Any of you in this boat: I'm healthy, but I'm also middle aged, and it's time I get some health

[Mike 03]

insurance.

I know I am.

I have not been sick enough to go to a doctor since the early 1990s. After that, I did see my doctor for an ekg (normal) and some beta blockers and new drugs for insomnia, which I had really bad.

Other than a fleeting contact, nine or so years ago, I have not found a doctor, and I desperately want to find one.

My community is small, and most of the doctors here have enormous waiting lists to get on them.

Practically speaking, I'm aware there is nothing anyone reading this thread can do, but if you have any advice or clues about how to get a General Practitioner, after years and years of not having one, it would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance

ON EDIT: Also, where do you even begin?

[Arugula Latte]

1. Are you in a rural area?

Is that why you can't find a doctor?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. yeah, that is me

damn it.. time to face the music

[Merlot]

3. I'm in the same place. Haven't seen a doc in years and have stayed

healthy. The one or two times I did have an issue, I picked up the yellow pages and called around. Since I don't have insurance I knew it was a matter of picking someone who was close by, could see me, and who I liked. Found someone very good.

Funny thing is, you know how you get yearly reminder cards for dental and physical exams? I remember getting those, but I guess since I don't have insurance, I never get them. Or maybe doc offices don't do that any more?

[DJ13]

4. My wife got sick last year, and we were in the same boat

Out of desperation I called a health clinic thats affiliated with our community hospital, and they've been great.

They charge $37.50 per visit, and she has the same doctor (wonderful guy) every time.

Maybe you have a local hospital in your area that has an affiliated clinic?

[rwheeler31]

5. Senator Sanders talks about community health

centers, you may be able to find a GP through them.

[1]

6. this is pretty much the problem with the whole "single payer" argument...

the yay-sayers are all adamant that our current health care system can handle an influx of those without insurance, those that are under insured, and those that do not generally go to a doctor for whatever reason. they argue on the "money" only aspect of the problem.

the money overhead of the insurance companies will more than cover all of the new folk flocking to request health care, dollar wise... they say.

(and i am absolutely not convinced of that at all, but that aside...)


the bigger problem, in my opinion, is that there are just not enough doctors and health care practitioners available to accept this new spurt of patients if all of a sudden health care is opened up for all.

i can't find a doctor now. unleash another 50 million uninsured into the mix, and add those millions that don't visit doctors now for their variety of reasons...

i'd love to see this "perfect health care" option happen. i just think the whole system would be overloaded and collapse.


but that's just my thinking. just my $0.02. don't jump into my shit for having doubts.

disagree if you will. but explain to me how this would work...

[handmade34]

11. solutions sometimes come with their own problems

I envision a different scenerio. I believe when people have access, preventative measures will be taken and although initially there will be craziness, the kinks will get worked out. Also part of the deal is more call for and easier access to education for future nurses and doctors.

[Atman]

13. You can't find a doctor now BECAUSE OF our insurance system

Doctors don't want you. There is no reason to take you on as a new patient, since they know your insurance company won't pay anywhere close to their regular rates. There are plenty of doctors and nurses. Just not enough stupid ones willing to work for pennies on the dollar as dictated by a giant for-profit company with no interest in health-care, merely in profits.

.

[handmade34]

7. move to small town in Vermont??

I was fortunate to live in Vermont while my kids were young, they are still there so I don't have to worry about them. As I have posted many times, I dropped my BCBS last year because I just got fed up with the incredibly insane insurance run health care. I am fast approaching 60 and know I am gambling but I refuse to pay anymore until there is universal care- for everyone. When I was in Vermont many of the nurses and the nurse practitioners were every bit as capable as the doctors. No answers as to how to find a doctor, except ask around and put yourself on a waiting list. No help, I know. I have studied herbology and alternative medicine most of my life and self medicate most of the time if I have a concern. My teaspoon of cayenne in tomato juice every morning keeps me up and going! Eat well and smile often.

BCBC lists all of their participating doctors and I suppose many would take new patients (w/o insurance)

http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/

http://doctor.webmd.com/physician_finder/home.aspx?sponsor=core

YELLOW PAGES

http://webapps.ama-assn.org/doctorfinder/html/patient.html -though I have little respect for the AMA

[izquierdista]

8. Begin with your travel agent

Outsource your health care to Mexico, the Caribbean, India, Thailand, or wherever else that good medical care is a fraction of the U.S. price and you have a hankering to go. Sure, you will have to worry about an emergency happening in the U.S., but for routine care, the savings will more than pay for the cost of travel.

[safeinOhio]

9. I have a lady doctor

she takes her time, listens and has small fingers.

[Warpy]

10. HMOs sucked up something like 95% of the docs in this town

so I stuck with a rheumatologist for years, nothing else. Then I had to take a course of a drug that makes people blind and found an ophthalmologist to keep an eye on the retinas.

The one doc I could never find was a GP. I had various parts parceled all over town, but no primary care physician, something that drove them all nuts.

Three years ago a local surgeon got sick of the HMO treadmill and opened up a storefront practice as a general physician.

At last. I now have a doc to go to for sprains and blood pressure pills.

I still can't get insurance. No one will touch me and the state plan of last resort doesn't list my primary illness.

Good luck on finding insurance. Good luck on finding a GP.

Health care in the USA sucks. It is hideously cruel, rationed by age, employment and wealth. I don't care what replaces it, it can only get better.

[Captain Hilts]

12. If you're buying it as an individual, it will cost you your hat and ass. nt

[Stephanie]

14. Where do you live? What kind of work do you do?

This is my insurance co:

http://www.freelancersunion.org/