I undoubtedly have the world's worst health insurance. (Just a rant)

**Kimberlina** · 03-13-2006, 12:03 PM

I need to have an in-office procedure done. They will only cover it AFTER a huge deductible, and then they will only cover PART of it. The deductible costs more than the procedure.

IF I were to have it done in the OR at the hospital where I work, at TEN TIMES the cost it would be in the office, they will cover it 100%.

And I pay these yahoos almost $100 a week- in one month, I pay them more than the procedure will cost.

I HATE my insurance.

Really. I do.

And I can't switch to another one until next year.

This is the same insurance that told me DD's surgery would be covered in full- it wasn't. Today they told me they made a mistake and it will be paid, but I won't hold my breath.

**littlemotherhaywood** · 03-13-2006, 12:23 PM

That sucks, but I know how you feel. We just got a $3500 bill we weren't expecting from my surgery in January. We're spending almost what our deductible is just for the ins. every month and apparently, it's only an 80/20 plan. I would try to explain to your doctor how the ins. wants to cover it and maybe they'll help you out.

**Darlene** · 03-13-2006, 12:28 PM

Sorry Kimberly, it's nutso. Hope everyone stays healthy and you don't have to deal with them after this.

**NoDebtMom** · 03-13-2006, 02:13 PM

I feel your pain.
It's out of control. Our premiums rise every year and the coverage plummets.. We have co-pays out the wazoo that we never had before. Good luck.

**justmeD** · 03-13-2006, 02:25 PM

oh Sheesh- do you have Humana? they are the worst!

I've been in and out of hospitals the past month and a half, thank goodness I have a great insurance with a 500.00 deductible. Can you up your deductible?

**Emerald_Mommy** · 03-13-2006, 02:28 PM

I know it's no consolation but I hate ours too!

**midwestgal** · 03-13-2006, 03:12 PM

The health care system is in a shambles! I sympathize completely. Ours is horrid too. In the past 6 years, we have paid at least $40,000 for co-pays in addition to ghastly monthly premiums! But stay healthy. That's the most important thing!

**bevjean** · 03-13-2006, 04:05 PM

Ours stinks also. We pay horrible monthly payments, and we don't even have the kids on the play (they are on the state CHIPS program). Our deductible is now $600 for each of us (it went up since last year) . After that they pay 80% until we reach $2500 (each) That's probably gone up also, not sure yet, then they pay 100% (as long as you stay in network. That really stunk last year I had to switch gyn's (and I really felt comfortable with the one I had). I have been avoiding going to the dr because I don't want to fork out $600 anytime soon.

**Telephus44** · 03-13-2006, 07:25 PM

Wow - this makes me really greatful for my health insurance. They cover just about everything and I have a maximum $1000 per year out of pocket for anything.

**momof42003** · 03-13-2006, 08:25 PM

I too have great insurance... I am sorry for all the pain that it is to get simple procedures done... Just think, this time next year hopefully this won't be a problem with new insurance... I am blessed to have the insurance I have and I know that.. I hate using it sometimes because I feel I don't pay enough.. We pay 60.00 a month for the family with no deductable and almost everything is covered.. I would absolutely HATE having a deductable.. I hope you and your family remain healthy, and that things go well with your procedure....

**madhen** · 03-13-2006, 09:05 PM

Maybe you can figure out a way to have it done at the hospital?

I would have argued who had the worst insurance a few years ago, when I had Kaiser, but I switched to a new carrier, and I've been pretty happy with it. Kaiser doctors mis-diagnosed my endometriosis for about a year, insisting I had IBS, even though I told them my older sister has endo, and I could actually see the lump from one of my cysts poking out through my groin area. It was so big, I had to go up one pant's size to get around it. When I pointed it out to the doctor, he told me it was undigested food and scheduled me for IBS counseling. I went in for a second opinion the next day, and they scheduled me for emergency surgery to remove an ovarian cyst the size of a grapefruit. (They had to take the whole thing and most of my other ovary, thanks to the doctor taking a year to figure it out while these things grew.) Yes, it was great to just pay a $15 co-pay for my oopherectomy and three days in the hospital, but I would have rather not had to have had the surgery at all!!

They are also the ones who, when I found a lump in my breast, told me to go on a no cheese, caffeine, coffee, and alcohol diet for six months to see if it would go away (no biopsy), then again scheduled emergency surgery when, after six months, it was still there.

They also told me I needed glasses for about six years, then told me I had perfect eyesight and asked me why I was wearing glasses. (I actually have better than 20/20.)

Finally, when I went in for what turned out to be whooping cough two years ago, it took them MONTHS to figure it out, and they only kept trying because every time they told me it was something else, I would say, "prove it," and they would try and find out it wasn't that at all. (I can't even recall all the things they told me I had and the prescriptions they wanted to put me on.) I had one doctor insisting I had to get rid of my parrots (who I have had for ten years) because he said I was reacting to their feathers. (Can't recall the name of the disease. It is called pigeon keeper's syndrome, I think.) I told him I absolutely would not, and again told him that if he could prove it was my parrots, I would take measures to reduce my exposure to their dander. We argued about it for over a week, and he finally scheduled the blood test, to prove me wrong, which came back negative. It wasn't my parrots after all. Only after that did they run more tests and find the killed pertussis in my system. My immunization from childhood had worn off, and I had contracted whooping cough, then gotten over it, so I am now naturally immune to it! Thanks, Kaiser!

It was after that little episode (and me missing about two months of work because I was in too much pain from the coughing and some really nasty upper back seizures to drive) that I decided it was time to change insurance carriers. Now I have one that allows me to go to a private doctor of my choosing. Yes, I pay a little more for visits and prescriptions, but the peace of mind is more than worth it!