I am sooo mad (vent)!!!

[kimwim8]

In May I went for a free hearing screening at a local gym b/c I know my hearing isn't what it should be (lots of infections as a kid, 3 ear surgeries, etc). The free screening showed significant hearing loss in my left ear & the woman performing the test suggested I show my primary dr. So I called my primary & he said "come in and see me". I went & he looked at the results & gave me a referral to an ENT dr. I went there & the ENT suggested a thorough hearing test (in a booth), which of course I had to schedule another appointment for.

I back to the ENT for the hearing test & it proved that I basically hear nothing out of my left ear. He wrote me up the paperwork stating that I am medically cleared for a hearing aid and recommended I go to a specific audiologist to try out the models.

I need a referral to go to the audiologist, so again I had to call my primary dr. They are now saying that the dr. needs to see me again since I haven't seen him since May. WHAT???

The referral process has never worked that way for me before. When I have seen a specialist, my primary dr. sends me for whatever tests or additional visits I needed.

Mind you, I pay a $20 co-pay per visit. I'm not trying to be cheap when it comes to my health, but doesn't it seem like my primary dr. only wants to see me to get money??? There is NOTHING he can do for me right now - I just need to go to the audiologist & get a hearing aid.

Sorry for the rambling on. This whole process has been really an emotional thing, as I am only 30 and need a hearing aid. But to have to struggle with a greedy doctor in the process just makes it worse.

I have set up the appointment with my primary for Monday morning. I plan on getting my referral, then giving him a piece of my mind, and pulling my records.

If anyone has made it this far, thanks for listening. Hopefully it'll all work out in the end.

 

[binny]

Im sorry medical stuff can be such a pain the butt!!!


Best wishes for you I hope you get it all cleared up!

Maybe a call back to the original doc and tell them that all you need is a refferal and that its nothing else.

Cant your ENT give a refferral?

 

[CEDmom]

I'm sorry you have to go through all this. If you like your primary Dr. I'd let him know what happened and see how he handles the situation before pulling your records. Many times policies are made by the office staff or even your insurance company and the dr doesn't know about them. On the other hand if you don't like him it might be the perfect time to look for a new dr. Good luck.

 

[Chicago526]

Sounds like you're doing a dance that I like to call the HMO Boogie!

Sorry for your troubles, I hope everything works out fine!

 

[mickeyboat]

Although hearing tests are covered under our insurance policy, hearing aids are not unless they are required as a result of an injury to the ear.

Check this out with your insurer before you get the aid to make sure all your ducks are in a row.

I am sorry you have to go through this. I hope it all works out for you.

Denae

 

[piglet too]

Sorry that you are getting such a run around on this. I too need hearing aids, but they are not covered by my insurance at all! I really hope yours are, and that you find it to be a great thing. I should have two, but even with the one it makes such a huge difference!

 

[kimwim8]

n

Maybe a call back to the original doc and tell them that all you need is a refferal and that its nothing else.

Actually I did just this afternoon, and my dr. was standing over the woman's shoulder, telling her what to tell me. And THAT is what got me so mad I had to post!!!! And they wouldn't back down, I have to go see them to get my referral.

Although hearing tests are covered under our insurance policy, hearing aids are not unless they are required as a result of an injury to the ear.

I know, this is what drives me nuts!! I already checked and the hearing aid is NOT covered under my insurance. But, in order to go look at the hearing aids, I need a referral?????

On the other hand if you don't like him it might be the perfect time to look for a new dr.

I actually liked the dr. before today. His office staff is NASTY, and I usually have to wait 2 hours before I get in a room to see him. But after today, and the way I am being treated, I'd much rather start over with another dr.

Thanks everyone for your responses!!

 

[piglet too]

Originally posted by kimwim8

I know, this is what drives me nuts!! I already checked and the hearing aid is NOT covered under my insurance. But, in order to go look at the hearing aids, I need a referral?????

Can you just go to a hearing aid place that you find in the phone book? I used to go to Sears and now I go to this guy who owns his own business.

 

[kimwim8]

Can you just go to a hearing aid place that you find in the phone book?

ohhhhh, what a good idea! I'm gonna call around now! Thanks!!!

 

[Doug123]

You might want to talk to your insurance plan as well. It might also have something in it requiring a mandatory return visit.

Upon your visit Monday, I would ask the doctor why specifically he needed to see you. There are certainly doctors out there that like to oversee everything, and forcing your return is an ego thing more than anything.

 

[marymrg]

It doesn't make sense since he is the one that referred you to the specialist to begin with. Now, isn't it up to the specialist to send you elsewhere, for the hearing aid? Call your insurance company as well.

 

[mom2grace]

Originally posted by kimwim8


I actually liked the dr. before today. His office staff is NASTY, and I usually have to wait 2 hours before I get in a room to see him. But after today, and the way I am being treated, I'd much rather start over with another dr.

Thanks everyone for your responses!! [/B]

2 HOURS???!!!! You must be kidding. It's time to find a new dr. and to let him (and his higher ups if he is not in private practice) know exactly why!

My family has a TON of hearing loss, I understand your pain at hearing aids so young!

 

[Amberle3]

I pay a $20 co-pay per visit

And here's where I really feel like an outsider.

I know what this is, because I don't live in a vacuum and I have friends in the US. But as a Canadian, I have never paid for a visit to my GP. I have no health care other than what the government gives us, so I pay for my dentist visits. I paid I think $35 for my eye exam about a year ago. I paid somewhere around $35-50 for "lab fees" each of the 2 times I had a mole removed. But I can't imagine having to pay each time I had to see my doctor.

 

[CEDmom]

That stinks about your dr. I'd be annoyed as well. If your insurance doesn't cover any of the hearing aid you might want to look into starting a health care spending account for next year. It would mean waiting until January to get the hearing aid so I don't know whether that's an option. However, having money taken from your paycheck pretax would probably end up saving you a good deal of money in the end.

Also, check if any places have a AAA discount. I know Lenscrafters does for glasses maybe someplace does for hearing aids. One final thing, Costco has hearing centers as well and I got some prices for my mom. She said they were really good compared to a lot of other stores. Again, good luck.

 

[kimwim8]

Ok, I called a hearing aid "store", and they said, if my hearing aid is not covered under my insurance, then I do not need a referral to come in and shop for a hearing aid.

So I called my insurance company as well, to verify this, and they said that is true.

I called my primary dr. back and cancelled the appointment for Monday. I'll think about it over the weekend, whether or not to pull my chart. I think I'll do a little research for another primary dr. first!!!

Poor DH is gonna get an earfull when he gets home tonight..he doesn't know anything about this yet!

Thanks again for all of the responses. I really appreciate your help!

Oh, and CEDmom - I do have a pre-tax medical spending account, but I didn't know about this expense, so I may end up waiting til January, depending on the price!