Would you switch all your family's drs if you could save $100 a month?

[Nicolepa]

We were in sort of a similar situation this year. Our company is changing it's program next year and it will become more expensive for us. But they offered us a pretty good bonus into our Medical Savings Account to switch over this year. My kids are pretty healthy, but things happen. We were going to switch over, but decided not to. It would take just one thing and it wouldn't have been worth it. Well, this has been one of those years.

This year my daughter has had hives that turned out to be a food allergy. 2 trips to the Dr. & 1 to the allergist.

Then my youngest got these bumps on the bottom of his feet and refused to walk on it. 1 trip to the ER & 1 to the pediatrician.

My daughter and oldest son got an unexplained rash (looked liked chicken pox). That was 2 trips to the dr to get figured out.

And lastly (and most $$), my daughter fell running w/the dog and broke her wrist. That was a trip to the ER, and at least 2 trips to the othopedic specialist (plus physical therapy).

So for this year (and it's only March), we've had 2 ER visits. 5 pediatrician visits. 1 orthopedic visit (with at least one more to go and probably physical therapy).

This doesn't inclue the fact that the Ped, goes to my Church so I was able to talk to her about my daughters allergies off the record. That would have been at least one more visit.

 

[disneycruising]

I would not change! Unless you absolutely can't afford it.

I wouldn't want to lose the doctors that we have spent many years getting to know: family doctor, ob/gyn, eye doctor, orthodontist, dentist, allergist, psychologist. For doctors that are not close and convent.

Our insurance cost us a small fortune every year! To me, heath care coverage is really important. But, I do have children with health issues; 2 DS with life threating food allergies & 1 DD with Aspergers. Plus another DD with no medical issues. It seems like I am always at the doctor with one of them.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

I wouldn't. We have a great ped that knows us, and knows our kids. He will do prescriptions over the phone - not for strep or anything that has to be tested for, but I have called for the baby who I KNEW had thrush. He gave me a script for him, AND one for me - saved me two co-pays. He also gives me samples of medications whenever we go in.

 

[traces7]

Thanks for all the responses! Helps to get someone else's input. We still have another week to decide if we want to switch. Now I'm thinking we should just stick with the drs. we have hear in our hometown.

 

[DawnM]

Given your situation, I would not.

20 miles away is crazy! I don't work right now, but even so, traveling that far to see anyone would be a problem.

Right now our regular doctor is 3 miles away, although for specialists we do have to go between 12-25 miles depending on who it is. Today we are actually going 13 miles away to see a specialist for my youngest.

Dawn

 

[luvmy3]

I would for myself but I would not switch my kids' doctor.

 

[StephMK]

I would not. Our ped office is only 2 miles away & I love being that close. I would not be happy driving so far if I had a sick child or didn't feel well myself. Sadly, we are not a 1x a year doc family though so we go in much more often.

We recently had the situation that our ped left the practice & moved to one about 10 mi away, 15-20 by car. At this point, while we love her, we chose not to follow her for the distance. I like the other docs & the staff in practice so for now, we're staying & seeing a new doc.

 

[auralia]

before i made the switch i'd call these other doctors im interested in and see if they are even taking on new patients..... where I am the docs on the cheaper plans are swamped and it's 2 plus months to get a regular appointment and you cant get a sick visit appointment at all you have to go to the er because there are no appointments available. if the appointment situation was good id consider switching if i knew the docs were of the same calibur.

 

[traces7]

before i made the switch i'd call these other doctors im interested in and see if they are even taking on new patients..... where I am the docs on the cheaper plans are swamped and it's 2 plus months to get a regular appointment and you cant get a sick visit appointment at all you have to go to the er because there are no appointments available. if the appointment situation was good id consider switching if i knew the docs were of the same calibur.

That's the thing, I've been to a couple of the drs. and hospital on this plan and it wasn't too easy to get an appointment. Also I wasn't real impressed with the drs. or the hospital. I'm thinking more and more of just staying with what we have and paying the extra, even though it will be tight.

