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.
