The whole referral thing is bullshit. If I have a problem with a specific part of my body, why the fuck do I need to waste time and money going to a generalist? So many doctor’s appointments are completely unnecessary and are just to get through the gatekeeping system to see a specialist.
I’ve said it before but so much of modern medicine America seems to just be “oh actually we don’t do that you gotta go somewhere else that’s booked six months out”. I would say it’s Kafkaesque but I feel like that doesn’t even capture the apathetic cruelty. Maybe I just need to read Kafka lol
Kafkaesque would be you get to the specialist and they tell you they don’t think the GP ever existed. They won’t recognize the referral note. They state that you’re currently dying but won’t tell you of what. Forcing you into a hospital room for years, administering a series of never-repeating tests assuring you you’re about to die.
My first ever doctors visit as an adult was for seborrhic dermatitis. Had to shell out 100$ for privilege to have someone write a prescription to a topical steroid that only masked the problem (with long term side effects to my skin, as well as likely degrading my eyesight), and literally zero advice beyond that. Of course, getting the prescription continually would require more visits to a doctor. Why? No fucking clue, it’s not like it’s abusable medication. Should just be able to talk to a pharmacist and get it over the counter but the system is built to be a scam
Yep, I have to make an appointment for 1-2 months in the future to make any changes to my prescriptions, even if I just want to increase or decrease the dose. There’s a reason I go the DIY route for HRT even though my insurance fully covers it.
I am forced to DIY a lot of my healthcare because I haven’t been able to have healthcare for years. Which is getting more scary as I get older, and is definitely just way less efficient. I wish I could get a lot of bloodwork done to confirm suspicions on a lot of issues, but the system is a fuck. DIYing GLPs and figuring out some supplements for what I guess are some genetic issues have really changed things for the better for me over the last two years, but I shouldn’t have had to stumble into solutions. No one should.
Finally got health insurance this year and went to a doctor for some things I needed a referral for and its was $246
The whole referral thing is bullshit. If I have a problem with a specific part of my body, why the fuck do I need to waste time and money going to a generalist? So many doctor’s appointments are completely unnecessary and are just to get through the gatekeeping system to see a specialist.
I’ve said it before but so much of modern medicine America seems to just be “oh actually we don’t do that you gotta go somewhere else that’s booked six months out”. I would say it’s Kafkaesque but I feel like that doesn’t even capture the apathetic cruelty. Maybe I just need to read Kafka lol
Kafkaesque would be you get to the specialist and they tell you they don’t think the GP ever existed. They won’t recognize the referral note. They state that you’re currently dying but won’t tell you of what. Forcing you into a hospital room for years, administering a series of never-repeating tests assuring you you’re about to die.
Sounds like what the insurance companies would say - just to force you to get on the phone or give up on the claim.
Lowkey what USCIS did to me with my citizenship, which they fucking gave to me
Atleast that’s kinda funny!
Nothing in Kafka is fiction
Delayed treatment means less treatment. It’s very much by design
My first ever doctors visit as an adult was for seborrhic dermatitis. Had to shell out 100$ for privilege to have someone write a prescription to a topical steroid that only masked the problem (with long term side effects to my skin, as well as likely degrading my eyesight), and literally zero advice beyond that. Of course, getting the prescription continually would require more visits to a doctor. Why? No fucking clue, it’s not like it’s abusable medication. Should just be able to talk to a pharmacist and get it over the counter but the system is built to be a scam
Yep, I have to make an appointment for 1-2 months in the future to make any changes to my prescriptions, even if I just want to increase or decrease the dose. There’s a reason I go the DIY route for HRT even though my insurance fully covers it.
I am forced to DIY a lot of my healthcare because I haven’t been able to have healthcare for years. Which is getting more scary as I get older, and is definitely just way less efficient. I wish I could get a lot of bloodwork done to confirm suspicions on a lot of issues, but the system is a fuck. DIYing GLPs and figuring out some supplements for what I guess are some genetic issues have really changed things for the better for me over the last two years, but I shouldn’t have had to stumble into solutions. No one should.
HRT could be done in a way thats so much more practical and time saving for everyone involved but god forbid trans people have anything easy
The article says “A doctor’s office visit for those without insurance costs an average of $171 across major U.S. cities” so you’re getting fleeced.
Scam