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Omg. Open enrollment.

rachylou

Veteran

Just had a screaming match with a customer rep. I just want to know if I switch plans, same carrier, if my doctors would be available to me still. He said all doctors aren't with all carriers 'duh' so I said 'duh' right back to him. So then he passed me to a new rep who says I can get access to plans without Obamacare, which is not true. Then he wants to know my income - but at my actual personal income next year, I will get blocked from plans and be made to go on county assistance, which is the same as no healthcare. And still, no answer as to the doctors...

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15 replies

Latest reply was from Glory

Dee

Veteran

I don't have any advice, but you have my sympathies! I am firmly convinced that insurance is the one part of adulthood I will never quite figure out how to handle effectively.

Everything was so much easier in Canada...

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I work at hospital. We got a new option. But after hours of research, it's worse than my current plan, which isn't very good at all.

Elle

Veteran

How frustrating. Your best bet is to call your doctor's office and ask which plans they accept. Good luck.

JAileen

Veteran

I'm sorry you're going through this.

Gigi

Veteran

Health care can be so maddening! You ask three different people about something and get three different answers. Honestly, it seems like you can never know anything for sure until after the fact and it is too late.

I think Elle has a good solution. Your doctors will probably be on top of the insurance situation and can give you more info.

Anonymous

"Oh Canada, my home and native land......"

I hear stories like this and want to cry with thanks, at the same time feeling incredibly empathetic and sympathetic to struggles like this. Health care is a basic human right. I hope you get your situation sorted out Rachy.

Glory

Veteran

How frustrating! Hoping you get the needed information!

Gail

Veteran

Its a nightmare. My son is 26 and has to come off our plan he has been looking at rates that are crazy and ones he cannot afford. However we found something on our plan info that will cover until 29 if certain criteria are met.We are trying to investigate but no call backs yet grrrr. My sons job offers no healthcare , he is looking for a new job.

Style Fan

Veteran

I am so sorry that you are going through this Rachy. Calling your doctor's office makes the most sense.

abc

Veteran

So sorry for this, RL. I hope you get it straightened out and KUDOS to you for saying "duh" right back to that knucklehead.

Anonymous

I hope you get this sorted out, too! We took a long, hard look at our insurance plan a couple of years ago when my back pain was so horribly bad and we didn't know what was wrong. Turns out that the doctors we needed to see were also on the HMO plan we already had, so we didn't switch. Big $ savings! And our HMO is now paying for our oldest DD's upcoming jaw surgery and for our youngest DD's psych therapy.

rachylou

Veteran

Update: So decided to just let my current plan roll over. It's true - it's like you can't tell really what's what until it's too late, but switching to the next plan down didn't seem like there'd be any savings. All the co-pays skyrocket up. Going two tiers down, just seemed straight up unaffordable actually. The premium is lower, but you have to meet such a high deductible, which applies to everything... seems impossible - plus, I'd be cut off from my medications, kicked off onto some ancient form of insulin and a (for me) liver-destroying statin. Healthcare is so too rationed in the U.S.

Windchime

Veteran

Sounds like you chose the best option to take care of yourself, given the choices.

You have my complete sympathy. In my opinion, health insurers in this country have a ridiculous amount of power. And then there's actually calling to make an appointment with a doctor, and the first thing they ask isn't your name or symptoms, but what kind of insurance you have. It makes me angry every time it happens. It's the same as if the first thing I asked a prospective piano or organ student was how they plan on paying for the lessons.

Traci

Veteran

I'm glad you were able to come to a decision, Rachy. I think you made the best choice.

Windchime, unfortunately, this is the nature of our system. Most patients are not interested in paying out of pocket and will not stay with a doc if their insurance won't cover it, and they will be left with the bill. Insurance coverage is the #1 determinant in choosing a doctor for most patients. Those offices are just meeting people where they are. You could change that dialogue by starting your call telling them that you are interested in paying out of pocket and not worrying with insurance, however, there are still government and contractual regulations that would require them to still ask you certain questions about your coverage before they could even accept money from you.

It is ALL far too complicated!

Glory

Veteran

Glad you got this sorted Rachy