 

[marie1203]

Doctors is not something I like to change around just because. If I meet the new Doctor and I like them, then maybe I would consider them.

 

[Lewisc]

You'll probably wind up having to take half a sick day or personal day a couple of times a year to see doctors. Fewer doctors have evening and Saturday appointments, at least where I live. You might wind up having to take time off from work to see your current doctors.

The 20 miles isn't the end of the world. The question is if the doctors, specialists and hospital are the same or better quality then what you have now.

I'd switch if I thought the doctors were at least as good as the ones available to me under my current plan. Research specialists like cardiologists. Are the cardiologists in the new plan good?

My answer would be different if this wasn't the budget board. Clearly you're looking for premium relief.

Is this plan also through your employer? You'll probably have a chance to switch back in a year if you don't like it. You can generally switch during an open enrollment period.

 

[traces7]

You'll probably wind up having to take half a sick day or personal day a couple of times a year to see doctors. Fewer doctors have evening and Saturday appointments, at least where I live. You might wind up having to take time off from work to see your current doctors.

The 20 miles isn't the end of the world. The question is if the doctors, specialists and hospital are the same or better quality then what you have now.

I'd switch if I thought the doctors were at least as good as the ones available to me under my current plan. Research specialists like cardiologists. Are the cardiologists in the new plan good?

My answer would be different if this wasn't the budget board. Clearly you're looking for premium relief.

Is this plan also through your employer? You'll probably have a chance to switch back in a year if you don't like it. You can generally switch during an open enrollment period.

Yes the plans are through my employer. The plan where we could go to our own doctors is $650 per month, the other with limited doctors is $560 a month. So, I guess it's really $90. The original thought was to switch to save a little money. I pay $550 a month now. And yes we could switch back next year at open enrollment (April 1). I'll have to research the doctors more. The ones I've been to on the cheaper plan, I wasn't too happy with.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Doctors is not something I like to change around just because. If I meet the new Doctor and I like them, then maybe I would consider them.

That's what I did. I'd been going to the same practice for over fifteen years, but their hours weren't particularly convenient; it was one doctor, two physician assistants, and one nurse practitioner; and while I'm not overly-sensitive, I'm positive one of the PAs didn't like me (on the other hand, I had excellent rapport with the other).

I called around and found a practice that could see me for a physical about eight months(!) later, so I made the appointment but kept calling. Around that time, I got a mailing from a relatively new practice - two physicians and a number of NPs. I forget what my issue was, but I made an appointment. I was satisfied with my treatment but not ready to change. A few months later, I broke a rib and was able to make a quick appointment with this same practice.

I switched. I'm happy. There are times they can see me before I'm ready - I work an odd schedule, and if I call in the morning they're willing to see me in the afternoon. They have evening and Saturday hours. I'd find out more about the workings of the new practice.

 

[amylevan]

Seeing as how I have to drive 20 min to get to Wal-mart - 20 miles is nothing new around here. My DS was in a NICU for 3 weeks at a hospital 45 min away....so I made the trip twice a day - once in the morning, came home in the afternoons and went back in the evenings with DH. It's not fun, but it's really not the end of the world.

So if the new doctors were good, I'd be saving the money and switching. But don't forget that the gas to get to the new doctors is going to cut into your savings.

 

[friend2Figment]

The distance would not matter to me really I live near 3 hospitals and they are all pretty close to the same distance to my house, about 15 min.
We love our Dr. and our kids love the ped. I am the only one who has ever been inpatient (when I gave birth). Now the ER is the other big reason we stay with the one we have we have a friend that is a nurse at the hospital we use( she is also a first responder in our town) and it is nice to know you are in good hands. My oldest DD was in the ER 2x in a month, both times she got hurt at school. I jokingly asked if they offered frequent visitor discounts? That was the same year my husband had 3 trips to the ER for broken foot, 5 broken ribs and pnumonia(sp?).

