US Healthcare Stinks Thread II (1 Viewer)

[The Longtime Lurker]

Seems like this might be a good place to ask this question, how does one reliably find a new doctor? Will a PCP let a patient have a consult to see if they're a good fit? My old doctor is leaving their practice and I'll need a new one. The last time i had to find a new doctor i just looked at who was accepting new patients and took the first one. I was lucky and found a good doctor this way, but the right fit is important to me in any new heathcare partnership so ideally i would like to meet a new doctor first. Just curious if anyone has any recent experience switching doctors and did more than just grab the first one they could find?

My primary care doc went concierge and I didn't want to pay an extra $3K a year on top of getting billed through insurance. I went to about 4 doctors before finding another one I liked. Best way is through referral. Otherwise you'll be reading reviews and throwing darts.

Similar situation with my PCP. It's a pia to switch doctors just to not get along well and then initiate the process all over again. I sure would love to get it right the first time and not waste everyone's time including my own. I did get referred by my doctor to another at the same practice and I'll give them a try, but still wonder if there's a better way to find a new doctor other than throwing darts. Guess the best you can do is call around and see if anyone is willing to do a consult ahead of any new patient process. Just feels like you need to commit first with most practices and hope it works out.

 

[matttyl]

Maybe off topic, but just mind-blowing how much waste/over charging exists today. My 90 year old mom had a stroke in January. We caught it early (the 4 hour rule is so important) She was in the ICU for 3 days and then in a regular room for 2 days before release. We were in a full on blizzard and they wanted to kick her out at 8:00 pm at night despite the fact the entire family was there from 6:00 am that morning and we just went home for the night--that is another story. She was released home with services. She has Medicare and a supplemental insurance program. We got the summary of services and costs--$318,000 . I went through the 18 page bill and there were services listed for things I sure don't remember her getting. but who knows. Her out of pocket cost---zero.

The ambulance immediately billed us for $2,500, but if we paid right away they would take $1,750. I let it ride for a month and sure enough it was reduced to $249.00. Now her blood thinner meds are a whole other world. The prescription we left the hospital with was going to run $3,000 a month because it was in a tier 5 level. However we got another prescription that If she didn't have the supplemental benefit, would have been free, but because she does, we have a $3,000 deductible and a $47 a month co-payment. Not the worst, but just upsetting.

I see these kinda bills all the time. $318k for a total of 5 days in the hospital - 3 of which in ICU, seems about right. Insurance (in this case Medicare) will knock that initial amount down considerably (like having 90% knocked of the ambulance ride). No idea who benefits from them initially charging such an astronomical amount.

 

[urbanhack]

I have employer-provided heath care with a great plan. I just wanted to schedule my annual physical. June 13 was the first available date.

Neat system.

 

[Nugget]

I have employer-provided heath care with a great plan. I just wanted to schedule my annual physical. June 13 was the first available date.

Neat system.

They do hold spots open for sick people. I found that out after telling them I was going to urgent care for other medical events.

 

[Johnnie Nepal]

I have employer-provided heath care with a great plan. I just wanted to schedule my annual physical. June 13 was the first available date.

Neat system.

The hack around this is to schedule your next physical while leaving your current visit. So... schedule it a year out if you want/need to be seen once a year.

 

[bcat01]

I have employer-provided heath care with a great plan. I just wanted to schedule my annual physical. June 13 was the first available date.

Neat system.

I did my annual physical and had an appointment in 3 days.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Why the rush for annual physicals?

I’ve said it before: they’re medical theatre, never proven to provide tangible benefits. Even targeted exams in the presence of symptoms are hit-or-miss.

That’s not to say you should avoid seeing a doctor somewhat regularly, but the exam itself is fairly useless. FTR, here’s a compendium of evidence-based preventative health recommendations.

 

[Snotbubbles]

I have employer-provided heath care with a great plan. I just wanted to schedule my annual physical. June 13 was the first available date.

Neat system.

I did my annual physical and had an appointment in 3 days.

I never have a problem getting my annual checkup. I call in to the office have them write a prescription for bloodwork and on that call set up a visit usually within 5 to 7 days.

 

[Snotbubbles]

Why the rush for annual physicals?

I’ve said it before: they’re medical theatre, never proven to provide tangible benefits. Even targeted exams in the presence of symptoms are hit-or-miss.

That’s not to say you should avoid seeing a doctor somewhat regularly, but the exam itself is fairly useless. FTR, here’s a compendium of evidence-based preventative health recommendations.

My firm gives me a $25 per check credit if I get an annual wellness form filled out by my primary (which requires bloodwork). If I don't get it done, they deduct that money from my pay. Worth a 30 minute checkup, once a year.

 

[Mitchie]

I have employer-provided heath care with a great plan. I just wanted to schedule my annual physical. June 13 was the first available date.

Neat system.

Unless urgent not sure i see an issue.

 

[Mitchie]

was at the dr. and was given a prescription, just happened to ask if it was expensive and she said she'll go through cost drugs plus it shouldn't be that expensive. ok great. get to the pharmacy, pharmacist says will be $250, seemed high but ok was about to pay, was then like is that for a year and she's like no 3 months, so I'm like Whoa are you sure, that seems really high, can you double check that. she goes to the back, comes back actually we do have a lower price, through cost drugs plus it's $25. So almost got taken for a ride, but thankfully asked.

 

[brun]

Last week my son picked up his Wegovy at Walgreen. He doesn't have money to burn so he's pretty much on top of what his share should be. He was expecting about $200. They charged him $25.
He doesn't want to be surprised later on with owing $175, so he asked an insurance rep about it. They just said that maybe the pharmacy was able to apply some coupon and didn't say anything about it. That was nice a nice surprise. Hopefully it's not $500 next month.

 

[Navin Johnson]

it seemed like everyone smoked in france

I was disgusted by the cigarette butts to the top of curb on every street in Paris

I have never seen anything close to what you are describing in any of my trips to Paris