February 29, 2012

flying my freak flag

Do you have things that just drive you crazy for no other reason than it's just a quirk of your personality? I'm not sure what it is with me but this week I'm flying my freak flag and it's flying high and waving all over the darn place.

photo attribution

It could very well be I have problems with authority figures or want my way or it could just be I'm getting bitchy in my old age.

Anyway I did all this research to find a Dermatologist that takes my insurance plan, it's not all that easy and sometimes when choosing a specialist I might have to drive as many as 60-100 miles to stay {in network}. So I find this doctor 42 miles from my house at this point I'm doing a happy dance. I looked up his credentials and so on and call his office to confirm he's on my plan and make an appointment.

I still have that rash under my arm {7weeks or more} and I want him to take a look at the area around my healed MRSA wound; the skin surrounding the scar tissue is hyper-pigmented and I wanted an opinion on if it needed treatment or if the discoloration will fade with time. Let me just say that these two issues were treated previously by two different doctors, rash by my internist, wound by my wound doctor.

I dial the phone and the receptionist answers the phone the conversation goes something like this...

"Him my name is Jen, is Dr. Blah Blah Blah taking on new patients?"

"Are you insured, what kind of insurance do you have?"
Now I'm thinking to myself I guess that means he's taking new patients but a hello would have been nice so I play along....


So mentioned the company.
She clarified a few more questions about my insurance then went on.....


"So what's the problem you'll be seeing the doctor for?"
I told her about my arm pit rash and my skin surrounding the scar, then she says to me....


"We require your doctor(s) send over a referral and we get you an appointment."

OK hold the phone.....my insurance doesn't require referrals to see a specialist.What if i have a reason that I don't want to share the fact that I'm seeing a dermatologist with either of these two doctors, that's certainly my prerogative? Then my next thought was, doctors don't do anything for free anymore or over the phone! Will i have to pay- make an appointment in order to get this referral that isn't even required?


Or what if I was a person who didn't have a regular doctor?


I spent a lot of money with my wound treatment last year....I'm still getting bills eight months later.  In addition, my former wound doctor is a hospitalist he doesn't even have an office- the hospital is his office and we all know their rates! 


Ridiculous, this whole that's what this whole thing is is becoming. All I want is a freakin appointment, I'm not a circus clown jumping thru hoops...so we continue to converse. I go on to tell her, "I've had this insurance for 30+ years and have never been required to do this before, may I ask why?"

"It's the doctor's preference and it's his personal rule" the receptionist tells me.

So I say, "I'm a 52 year old woman I believe I am capable of making the decision as to whether I need to see a dermatologist without another doctors evaluation, permission, knowledge or referral, rolling my eyes."
I'm glad she couldn't see me because I was being a tad disrespectful with my facial expressions!

She then says to me, "if you want to see Dr Blah Blah Blah the referral  is required"

Then I told her with a sigh, "With all due respect I think this rule is unnecessary and may even cause me to incur an unnecessary expense  I believe I'd rather find another doctor, thanks but no thanks."

Now I'm annoyed! This type of crap bothers me to no end.

I then hang up my phone so I can  hoist my freak flag a bit higher and started looking for another doctor!

Do you have quirky things that just really annoy you more than they should?

When was the last time you flew your freak flag?

Linking up with Shell today.
Thanks Shell....

10 comments:

  1. I would have been annoyed all the way to another doctor as well. I can't stand that you'd have to make and pay for an appointment only to land you right back in the same spot again. What a waste. I'm glad you hung up.

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  2. UGH! I hate insurance and doctors. I wish we all could just get what we NEED. WHENEVER WE NEED IT! This is totally a rant of mine, too.

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  3. well...it is not going to get any better....now it will be the insurance companies and not even a doctor that will be deciding if you should see a doctor!!! that is way crazy.... good luck!
    I am your newest follower..pls follow back if you can.

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  4. Oh my goodness. What a mess. We haven't lived in the US in a while so we have not had insurance or things like this to worry about. What a mess.

    So glad to have found and I am a new follower :-)

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  5. I hate all the hoops you have to jump through for doctors!

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  6. I dare not even go into Canada's system...wait I will.
    We are not allowed to shop for doctors. We can't walk into a specialist office without a referral because that's how our government rolls. And AND if you don't like them and want to go out of city to find one, the government won't allow it. You have to exhaust every specialist in your area first.
    It blows.
    A. Lot.

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  7. Our medical system is a mess, but unfortunately it will stay a mess for a long time. sorry about your troubles.

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  8. Hope you were able to find someone who didn't require a referral!

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  9. I'm flying my freak flag right along with you. I despise the way doctors and insurance works these days, it's all about money in their pockets!

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  10. Oh yes that situation would have grated a nerve!! The NERVE. Humph. I'll tell you what else since you asked and I rarely write about my husband in my blog so I'll comment about him. Just yesterday I had to say to myself, "Chill Kenya." It's his driving and not being in the lane he needs to be in. We weren't in a rush or anything but its like my eyes bug out of their sockets and I get tense because he needs to get over two lanes. It's like he is a magnet to the opposite. Well hmmm what's the difference between a freak flag and a pet peeve? Regardless this one makes me feel CRAZY on the inside.

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