DUers from ME/NJ/NY/VT/WA and also MA - healthcare survey

[GodlyDemocrat]

All of these states are guaranteed issue states. Massachusetts additionally mandates health insurance.

Which of these states are you from? How quickly are you able to see your primary care doctor? How about a specialist? How do you rate your health care? Do you have a government plan, a private plan, or are you uninsured? Please add any other comments you wish about your health care experiences.

Specifically, I want to know if the rumors are true that wait times are longer in these states because of these protections.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. New Jersey

I can see my primary care doctor the same day I call, or one of her partners.

My Ob-GYN to get an exam I only have to call a few weeks ahead of time. If there's an issue - same day.

My R.A. physician and Hematologists are at the top of their field and are recognized as such. Both were well worth the few weeks it took to get into see them for a first appointment.

My physicians - EXCELLENT. My Prescription Coverage (Medco) - is sub par. They fought my R.A. over a medication which is known to stop the disfiguring of A.S. and provide relief to the constant pain.

Private Plan (CIGNA) through my employer.


Other comments: I'm scared because my employer is switching to American General. They have a reputation for punishing people with chronic diseases. Keep in mind A.S. is driven mainly by people having a gene (which I have). There's NOTHING I could have done to prevent my Ankylosing. But I fear I will be punished for a gene I had no control over when we switch in January 2010.. . . .

[spartan61]

2. I live in Maine for part of the year.

My husband and I have the same primary care physician and have never had a problem trying to see her. Also, my husband has had a knee replacement and rotator cuff surgery. Again, no problem at all getting in with a specialist or having MRIs, ex-rays, etc. Even scheduling mammograms is no problem. We are both on Medicare and have private insurance for Medigap.

I don't know of any rumors about wait times being longer here. Who is saying this?? Let me guess.

[graywarrior]

3. I just got approved for Commonweath Care in MA

Won't get my card til the first of Sept, so I don't know how it's gonna work out. But, I could never get anything like this in NH. At least now, if I need surgery I can get it.

[handmade34]

4. I lived in Vermont for 20 years before

I was forced to work this job (on the road 100%). I still maintain my Vermont residency just because of health insurance. I cannot get it now because I voluntarily quit BSBC last December but I can tell anyone that Vermont's plan is fantastic! In my 20 years there, I never had a concern or problem connected with getting healthcare or paying for healthcare for myself or my children.

edit to say that wait times were NEVER a problem

I was never a huge fan of Howard Dean, but I have become one now and we should all look to him to lead this charge.

[City of Mills]

5. I live in MA

When I call my doctor, i'm typically seen within 3 days...was (and still am) having gastrointestinal distress for reasons unknown, felt maybe the doctors in Boston would have better luck figuring it out so I called a gastro specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and got an appointment within 3 weeks...they scheduled some tests and bloodwork, the usual stuff...after a few months of appointments and tests they weren't able to determine the cause of my discomfort; so on the bad side, I've lost time and copays pursuing this problem. Also felt followup for both my primary and Boston doctors was lousy, I had to call to get test results, information etc...neither seem very concerned with my problem but since the tests they have performed have come back normal, I really don't know what more they can do. On the plus side, all the tests were covered and I didn't have to call to get prior authorizations for anything. I work for the state and have a good insurance plan.

[lumpy]

6. Washington state. I am on Medicare with a low cost

supplemental policy,costing $35.00 mo. It was necessary for me to get this extra insurance, otherwise I would have been dropped from using the health providers at a clinic I have used for many years. This clinic no longer accepts Medicare patients, period. I understand that many Medicare patients have difficulty finding doctors who will accept Medicare. I was recently referred to clinical specialists in my city by my primary care doctor and was not accepted for treatment making it necessary for me to seek treatment in another city.
Our local hospital's emergency rooms are overflowing with patients who are without insurance or simply cannot get immediate treatment from their own medical providers. most of these people who use hospital emergency are socked with higher rates. At any rate local health care is a mess.
The bottom line, the medical profession has lost complete control of their industry to the insurance racket.