Comments | fibromyalgia: Health Insurance/Medicaid

dahliablue in fibromyalgia

Health Insurance/Medicaid

Jan 05, 2009 17:13

I was approved for Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid in October. I am having massive troubles with my local branch of Medicaid. I can't find many doctors who accept it and the customer service is awful. They take forever to approve things and my health is getting worse because I have to wait to receive help from them and the public health ( Read more... )

social security, health insurance

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n2sing January 5 2009, 23:25:55 UTC

Here is what I have learned about medicaid.... I can see any doctor that will take the insurance wanna know how?... It is so easy I kicked myself... Do you have a local hospital?? I assume you do... GO TO THE ER... when they treat you for whatever current problem you are suffering from they will give you a referal if they don't give you one ask for one... Then when you call that doctor's office for an appointment tell them you were in the Er and you were referred to them they should take you...

Option 2

My not so local hospital group it's about a 45 minute drive has a network of doctor's employeed by the hospital they usually have a central scheduling department find the hospital in the area usually a teaching hospital get the website or central scheduling number and make an appointment they should also take you...
If you need me to help you I will be more then happy to... Just send me a private message and I can help

ginalin January 5 2009, 23:29:52 UTC

Yeah, I was going to say that too. Go to the ER if you don't have any other options. They HAVE to take you if you have Medicaid, no option of turning you down, and they HAVE to refer you to a doctor for follow up, who HAS to take your insurance.
There's a way around this bureaucratic crap. My kids were eligible for state health insurance which functions a lot like Medicaid for years...because we couldn't get any or afford it when we were self employed.

I did that a few times when I couldn't get a doctor to see them. *G*

I did find a doctor eventually who just took walk ins, and any sort of insurance, and he was a good doctor too. It's hard, but you can usually find one if you keep looking. He refused to work for an HMO...they can be really sucky about taking Medicaid or State insurance.

Another thing that needs to change....grumble.

dahliablue January 6 2009, 00:04:07 UTC

My main problem is knee and hip pain possibly from the way I walk. I need to see a sports medicine doctor. I go to a public health network, but they're so swamped with people that the wait is 3 months to be seen by specialists. I'm trying to go anywhere else, but they won't refer me and Medicaid won't pay for it unless the referral is from my PCP.
I don't know if an ER could help with all this since I need ongoing help with specialists. Or could they?

Thank you for your help!

n2sing January 6 2009, 00:09:32 UTC

If you go to the Er for the pain and they give you referal it will work... I have medicaid and I do not need a referal to see anyone.. I have a rheumy an allergist, Gi and soon a neuro...

Once they refer you the doctor they give you should be able to give you continous care they won't see you once and drop you.

dahliablue January 6 2009, 00:49:40 UTC

Wow, this sounds hopeful.
I have a PCP that I've seen a few times who is listed on my Medicaid card. If I go to the ER and get referrals, will Medicaid cover it if my PCP is not involved? I don't mind getting another PCP, but I don't know how the referral situation works so that it's covered.

Getting straight answers from their customer service is impossible.

n2sing January 6 2009, 02:02:42 UTC

See that is the weird thing I have NEVER gotten referal.... I see three different specialists... For a couple it was a three month wait until he would see me but the wait was worth it... I live in Illinois but I thought medicaid worked the same every where

cluelessinchi January 6 2009, 02:20:29 UTC

It is different. I also live in IL and I always have to wait. Are you sure that you do not have Medicare and not Medicaid?

I do not need referral either. I have the same amount of wait time. I just can not find doctors like you can.

n2sing January 6 2009, 03:02:00 UTC

Oh It's medicaid alright.. We have been on it for almost four years it took me over two years to figure out what I have. i think it you find a big hospital that has alot of staff you would find doctors you need as well... You are close to down town right?? One of the chicago hospitals has to have doctors you can see.

cluelessinchi January 6 2009, 03:36:13 UTC

Actually University of IL and Rush were the ones quickest to say to "County". Neither of them have rheumatologist for Medicaid patients. I did not see any listed on the web sites that I have gone too. Only two were listed as registered rheumatologist in the city of Chicago.
I have found the bigger than name or the hospital the bigger the ego of the doctor and the crappier service that I get. Occasionally I am wrong. Like with my neuro doctor at Loyola but that is a rare thing.

I am spittin distance from Chicago. It is easier for me to get into the city than it is in burbs. I live right on the outskirts of town. One block into Oak Park.

n2sing January 6 2009, 03:51:51 UTC

Are you still trying to find a Rheumy?

cluelessinchi January 6 2009, 03:56:52 UTC

I have one of the two rheumatologists that are listed in the city of Chicago. I was quite lucky. And he is close. I would not go to the ER to save my life but I like the doctor so far.

n2sing January 6 2009, 04:02:12 UTC

That sucks.. Evanston hospital is where I go for everything but the doctors have offices in Highland park and vernon hills which is closer to me

cluelessinchi January 6 2009, 04:08:56 UTC

I think I have heard of Highland Park but not the Vernon Hills. I think there are suburbs on the South Side that have similar names. I do not get that far north. I also do not drive. I am a para-transit rider. I honestly do travel in Chicago land area much.

n2sing January 6 2009, 04:12:09 UTC

Highland park, Vernon Hills, Libertyville, Buffalo Grove, same area

cluelessinchi January 6 2009, 04:14:52 UTC

Oh I know some of those names. Actually I only hard of Buffalo Grove. LOL Just west of you right? I would not be able to go that far. No suburb to suburb travel with PACE para-transit and the Suburb service is beyond awful.

n2sing January 6 2009, 04:18:26 UTC

I am much farther north Zion, Beach Park, or Waukegan.. Gurnee...
Yeah I had that problem too my sister got stuck in a suburb she ended up taking the train to downtown then getting on the train that went to the right suburb then getting home.. It's the only way to travel from burb to burb...

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