OK - its HMO gripe time. I can't get see my new therapist, nor any other

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

in my area. I don't have a car - I opt for mass transit - it's burned into me from my college days in Manhattan. Well here in CT it ain't so easy.

So it turns out that the licensed drug/alcohol therapist who has been so highly recommended to me is NOT in my companies health plan because mental services is handled by some whack 3rd party company. The robot women on their phone service told me he wasn't in the network but she'd try to get a special agreement - fine I say - whew, glad that's solved.

*ring* I'm sorry your company allows no special agreement. I can give you someone about 10 miles away. (a - I walk everywhere and b - I don't want to pick a name from a hat). Well lets see what my out of network benifits are - "you have no out of network benifits".

So either this therapist joins their network or I pay out of pocket, which is not an option.

So I have no choices for licensed drug/alcohol therapy. I hate HMO's

Man Canada just keeps getting better and better looking

:mad:

[skooooo]

1. hold on there...

...everything I hear about Canada makes me think you wouldn't have any choice there either.

I sympathise with your plight, though. Good luck to you...

[zanana]

2. Try not to get too pissed.

I know it isn't easy; you must have alot of pent-up emotion right now. I went through the same thing 25 years ago. I still remember the feeling. I'll just tell you what people told me back then--don't sweat it. Just do what you can for the time being; maybe you could see the therapist they pick for you--for now. Y'know, just for today. Think about the rest later. Get pissed later. (I hope I'm not pissing you off with this advice; I don't mean to). I wish you the best. I'll be thinking about you and your struggle. Feel free to PM me.

[silverlib]

3. Thirty meetings in thirty days...

That's an old AA saying. It worked for my husband without therapy and it didn't cost a dime. People in these meetings know what they are doing. Therapy is great, but only if you can get it. You can do this - you want it, and that's the big hurdle. The rest is waiting for you behind the doors of an AA meeting. It's really strange to hear the words "grateful recovering alcoholic." And when you know how it's done, the most beautiful part is helping other people who are where you once were. Don't let the insurance company ruin your dreams.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

4. I'm not giving up I'm just pissed at this "managed care" bullshit

it sucks!