Have you ever tried to reason with an insurance company? It is beyond impossible. I spent my entire weekend working on a nasty letter detailing all of my complaints about my insurance company. I spent 50% of the time writing, 30% of the time whining to my husband, and 20% of the time being really angry about the fact that we pay so much money for such crappy insurance.
Yesterday, I spent 90% of the day on the phone with various doctors' offices and costumer service representatives. I spent the other 10% being annoyed with my children and husband.
Today, I have come to a realization. I am wasting my time and energy on a hopeless situation. My insurance company is going to screw me over one way or the other, so I might as well stop dwelling on the subject. I am soooooo tempted to just cancel my policy. I know that sounds crazy, but I feel like they are stealing my money. My insurance company refuses to cover most of our medical bills, so it seems more sensible to just save my monthly premiums. We pay over $4,000 per year for grossly inadequate medical insurance. They don't give a shit about me or my kids or the quality of the medical services we receive. But fear forces me to keep shelling out money to the greedy fucking insurance companies. "What if something bad happens..." seems to be my motto.
I guess I am just feeling completely overwhelmed. As I mentioned last month, my insurance company dropped our pediatrician AGAIN. But I don't want to switch practices. I want my kids to be comfortable with their doctor, familiar with the routine, and relaxed in the environment. So, we have decided to stay with our current pediatrician and pay out-of-network charges. This basically means that we will be paying hundreds of dollars for every visit. I want to cry when I think about it. We pay $400 per month, and we have almost no choice in our care. Now we are going to be paying $400 per month for essentially nothing. We will be paying for every doctor bill out-of-pocket unless we reach an $18,000 out-of-network deductible for the year.
It feels like we can never get ahead. And I am angry.
11 comments:
i really am sooo sorry friend. sooo sorry. it really is beyond frustrating and not fair. i still don't understand it - except that you always feel like you are getting screwed.
sorry.
I am about to have no insurance. I simply cannot afford Cobra. I am going to try to get the kids Chips, which is govt. based. I have never ever not had insurance. But my out of pocket would be over $600 a month and with no job, I can't do it!
Oh that sucks. :(
I'm really sorry.
I don't know that there is such a thing as "good insurance." I think it's an oxymoron.
Holy crap! That just seems crazy! I feel like our insurance has pretty good coverage and reasonable deductibles, but I pay $530 per month for JUST my husband and son. My company pays for me. Soo... it's ridiculous. I have to say that it was nice having insurance when I had a baby and when I had to have my appendix out... if not I would be well over $50,000 in debt right now JUST in medical bills. I definitely think it's safest to have insurance, however I think something definitely needs to be done to regulate how big of assholes insurance companies are allowed to be.
: ( I. feel. your. pain. I'm sorry.
I'm really sorry. This kind of treatment causes so much stress. We are very, very limited in our pediatric choices as well. I walk away when other moms start raving about this incredible pediatric practice in our town. We can't go there and we will never be able to go there. We are on our third pediatrician in four years. I hear you.
you are so right. they don't give a shit about anyone but themselves and making that almighty dollar.
we pay $400 a month PLUS a $4800 deducible! INSANE.
i don't know about you but i'm ready for some socialized medicine.
I think your doctor probably decided to stop taking the insurance b/c the reimbursement must suck.
The insurance: does your husband's job cover any of the cost to have it?
Have you called around to price other providers?
The $18K----do y'all EVER meet that in a year??????
That is horrible, i don't understand how they can get away with it .
What do you think now that obummer care took affect....that $400 is dirt cheap for a family plan with todays "insurance"
You sound like me, this week in fact, dealing with similar revelations that I already knew but hoped might be different about how shitty insurance is. About how I’ve been so stressed this year with an enormous premium of $730 a month for my daughter and I, and so far neither of us have seen a dr. I had dental work, cost $900, and I have a high PPO $70 dental plan. It covered $95. So, I dropped them, and I’m about to drop our medical. It’s just throwing money to private insurance company and guaranteed had I just saved the $2190 I’ve spent this year, it would go towards cash pay Drs visits. If I have an emergency, it will probably be bankruptcy expensive anyhow, even with insurance covering a portion. I, too spent several hours this week dealing with this. I’m feeling you, and it sucks! Humana REALLY SUCKS. That’s who my dental is through. Haven’t been able to get through on the website. Says technical difficulty. All year. It’s a joke.
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