Careless Healthcare

I've always respected what healthcare workers do, and I will continue you to do so. The mother of my children is a RN and so are many of my relatives and friends. That being said, I have an enormous frustration with healthcare in whole. Some individuals shine and make the world a better place, actually trying to help and pretending to care about their patients, then sadly, sometimes under the same roof others do nothing but point fingers, belittle, and make the experience one you could wish you could forget. This doesn't just happen within office buildings, it happens in networks, hospitals, insurance companies, insurance providers, etc.

---

Oh, where to proceed.... Well will start from the top first I suppose, back in January, I applied for Medicaid for myself as well as my 5 children. I've been meaning to do it for myself for a little while and it was the middle of the sick season, and they failed to make the deadline for their mother's insurance so I figured I would do it. No big deal right, just something a parent should do for their kids. It took less than 5 minutes to apply and got email determination within 48 hours that we were all approved, GREAT! About 10 days later I get the actual mail-sent copy of the information. Here's where it starts to get fun.... Said letter informs me that I have insurance for the entire year, but because I did the right thing and told the truth that the kids don't live with me full time, they only have insurance until the end of January, which by this time gives them 16 days of actually having insurance. Mom has to put insurance on them, I'm assuming because of the Friend of the Court stuff, so fast forward to last week now. I receive a letter in the mail from MDHHS stating that the kids actually had insurance from February 1st until March 31st (15 days away from when I received notification), mind you that I tried using their Medicaid multiple times in February when a different kid was sick every weekend they came over and got told they had no insurance and had to pay $165 dollars out of pocket each time.

---

With that being said, somehow this week while the kids have been on spring break and my work is closed for the week, I have made 5 kids dentist appointments with their insurance, glasses and eye exam for one, surgery for a deviated septum started rolling and vaccinations caught up. I've been busy to say the least. This is my next healthcare rant. The receptionists at the clinic I got the kids into have been amazing, they were informed of my recent insurance problems and got all my kids in on short notice within the time frame before insurance runs out again. The hygienist was super nice, especially since for the 3 youngest, it was their first dental visit. I saw a range of doctors, one was super nice, but another just treated me with total disrespect after me explaining the insurance debacle and the struggle to get the kids to doctor unless I'm the one taking them, explaining how I just got my license back, got my own apartment so I was able to see my children, and so on. Acting like I'm neglecting my kids or a bad parent. I had to shut that shit down right away and told her "Listen, I know they need work and have but I'm here now, with insurance, trying, so we can move on and fix my children, or I'll go somewhere else." I just got so offended, I just don't understand how a whole office building can be so nice and then allow one employee treat people that way. I know it's a Medicaid dentist and they probably don't always have the best of patients, but regardless, you're getting guaranteed money from the government for me showing up, the least you could do is take my money with a smile.

---

Okay, so needless to say she scheduled the appointments and my kid's treatment plan is set, almost. Back to the ongoing struggle. Insurance! Obviously, all of these oral surgeons, pediatric dentistry, and plastic surgery are all things that can't be done in the next 4 days, so the struggle continues. Tried calling to speak to a live person at MDHHS, I don't think they exist. Running out of options, so if anyone has any ideas, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. Thanks for letting me rant. Until next time....