Insurance

I do know docs who have treated people differently because of that, and it's wrong. I've never known nurses to do that, and the docs who do are few and far between in my experience. Can you get another specialist?

There are some who will treat the patient differently. Doctors and nurses both are guilty. A few years back in my state, the state insurance also did not provide adequate reimbursement plus took months for a doctor's office so there was a big outcry and I had even heard stories of doctor's putting quotas on the patients they would see with state insurance.

That is also a reason that many with state insurance end up going to the ER. Yes it is convenient but sometimes it is the best choice for the family because generally the entire visit is covered with no co payment and the doctor's cannot refuse to see the person.

In my honest experience though, there are a good number (not a majority) of doctor's who will blow pt's and their families off without regard of their insurance.

YES!!!!! I know this from personal experience. Long story, if you have been here for a while you may know about my situation. To sum it up, I had my nursing license suspend over three years ago because the IRS said I didn't file taxes in the year 2000, which I did. Couldn't find the returns, accountant went out of business and no where to be found. After three years of searching for the mistake, we found that the accountant had mailed in the federal, but not the state. Had to get all the W2's from that year for my husband and myself and refile. Finally got resolved a couple months ago and I now have my license back and just got a home health position. Anyway, back to what I was saying (sorry, had to give you some background). After losing my license, I lost the health insurance for the entire family, not to mention my car and my apartment. I was forced to go on food stamps and medicaid. The difference in the way my children and I were treated was disgusting and so very obvious. I was made to feel as if I was a lazy bum who WOULDN"T get a job. Which is exactly the opposite because every job I applied for, including a job at a gas station I could walk to (since I lost my car) I did not get because they said I was "overqualified". So yes, I totally know what you are talking about. But you know what? I learned so much from experiencing this. I learned not to judge people who are on state assistance. I learned that we don't always know the circumstances people are facing. I am guilty of once upon a time thinking things like, "how dare that patient be so demanding when my tax dollars and paying for her room?"; of course never saying it aloud. But now I see the error in my thinking and how wrong it is of me, or anyone else to judge others that way. I hope your situation gets better. Mine is just about to get back on track. Good luck. And just remember that those people that are judging you may someday be in the same situation. It could happen to any of us at any time.

I didnt know that you could lose your license for not paying taxes but I guess thats a different conversation then the OP.

I am not sure its fair to say that based on the experience you had with one doctor that it is insurance related. I know I have insurance and I've always had insurance and there have been a few times that I felt like I was being "blown off" and in those instances I found myself another doctor that would listen to me. Have you asked the doctor specifically what treatment options are available for your son? Could it be that whatever has caused the hearing loss is permanant and their are no options to correct it?

I would say that if you really feel like your doctor treats you and your son wrongly then its time to find another doctor because you are never going to trust this one but if you havent attempted to speak to the doctor about how you feel you are being treated it might be a lack of communication and not totally fair to your doctor. Now before I get slammed for saying that let me explain...I've been a nurse for along time and I've seen patients/families complain to no end about their doctors or the way they are treated but when the doctor arrives the patients/families become very quiet and agreeable and they dont speak up and tell the doctor just how unhappy they are or they dont voice their current symptoms and so the doctor assumes that things are just fine. I've also been there when myself or others nurses attempt to step in and advocate for the patient by telling the doctor that so and so has this complaint but when the doctor asks the patient/family about it they say nothing or blow if off as nothing and when this happens once again the doctor assumes the patient is satisified.

In all fairness to you and your son and also your doctor I would think that if you voice your concerns to your doctor and you still feel as if your son isnt receiving the treatment he needs then its time for a second opinion.

By state insurance, do you mean medicaid or CHP+ - the federal child health plan for the 'working poor?'

Not all Dr.'s want to take medicaid pts, but more, not all, will take CHP+ pts. b/c the reimbursement is better.

I don't know where you are located, but here in CO, there are all kinds of other resources that are available to kids with disabilities (such as hearing loss) regardless of abilitiy to pay - many of them made available thru foundations, grants, ect.

And I have private insurance, I have been blown off by Dr.'s too.

I have found him another doctor. I'd finally had enough of that doc. mistreating us and I changed doctors on the last visit with him. I find it disgusting. The only reason I am on state is because my husband works a piece of crap job to put me through school and he cannot afford to have the entire family on his insurance. I remember your story jill and I am soooo glad that you know what I am talking about. I just cannot wait until I graduate, take my boards and become a registered nurse. I never judge people because I don't know what situation thy are in.

