I have had the same doctor for 7 years.

[tjwash]

Now he is missing.

I mean missing. As in gone, disappeared. Should be on an episode of "without a trace." Obviously I have been extremely concerned. His daughter set up a search party and immediately disbanded it a half a day later, and the local news stopped reporting anything at all.

I really am hoping for him and his family that it ended well, but i really don't think it has. I have been getting nothing but the clinics answering service for the past week now. It does not have a good feel about it at all.

However, the reality of the entire situation has catapulted me into a search for a new family doctor. As much as I really thought that the insurance cartel that has Americans by the collective throats, could get no worse of a mind numbing bureaucracy than it was 10 years ago; I have recently discovered how absolutely wrong I could be about something. Now mind you, I work for a decent company, and the benefits are actually top notch, and the insurance is a top notch PPO as well.

First situation: My insurance requires periodic paperwork for my prescriptions that I need on a regular basis. They need to be taken care of from my primary care physicians office. These have all of a sudden have not been filed or taken care of. As I said, I am getting only their answering service now, and no call backs. Translation- the pharmacies are refusing to fill some of my prescriptions now.

Second situation: I have tried to call the insurance company and explain my situation, but they have been closed since Friday for the Easter weekend. Translation-no one there to talk to or help me out. Just voice mail, and telephone tree hell.

Third Situation: I tried to call 20 or so general practitioners in the area, and they were all either not accepting new patients, would not accept new patients until next month, or were gone for the easter weekend.

Fourth situation: I tried going to the local urgent care on my lunch hour, thinking that surely I could get a prescription for my medication renewed with little hassle if i just explained the situation to them. I went in, paid my co-pay, and sat there not only through my lunch hour; but for another hour before some young PA saw actually saw me. After i explained my situation he informed me that he could not do anything because he was not a doctor, just a PA, and that I would have to wait "a little while longer" to see the doctor. I left frustrated, and got back to work late by an hour and a half after accomplishing nothing.

Now mind you; my situation is NOT life threatening. I have to take statins for high cholesterol. I can miss a few days, and it does not affect me mentally, or cause any physical ailment. But, this whole situation has just made me see what a horribly out of control beast, and a completely unfeeling and unyielding mafia that the medical insurance cartel has mutated into.

What if I was diabetic, or asthmatic, or needed nitro pills for a bad heart? Would they do the same thing? From what I can see; they would not blink an eye at denying someone who needed those as well.

One of the arguments that I have often heard by the freepers, randian fruitcakes, and "supporters of the free market" against nationalized health care' is that "it would cause a crushing bureaucracy that would gridlock everything, and cause the end of the American way of life as we know it."

Well, that seems like a freaking step up from what I have gone through since Tuesday...

[wildhorses]

1. you would end up in the emergency room, where we are also

over run with the same problems you just described...

What if I was diabetic, or asthmatic, or needed nitro pills for a bad heart? Would they do the same thing? From what I can see; they would not blink an eye at denying someone who needed those as well.


you would also prolly have a 2-6 hour wait depending on the acuity of your situation as compared to the other people who are there.

it is a never ending nightmare. trust me, i know. i work in an er. it feels like i jusmp on a merry go round when i clock in and i jump off when i clock out.

[tjwash]

4. I've done those 4-6 hour waits in the ER.

and even with insurance STILL got billed in the thousands of dollars.

Bastards. Then they have a bill collector call if your a week late on a payment you like your some deadbeat who just missed your last 5 car payments or something.

Nothing like being made to feel like your a horrible person who just got injured to inconvenience all of them...

[wildhorses]

6. i am so sorry for your experience--

believe me i am as frustrated as you are.

[Fla Dem]

2. I'm surprised the PA who saw you couldn't write a p'scription. I recently

was seen by a PA and she wrote several for me.

[Faux pas]

3. Call the pharmacy and tell them you need a few pills to last you

until the dr situation is straightened out. This has worked for me in the past. Good luck.

[tjwash]

5. That's what I've been doing.

I got it covered there. I posted this because wanted everyone to see my personal account of what a complete clusterfuck health care has turned into the last ten years.

[Suich]

7. I'll be eligible for Medicare in 11 months

and I can't wait! :sarcasm:

That's really bizarre about your Doctor. I hope they find him.