Have you talked with others that use the other Dr office? How good is your relationship with your current offices?
If it was $100 a pay check I might be tempted but our insurance now accepts all 3 hospitals.

 

[MinnieForMe]

There is NO way I would change for a $100 a month. Not only do I have a relationship with my doctors but I did research before picking each one. I feel it's very important to build a trusting relationship with your doctors especially if you ever get a serious illness.

 

[C.Ann]

Well - it's only me - but.. It has taken so many years to find doctors that actually understand my particular health issues; how violently ill I become from medications that 99.9% of the rest of the population can take with no problems at all; my gastro-intestinal system being thrown out of whack so easily; etc. - I would have to be down to zero amount of money before I would even consider a change..

I have the absolute best doctors now - have great relationships with them - and they are affiliated with the only 2 hospitals (one closer to here at DD's - one closer to my place at the lake) that I feel are safe, reliable, up to date on the latest procedures, and have excellent staff members..

So - no.. I wouldn't change to save $100.. There are certain areas where I draw a line in the sand - and this is one of them..

Good luck with your decision..

 

[amylynne01]

If I were in your sitution, it would really depend on the relationship between doctor and patient. My DH and I have the same doctor. However, he has seen him for a long time, and I've seen him once. So I would change in a heartbeat because I really don't feel one way or another for the guy, but my DH would not. I wouldn't change my girls' ped either mostly because I really like him. He's thorough, never super crowded in the office, and gives me the time I need.

However, if we were a family that visited more doctors more often, I wouldn't change. That $100 is worth the peace of mind knowing that your doctors know your history, your situation, and your plan for treatment.

The distance doesn't bother me at all. My girls' doc is in the next town over, so at least 10 miles from our home. DH's and my doctor and my OB/GYN are an hr away where we used to live. He goes once a year, and his doc does a lot over the phone because he knows we live far away. I go to the OB/GYN once a year, so not a big deal either. We choose to drive that far for what we consider good care. Our doctors are not in the preferred network for DH's health insurance, so our copays are slightly higher, but again since we go but once a year, it's better for us this way.

 

[PatsMom]

I don't think I would change to save $100 a month. I live out in the woods (literally) so it is twenty miles to anything so the distance wouldn't bother me. I drive over 30,000 miles a year now. There are no doctors in my hometown, nearest is about 10 miles at the hospital.

My current primary care is about 125 miles from where I live. I have been with her for 25 years and dread the day she might retire. Her practice has several other doctors and NP's, include one NP who is also a Certified Diabetes Educator. She just joined the practice and will be doing the routine follow ups for my diabetes, saving me four trips a year to the endo. Unless there is a problem that she thinks I need to see the endo for.

I also have cancer and my cancer doctor is affiliated with the same hospital as my primary and endo. Since they have electronic medical records, all information is updated for all doctors whenever I have tests done. This saves me a lot of time.

Between the diabetes, the cancer, the anemia, the arthritis, and the stomach ulcers, it would be just too much trouble to change. And even if I did change, specialists only come to the hospital near me once a week or so. Except for orthopedic doctors - being a ski area, we do have a few of those full time! But the local hospital would send me 80 miles away to Portland for the cancer treatments, etc.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Given your situation, I would not.

20 miles away is crazy! I don't work right now, but even so, traveling that far to see anyone would be a problem.

Right now our regular doctor is 3 miles away, although for specialists we do have to go between 12-25 miles depending on who it is. Today we are actually going 13 miles away to see a specialist for my youngest.

Dawn

Funny, I never even thought of the distance as an issue. We are about 20 miles from our PCP and hospital, and about 60 miles from DS' endocrinologist.

I would call some of the doctors you'd be able to switch to, and see about things like wait time for an appointment, any paperwork fees they have, and what sort of things they do in the office versus which they send you out for (do they draw their own labowrk? If not, you may have a separate copay for that. Same with xray)

Good luck