This particular post doesn’t paint me or my financial situation in a very flattering light. Actually, the financial situation is no surprise, based on today’s craptastic economy. But me, well… what can I say?
Evie had her six month wellcheck scheduled for this morning. Because I never keep those stupid schedule cards they give you, I had no idea when the appointment was until the office called yesterday afternoon to confirm. In order to make things a little easier (since mornings are insanity), I took my shower last night before bed. Of course, this means I woke up with Crazy Hair. But my iron was able to tame it back into shape. I got Evie all dressed up and gave her a dose of Tylenol, for her immunizations. I got Liam ready to go too. I left the house 40 minutes before the appointment. I noticed that our one tire that is always leaking air was a little low. Too late to fix it. The gas tank was in poor shape so I stopped at the gas station. The problem is, the machine didn’t accept my card. I had $20 in the debit account, but for some reason, that wasn’t enough. I hoped I would have enough to make it down to the doctor’s office and back home again.
I stopped to get Kile and called his cell phone. No answer. Again and again. No answer. I sat there for a good 15 minutes before he finally answered. He said he never got the other calls. URGH. We were able to make it down to the doctor’s office just in time. We loaded the kids into the double stroller and made our way inside. Kile signed in and we waited to be called back. We were called, eventually, but not by the nurse. The receptionist told Kile that we had a past due amount on our account (that we were unaware of) and that if we wanted to be seen today, we’d have to pay that plus our copay.
Yeah, we didn’t have it. Kile rescheduled for next week while my blood boiled over. BOILED. THE FUCK. OVER. Am I saying my reaction matched the situation? Perhaps not. But until that moment, I’d felt stressed and this was the last straw. I couldn’t handle the extra crap being piled on so I blew my lid. I stormed out to the van, swearing to Kile that I was not coming back next week and I used a lot of really bad language too. I was PISSED. I had put myself out, getting out of the house with two little kids, drove on a tire that needed air, on an empty tank of gas just to make this appointment only to get there and OH NO, TOO BAD!
I’m sorry, but to me, that’s just bullshit. What the hell do we even pay out the ass for insurance for if we can’t even get seen by a doctor?
Even now, I’m extremely upset about this. I don’t particularly want to go back to that office, but i know that’s a stupid reaction. Evie needs to see the doctor, even for a well visit, and she needs her immunizations. But the thought of doing it all AGAIN next week makes my stomach turn. I don’t feel that I can physically walk back into that office without wanting to slap someone.
Yeah, to say that I can’t handle stress very well these days would probably be a gross understatement.
Not my proudest moment. Who is to blame? Us, for not having the extra money to just pay it on the spot? Us, for not having that past due amount paid? Them, for insisting that we pay it before being seen? The economy, for sucking every last spare dollar out of our pockets until we’re left on our knees, begging for mercy? All of the above? None of the above? Who the hell knows?
It’s moments like these that I wish for oblivion, for an escape, for darkness and quiet. For peace.
***
In completely unrelated but no less worthy news: please go check out my review of the new book, “Maybe Baby” over on my review blog. It’s a great read. (The book, not the review. Though the review isn’t bad either.)
{ 14 comments }
Nicole (3 comments.) 09.23.08 at 2:53 pm
Ok, here we go.
I’m Canadian. I walk into any clinic, hospital or have a doctor’s appointment and I don’t pay a dime. I only pay for prescriptions and non-medicare related stuff. I go in, show my medicare number and they run it through the system.
I pay premiums - about $56/month (most of which is paid by my employer at this point). If I don’t pay my premiums, I cannot be denied care.
Yes, you heard me. By law, I have to receive care if I ask for it. Doctors are not allowed to deny care based on any issue, including nonpayment of premiums.
I am surprised that doctors in the US deny care based on nonpayment. Absolutely shocked - it goes against that age-old like from the Hippocratic Oath “First, do no harm.”
I’m really sorry for what happened to you. And I really hope something happens to fix that situation after November.
carol at A Second Cup (18 comments.) 09.23.08 at 3:06 pm
It would have been nice to inform you of the past due amount when they called to confirm your appointment. Did you check the bill? We have 4 kids and often the doctor’s office has told me an account was past due only to find another account has a credit for a similar amount.
I have the same rant about insurance if not in the same words the same ire!
i am so sorry for your non visit. I hope it goes well next week.
Randi (18 comments.) 09.23.08 at 3:15 pm
The gas station requires quite a bit in the bank account usually to take the ATM - the ones around here require at least 50 dollars in the bank. I’m not quite sure why.
As for the doctors visit, I’m sorry it didn’t work out well. Owing money sucks big time. I know you’d said before that you let Kile do all of the checking/banking - perhaps its time you both do it together once a week or something? It’s a great way to make sure that you have money available for things like co-pays and gas and stuff.
Lisa 09.23.08 at 3:19 pm
I totally understand. I’m sorry it upset you so much, but really.. they should have sent you a bill for the amount due. The tire couldn’t be helped. And gas costs stink. It was just too much all in one day. Which is when things tend to hit. I’m sorry.
I HATE the whole economy thing. I spend so much of my budget on just food and household items that there isn’t much left to spare at all. I’m tired of putting things off that really are needed AND things that are wanted. Been doing it for a year and no end in sight. Money sucks.
