American Health Care Is Almost Worse Than No Health Care
I have been seeing Doctor Rachel since 2007. The clinic she was affiliated with closed and she moved to the Nova clinic across town. "BestMed formerly NovaHealth" as the recording says today, like "ZoomCare" and the "Urgent Care" franchises are the fast food version of health care. Your only existing records are the ones generated there. Records are not shared between franchises.
When I was between jobs I lost my doctor because the then "NovaHealth" didn't accept Oregon Health Plan's subsidiary, Trillium. As it turns out out, NONE of Eugene's urgent care clinics accept Trillium. It is shameful that people are not warned about this when being offered a choice between Pacific Source or Trillium rather than finding out after being turned away clinic after clinic with a sick child trying to get them seen by a doctor.
I was able to get Doctor Rachel back when I got a job that let me buy Pacific Source insurance for about 3% of every paycheck. Insurance rate prices are set to maximize profit to the provider, not to insure your health. That is a fact. Health doesn't even enter their equations beyond cost:benefit calculations of treating your conditions. If you need to use your coverage, you are a cost. Costs need to be cut. And just like that, the human in need of health care becomes a profit loss. It's a one way transaction unless you are very 'lucky' and become afflicted with a covered illness. But I digress.
When I found myself on OHP again, Dr Rachel gave me the tip about PS OHP vs, Trillium, which as I said, is worthless unless I take my sick body to the next town over.
Today I am sick and tried to get in to see my Dr. I was told after listing my symptoms that I have to go to Urgent care with them because since the transition from NH to "BestMed" my doctor is now at a "Wellness Clinic" and is no longer available to me if I have symptoms of anything. I was summarily dismissed.
I sat here and stewed about about for a minute or two and called back to schedule my doctor's next available. I opened with the fact that we had just spoken. She asked why I wanted the appointment and I told her truthfully that I am having surgery in two weeks and want to see my doctor afterwards. She told me the next available was on July 26th, so I took it.
In the meantime I have been pretty sick since Thursday. I took it easy and felt a little better on Friday. Saturday I was outside all day and was OK except for being so tired I was in bed before the sun went down.
Yesterday I was phlegmy and had a cough/sore throat. I would have called my doctor, but Sunday. If I had now I would have to see a drive-thru doctor, I would have gone yesterday.
Part of me is really happy for Doctor Rachel not being exposed to symptomatic people. The rest of me is agog at the fact that when I am sick is exactly the time I am unable to see my doctor of 15 years.
When I was between jobs I lost my doctor because the then "NovaHealth" didn't accept Oregon Health Plan's subsidiary, Trillium. As it turns out out, NONE of Eugene's urgent care clinics accept Trillium. It is shameful that people are not warned about this when being offered a choice between Pacific Source or Trillium rather than finding out after being turned away clinic after clinic with a sick child trying to get them seen by a doctor.
I was able to get Doctor Rachel back when I got a job that let me buy Pacific Source insurance for about 3% of every paycheck. Insurance rate prices are set to maximize profit to the provider, not to insure your health. That is a fact. Health doesn't even enter their equations beyond cost:benefit calculations of treating your conditions. If you need to use your coverage, you are a cost. Costs need to be cut. And just like that, the human in need of health care becomes a profit loss. It's a one way transaction unless you are very 'lucky' and become afflicted with a covered illness. But I digress.
When I found myself on OHP again, Dr Rachel gave me the tip about PS OHP vs, Trillium, which as I said, is worthless unless I take my sick body to the next town over.
Today I am sick and tried to get in to see my Dr. I was told after listing my symptoms that I have to go to Urgent care with them because since the transition from NH to "BestMed" my doctor is now at a "Wellness Clinic" and is no longer available to me if I have symptoms of anything. I was summarily dismissed.
I sat here and stewed about about for a minute or two and called back to schedule my doctor's next available. I opened with the fact that we had just spoken. She asked why I wanted the appointment and I told her truthfully that I am having surgery in two weeks and want to see my doctor afterwards. She told me the next available was on July 26th, so I took it.
In the meantime I have been pretty sick since Thursday. I took it easy and felt a little better on Friday. Saturday I was outside all day and was OK except for being so tired I was in bed before the sun went down.
Yesterday I was phlegmy and had a cough/sore throat. I would have called my doctor, but Sunday. If I had now I would have to see a drive-thru doctor, I would have gone yesterday.
Part of me is really happy for Doctor Rachel not being exposed to symptomatic people. The rest of me is agog at the fact that when I am sick is exactly the time I am unable to see my doctor of 15 years.