Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Searching For A Doctor

I was going to title this post "I Hate Searching For A Doctor" but I decided it was too long. I'm feeling lazy. It was 94 degrees in my RV when I got home. Time to turn on the AC for a while and cool things off.

I need to find a new dermatologist. I had a nice one and I made an appointment in February. A few days before my appointment the office called to tell me that my insurance was no longer accepted. I checked my insurance provider list. She was still listed. I called the office back and asked, are you sure? They said yes, it just takes a while for insurance companies to update their lists. Bummer. That doctor was good.

Today I checked the list again. I found a doctor nearby. The phone was no longer in service. I tried another. I got an answering machine for some place that was not a doctor's office. I tried another place. Turned out to be the general hospital number. The woman told me that dermatology scheduling was being done by the cancer research center now. I checked the address. Ugh. It's way on the other side of town. Oh well. I called and finally got a human. It took her a while but she finally found my insurance on the list. Then she said the next available appointment was in JULY! They always say that. Then she asked what the appointment was for. Skin cancer, I say. Oh, she said, do you have a history of skin cancer or is does it run in your family? All of the above, I say. Well, then, she tells me to call another number so that they can schedule me for a quicker appointment. Ok, I call the number, no one answers, I leave a message, they don't call me back.

At least I have potentially located a new dermatologist who will accept my insurance. That's half of the battle right there. Now I just need that appointment. Too bad I can't go to the CVS Minute Clinic for skin cancer. I could just stroll in, point to a spot and say here, freeze this off for me please, then buy a candy bar and be on my way in 15 minutes. Way too easy I guess.

7 comments:

Over the Cubicle Wall said...

Find a good one, and I hope it isn't as serious as it sounds. I hate cancer.

Daizy said...

I had 2 spots in 2007. It cost me about $1500 to have them cut out but now I have a cool Harry Potter scar on my forehead. I hope I don't have another. That's a whole mortgage payment! Are my priorities totally whacked or what? :P

Debtfree2009 said...

Hope you find the right doctor. Skin cancer seems to run rampant in this area and having the right doctor makes all the difference.

Over the Cubicle Wall said...

The Harry Potter scar would be cool. Will your insurance pay for more of it this time?

Daizy said...

Debtfree2009, yes and growing up in Southern California didn't help either.

Overthecubicle, my insurance will pay but last time I still have to pay over $1000. I hope I won't have to pay that again but I probably will.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to gear about your skin cancer,and glad you founbd someone. FYI- we do freeze off warts. Thanks for displaying our brochure. Minute Clinic Nurse Practitoner

Daizy said...

Anonymous, minute clinics are great! I love them. I am so glad they were created. Keep up the good work! :)