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Morning, Deb. I looked up sugar babies and read a little.... yes they are very cute. But you need to keep being persistent about this health care crap. So, these places that don't take Medicaid patients, do they also not take Medicare patients? If they do take the latter, cannot you just drop your Medicaid, have all your benefits under SS disability and NOT under SSI and Medicaid? Then, yes, you would pay the percentages, as I do, but at least you would get care. I'm not going to go on and on but think you need an advocate, an ombudsman, though I'm not sure what they would call it, within the system, either state or federal, someone who can help you sort out how to get care. There are phone numbers all over the back of the Medicare handbook for getting help. These people are trained for this. Ask them questions like why is your Medicaid status getting in the way of getting treatment, and can you get off it, and just use Medicare, and pay percentages. Ask them how to find docs who do take Medicare/Medicaid patients. I have not been a Medicaid patient but it seems that here, they all take Medicare.
It is a shame that this biopsy appointment fell through. You need to look for another provider, one who will take you. Your primary doc doesn't seem very effective in helping you get on track, and maybe you need another one. I did lose a primary doc I liked long ago because his group would no longer take Basic Health, a WA state program. (I was not on disablity at the time). So I had to find another provider who did, who turned out to be a PA, and that was fine. Nurse practitioners are often good, too. Both will spend more time talking to you than most docs and will do more detective work on your behalf.
I agree with Birdie that bitchiness and pushiness have their place, if you are good at pulling them off without being shown the door. I imagine he is very good at this. I think there must be an art to it, and it might help to be a man. I know I've gotten my doc to change his mind on things by simply stating the facts that I know from this this forum and from living with WG every day. He seems a little stern, and has an attitude, but gives in and I think respects my knowledge. That has taken some time. At least, unlike you, I have a doc. He takes Medicare, and if the percentages rack up, too much for me, I get on a payment plan of $20 a month. I just paid that off for 2015 and with my next visit will be hit with the yearly deductible, so I'll have a bigger bill, and if I can't pay it, they'll keep me on the $20/mo. plan. My usual actual charge for a visit is only around $28.00 but will be more if I have something like a breathing function test with a spirometer.
Not to go on and on. You did a good job of explaining how you feel after having the gum biopsy appointment fall through. What type of doc does that biopsy? I don't remember where Birdie said he got his. My own dentist, though not an MD, knows all about WG and diseases that affect the mouth, teaches at the UW Med Center and knows all the docs who teach there... same with the oral surgeon I went to, and either of them would be alarmed at the strawberry gums and general state of your mouth and if they could not do it themselves, would find someone who could. No, Medicare doesn't cover dental stuff. But these guys are reasonable with me, knowing my financial state, and will also work with people on payment plans.
I do not think you are making this up and can understand why you get tired of us repeating the same things. But what else can we do? We don't understand the workings of the system there and any suggestion we make is going to sound lame to you. You need someone more of an expert at working the system there.... if it is that bad, there must be activists, agencies, people trained in getting people the health care they need. If necessary, go to the top, write or call people in high public office, people sitting on boards and commissions who deal with health care issues. Even write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper. You are a smart enough person to put the right words together to get someone's attention. From my feeble point of view, I'm about of ideas for now. I do care, and can only say, keep trying, and don't give up. Love you. XXOOXXOO
Originally Posted by debra
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