Medicine is SO Frustrating…

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I went in for my annual mammogram.  The radiology center now has this kiosk where you sign in.  So, I started signing in.  Five minutes into this procedure, it says, “Your copay is $224.00”.  And, of course, you can’t keep signing in unless you stick your credit card in the machine.  I’m frustrated because there is no description of service, no reason given why my copay is $224.00.  So, I stopped, signed out and went to the front desk.

I said to the receptionist, “I can’t sign in because it wants $224.00 and does not tell me why. And the last time I paid a copay it took 13 months for me to get a refund so unless I have a description, I’m not just going to pay.”  She says, “Oh, I’ll sign you in.  Just pay like $25 or $50 and then after insurance pays, you can see what you actually owe and pay the rest later.”

Grrr.  The kiosk didn’t give me that option. How frustrating…

About the Author

Do you feel frustrated with your medical care? Do doctors spend 5 minutes with you, push you out of the office, with you wondering what's going to happen? Does your insurance deny paying? You're not alone. I'm frustrated, too. This is a growing trend in healthcare. Having seen pre-insurance medicine (yes, my dad was an old country doctor), I grew up watching him spend time with his patients, giving them the best care he had to offer. I saw families trust him to help them through hospitalizations and the next crisis. As a patient advocate, my job is to see that you get the right diagnosis, the right treatment plans, and the right supplies and education to make good decisions about your health. More importantly, I will teach you the tricks of the healthcare trade. We need more healthcare consumer protection, especially for chronic illnesses like diabetes. This is what I am passionate about. I make it happen every day with thousands of patients who now know what I know about beating the healthcare system and getting the best patient care...Patient Best.

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