I have never understood physicians who do not take state aid or Medicare patients. Yes, the reimbursement is not as great, but these people need medical care also. I think every physician ought to take a certain number of medicare and medicaide patients, then when their quota is met, they can say they did their part and have the self respect that they helped those less fortunate.

my own daughter's family is on state aide, her husband runs his own business and she is trying to finish college. I have taken her son-she has 4 of them.

to the orthodontist and I want you to know it is the neatest office. Most everyone there is on some kind of aide, but the respect everyone receives just blows my mind, I am very observant of how things shouold be and this place is tops!!! So why can't theyall be like that???

I do think it is the attitudes of the office staff who do not understand not everyone is taking the system. When my daughter had her last baby the staff at the OB office was pretty snotty!!! The registrar used to loudly say the diagnosis so everyone in the waiting room knew why you were there. She never complained and I told her to!!! A gross HIPPA violation!!

So if one office can be outstanding, why can't more of them?? It is the physician who sets the example. So many do not know what goes on out front at the phones or front desk and until more people make them aware of this, it will not improve. Or at least talk to the office manager,

That is my take on the situation. Yes, it needs lots of help!!!

I didnt know that you could lose your license for not paying taxes but I guess thats a different conversation then the OP.

Yes, this happens. I hope OP doesn't mind that I divert a little bit from her original situation, but I would like to explain this, as every nurse needs to be aware of the situation. I don't know about your state, but in mine (Missouri) they passed a bill called House Bill 600 that says anyone who holds a professional license and did not FILE in the past can have it suspended. It's not even that I owed, they just claimed I never filed. I have never made enough to actually owe. I started a thread a few months ago to warn all nurses to keep their tax returns in a place where they could find them, as that was my downfall - being lazy and just throwing important paperwork wherever it fell like I would never need it again. Boy did I learn my lesson. Sorry about hijacking the thread, but this is so important that I don't think OP would mind.

Thanks for being so understanding. I thought it was just all in my head. I really don't understand but the tests proved that my son was NOT responding out of his right ear and for that doctor to walk in and look at me with a straight face and say that everything was fine all I saw was life without parole in my future. But I took a deep breath, told him what I thought of him and that b/s he just gave me and I went home and found another doc. This one was referred to my by his teacher because her kids see him and she assured me that he was the best. So I will see how it goes May 18th.

Best wishes, prayers, and hugs to you and your son. I'm glad you were able to find another doc.

In the rural area where I live, there are more medicaid patients and Medicare patients than those who have private ins. We have had private ins, but often end up paying many many times more than those that have NO form of ins. In our town, the hospital actually calls every ins co before you come in to register for any tests, surgery, etc, and see if you have met the deductible, and what % you would owe of the balance of the bill They tell every OB that is not Medicaid (maybe 15%) and tell them if they will pay cash now before they deliver they will take off 40% of the amount they actuallyowe. IF somebody has no ins. they setlle for much less. I overheard them tell somebody there total was $489, but they would setlle for $179. SOmehow this is not quite fair to those of us who pay the big premiums, and then owe the deductible, and the co ins. PLUS they collect the amount paid by the ins. In additon, we are confined to the PPO of drs. that our ins. provides. I have never treated any patient differently. BUT there are lmits to medicaid patients most drs will see in their practice, UNLESS they are on salary from the institution they work. Medicare Medicaid patents, provide the same payment as Medicare and commercial ins. SO NO difference in the payment. Several years ago in ER we were to try and enroll all patients without ins in MC PLus. Set up within this program was the option that IF they worked somewhere Ins was available, but they could not afford it, and still live, then the state would pay for that ins, (cheaper than Medicaid picking up the whole tab) and give them Medicaid as a secondary ins. BUT medicaid never ends up paying in this situation, as everyother ins pays more than it. Charts used to be stamped Medicare and Medicaid so everyboyd knew, but thank goodness that doesn't happen anymore, so most nurses will not know that about any patients. ALL patients deserve respect, compassion, and the best care we can provide. There are so many stipulations in different institutions, and so many people that have Medicaid try to make sure they aren't treated differently by over compensating in their demands. Makes it hard on everyone. I just hope we all remember to treat out patients like we would like/expect to be treated.