I am a lurker here, and an occasional commenter. I've never felt I have enough to contribute to the debate to write a diary, but today I was made so incredulous that I felt the urge to share it. Sure, it's not a health insurance horror story on par with most of the truly horrible ones I've seen here, but I feel it pretty much destroys one of the arguments a lot of conservatives make against universal coverage.
So, I'm diabetic. Thanks to several years spent off my meds for it when I couldn't afford the prescription co-pays (in addition to several conditions that complicate diabetes), I have been having a hell of a struggle getting my sugar levels down to an acceptable range. On a visit with my primary doctor back in June, he told me that I was maxed out on my current meds and that he wanted me to see an endocrinologist, because my A1C was still too high. I said okay, and he said he'd refer me and I'd be hearing from the endocrinologist shortly. See, I'm insured with an HMO - and what's supposed to be considered one of the best insurers in the state of Florida, CHP. Really - and I know this is rare - I've had very little complaints about them.
Several weeks go by and I finally get a letter from the endocrinologist stating that my appointment was for September 24... a good three months after my primary doctor visit. 'HA!,' I think to myself. 'And they say that if we go to a universal system like Canada or Britain, we'll be waiting for months to see a specialist?' Well, whatever. Not much I could do, right? There are only 3 endocrinologists in town that are covered, and one of them I refuse to see because my experience with him 7 years ago in the hospital has made sure I will never see the guy again. I have limited options (for reference, the last of the 3 I saw once, too. Her solution was essentially 'eat more salad' I didn't go back).
Then this past week, I get another notice in the mail... the doctor will not be available, please call to reschedule. So I call today. The next available date they have is October 28. My jaw drops. But wait. The scheduler then realises that I am a new patient, and I go back on hold. She picks up again - I won't be able to see the doctor until the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Now, remember - I was referred in June. This is now late November we're talking about.
Nearly six months to get in to see a doctor. What was that that the Republicans like to spout about the eeeevil Canadian health care system? Oh, yeah. I think it went something like this: "YOU'LL BE WAITING FOR MONTHS TO GET IN TO SEE A DOCTOR!"
Huh. Well, I'm already doing that. For virtually all my doctors. 2 years ago, to get in to a rheumatologist for fibromyalgia was over 2 months. Seeing a competent dermatologist for the bizarre spot on my nose that I was becoming increasingly paranoid was cancer - almost 4 months. I remember when I tried to get in to see an OBGYN, I had to schedule my visit many months in advance, as well.
So here I am, diabetes raging out of control to the point where my primary doctor is seriously worried - my blood sugars test in the high 200's even when I've fasted all day, at least twice what they should be without fasting - and I'm trying to get in to see an endocrinologist so I won't get worse... and I have to wait nearly 6 months to see the doctor. It's nearly 5 months to see just the nurse practitioner... but it's slightly better, right? So that's what I'm going to have to do, because I'm worried about my health.
But this is 'the best health care in the world', isn't it? If we let the government run things, we'll be waiting months and months to see a doctor, won't we? Well, shit. I already am. And I'm covered under the highest ranked insurer in this state, thanks to being employed. I'd be laughed out of the room if I tried to apply for coverage with a private insurer with my plethora of 'pre-existing conditions'.
This argument of wait times against single-payer or even just a public option no longer flies. I know I'm not the only person who has had to sit through such wait times - I've heard the stories from friends and families both. Most of whom are insured and supposedly 'protected' from this by health insurance racket-woops-sorry-I-mean-care.
I guess it's time to write my congresscritters again. But with such winners as Allen Boyd (Blue Dog who's proud he's stalling reform) and Bill Nelson (his form letter responses are so full of stump-speechery that I can't tell where the hell he stands on the public option), I feel like I might as well be represented by Republicans.