the doctor??

So I had to get a Colorado doctor to sign my paperwork to get a handicap license plate. It just seemed easiest to go under my present insurance which we haven't canceled yet. Little did I know that since I was eligible for Medicare in June, I couldn't go to the doctor in June and have it charged to United Health Care, even though we haven't canceled it yet because we haven't received final confirmation that we have been accepted by the supplemental company. It has been another few hours of calls to get all straight, but the kicker??? They charged $235.00 for a visit for a doctor to fill out a form??? Yes they did take my blood pressure, but a ten minute interview is $235.00!!!!!!! Crazy! There obviously needs to be something done. But unfortunately I have seen nothing that indicates Obama's plan is going to make it better. And if I had any doubt before what is this bill that the Congress is putting in place that will make them except from the plan we are all forced to accept??

No....unfortunately, I am afraid there are still more frustrating times ahead. It definitely is an exercise in patience.