08.13.04
11:40 p.m.
HMO/PPO/EPO/POS...WTF?
I went to the doctor this morning. I couldn’t put it off any longer. I haven’t been in 7 years, and my insurance coverage is being dropped at the end of the month. Considering I’ve used the emergency room as my primary care provider for awhile now, I thought it wise to actually visit a real family practitioner.My appointment was at 9:15; I was ushered into a room, had a 5 minute conversation with the doctor, and was ushered out to make another appointment in 2 weeks. Is this how medical care works these days? I was appalled at the lack of interest in my health. Most people probably don’t want a lecture about smoking or how they’re pretty much killing themselves slowly, but I do. I need to hear about how I’m going to die at 30 if I don’t do something now; I needed that revelation. I can hear about cancer and death and disease all day long on in the media, but until it’s directed specifically at me, I can always ignore it. I want someone who’s in charge of my healthcare to tell me I’m stupid. Maybe that’s just me.
I feel jilted, slighted, gypped. I’ve had more attentive, compassionate care in the ER. I had a million things to ask, and I didn’t get to ask a single one. I was kindly told by the nurse, that they can only see me for one problem per visit. I was thinking about setting 8 or 9 appointments all in a row, but I’d probably come off looking like a hypochondriac.