Rhi (55 comments.) 09.23.08 at 3:50 pm
That is TERRIBLE. I’m lucky (actually, NO) in that I’ve reached my out of pocket maximum for the year (I’m inventing illnesses just to stick it to the insurance company) but I’ve forgotten my wallet SEVERAL TIMES (am a scatterbrain) and they’ve seen me anyway. WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL, DOCTORS?!
Valerie (5 comments.) 09.23.08 at 3:54 pm
Oh, I’m seeing red right now. I have absolutely NO problem with your reaction. I agree with Carol; they should have mentioned the past due bill when they called to confirm the appointment. I’m about to write a letter to a local hospital (as soon as I’ve calmed down enough to do it coherently) to address an issue my son faced a month ago, that led to a misdiagnosis.
As for the financial aspect, we’ve all been there, dear. Just like they do to a clean house, kids cause damage to the household budget. And as you said, the economy isn’t helping. There is nothing to be ashamed of here.
It’s a shame that the staff at your doctor’s office can’t figure that out. Maybe they need to be reminded that wasting gas on unnecessary trips just means less money with which to pay unpaid balances. Asshats.
michelle 09.23.08 at 4:08 pm
Well, that doctor situation sucks. They should have said something WAY before you got there for today’s appointment. Did they ever hear of notifying you that a bill was due in the first place before saying that it’s past due?? Dumbasses.
And gas prices? I think that the oil companies will use ANY excuse to raise them and it’s ALL bull shit. They have extra oil sitting around so things like hurricanes & holiday weekends shouldn’t automatically mean a few extra cents per gallon. Especially when they “forget” to lower prices when the “crisis” is over.
kiki (3 comments.) 09.23.08 at 4:59 pm
GRR!!! How frustrating. When I took my son for his four month appt, the doctors office said we didn’t have an appt and told us to come back next week as that was the earliest they could fit us in. I said no . I had taken the day off and was there then…I would see any doctor they had. Fit us in. We waited 30 minutes, but got in and saw our doctor. Go figure. I hate doctors office’s for being inconsiderate. Why if you had to pay the balance to have your appt didn’t they tell you when they called you about your appt. That is just dumb.
Casey (15 comments.) 09.23.08 at 6:12 pm
You hit a sore spot with me on this one. I’ve spent about half of my days in the doctor’s office this month since I have TWO kids with ear infections. Our usual wait time is about 90 minutes (to get through the place) and I’m so over the medical system. Grrrrr.
Sorry they treated you like crap. I know they have to deal with sick kids all day but they could really show a little compassion instead of being cold and uncaring. Hope your week goes better!
Sarah Lena (19 comments.) 09.23.08 at 6:25 pm
I just wrote about a very similar situation. Our insurance won’t pay for Tony’s foot brace, and we just don’t know how we’ll afford it. I’m so OVER this administration.
Shannon 09.23.08 at 7:29 pm
OMG, I may be able to top that. When I was pregnant with my last child, I went to the doctor for what was supposed to be my last appt before I was induced (the next day), I checked in and they told me the same thing. Now, since the dr office had never contacted us to set up a payment plan, I had no clue that we owed that much (who has $500+ lying around these days?!!) and I freaked out, big time! My husband came up to the office and straightened it out, but I thought I was going to die right then and there. Not only was I embarrassed beyond belief, but I was afraid they were going to refuse to induce me the next day. Lord help me, I hope that never happens again!!
Moon HalloranLeady (73 comments.) 09.23.08 at 7:58 pm
mebbe we all oughtta move to Canada, eh? Would be nice to have that all taken care of.
And yeah, they OUGHT to have told you about the past due amount when they confirmed it!
I, too, have stormed out of ped’s offices because of shabby treatment. And when I went to another dr and had my record pulled (which is your right) to take to the new doc there were several nasty notes in there about me which I proceeded to throw into the trash. I WILL not be treated like crap by people I pay good money to take care of me and my kids.
And FTR, I work in a mental health insurance company so I know what goes on behind the scenes and it ain’t purty.
I prolly would have reacted the same way as you did - because every one knows you don’t eff with a momma’s babies!
As for the car situation and the gas and yadda yadda…got your back on that one too. Yup. Sux bunches and today I came home to find that our water has been cut off because we didn’t pay the damn bill on time. Alrighty then….and now we have next to nothing for the next several days.
But it’s all gonna be ok. Breathe! it’s all good.
Is there a public health clinic you can go to for the vaccs? They often do it for free or really cheap. And honestly, Evie will be fine until you can get her the shots. At least she wasn’t REALLY SICK…and that would have sucked.
hugs from MO
Moon
crunchy carpets (18 comments.) 09.24.08 at 10:04 am
Would have reacted exactly the same way…fer sure.
I think it is called the ’straw the broke the camels back.’…or ‘the last straw’…a person can only take so much.
And shit half the time I am running on an almost empty account too…who doesn’t these days.
And yes…being in Canada rocks…never turned away due to financial reasons.
Nichole (2 comments.) 09.24.08 at 12:32 pm
Oh, that’s a rotten experience. Couldn’t they have told you about the balance over the phone? That’s just not very nice.
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