Things I don't understand
Today Jae stayed home from work sick. So sick, in fact, she could barely get out of her bed, with terrible back pain and frighteningly clogged sinuses. I suggested she go and see a doctor, thinking that this is way more possible now that she has great insurance through her new job. The day unfolded thus:
1. Jae has insurance, but the PCP she was supposed to see has moved out of town. So I go home and research PCPs.
2. A list of PCPs is called. I imagine we'll be able to get an appointment for tomorrow at the latest.
3. Since Jae is a first time patient, there are no spots in any of these offices until August.
4. Never fear. Rapid Care saves the day. Or so I think. I look for Rapid Care clinics in Northampton. There are none.
5. I call the hospital. They have never heard of Rapid Care or walk in clinics of any kind. They recommend the Emergency Room.
6. I google like crazy, finally find a walk in clinic in Greenfield. I call the clinic.
7. The very pleasant woman at the clinic says that Jae can go for free if they take her (very good) insurance. I tell her the insurance information, and she offers to call me back.
8. Half an hour later- turns out Jae's insurance is the only one this walk in clinic won't take. And that it would take it up until a week ago. We'll have to pay out of pocket- which could be more than one hundred and fifty dollars.
9. Not only that, but since all walk ins in the entire state are run by the same company, there aren't any who will take her insurance.
10. Jae doesn't get to go to the doctor, and has decided to wait it out until it becomes an emergency room situation in which she will be admitted so that insurance will cover the visit.
I'm confused...isn't this the type of situation that insurance is supposed to protect against?? Isn't cutting down on emergency room visits one of the principal uses for insurance?
1. Jae has insurance, but the PCP she was supposed to see has moved out of town. So I go home and research PCPs.
2. A list of PCPs is called. I imagine we'll be able to get an appointment for tomorrow at the latest.
3. Since Jae is a first time patient, there are no spots in any of these offices until August.
4. Never fear. Rapid Care saves the day. Or so I think. I look for Rapid Care clinics in Northampton. There are none.
5. I call the hospital. They have never heard of Rapid Care or walk in clinics of any kind. They recommend the Emergency Room.
6. I google like crazy, finally find a walk in clinic in Greenfield. I call the clinic.
7. The very pleasant woman at the clinic says that Jae can go for free if they take her (very good) insurance. I tell her the insurance information, and she offers to call me back.
8. Half an hour later- turns out Jae's insurance is the only one this walk in clinic won't take. And that it would take it up until a week ago. We'll have to pay out of pocket- which could be more than one hundred and fifty dollars.
9. Not only that, but since all walk ins in the entire state are run by the same company, there aren't any who will take her insurance.
10. Jae doesn't get to go to the doctor, and has decided to wait it out until it becomes an emergency room situation in which she will be admitted so that insurance will cover the visit.
I'm confused...isn't this the type of situation that insurance is supposed to protect against?? Isn't cutting down on emergency room visits one of the principal uses for insurance?