Small Rant on Doctor Not Having Enough Staff

[DangerousD 77]

I would like to preface this with knowing I don't have much patience. However, right now I am so frustrated. I finally finished the last class that the doctor's office required of me. It was taught by my original dietitian. She said to call the insurance coordinator. I did that today and received a message that she only works MWF. What the...?! Keep in mind, every time I have gone to the doctor's office, it is busy with patients and there is always an hour wait at least. Also, when you call the insurance coordinator, you get a message about how she is really busy and not to leave multiple messages. If she is that busy, why don't they hire someone else to come in, or at the minimum, have her work 5 days a week???! I am not expecting to be approved tomorrow and realize there is a wait. However, if they require me to go to all these classes and pay for them, it would be nice to have someone actually there to submit my claim.

I know I am being a little snarky, but I am trying to get the surgery done by the end of the year to avoid paying another $5k deductible, And once it is approved, I don't know how long before they can schedule surgery. Even when I have asked them point blank how long it takes to schedule surgery once approved, they said it would depend, and wouldn't even give me a ball park estimate.

I am just so frustrated right now! Am I the only one that finds this whole process frustrating??!

[kathp 81]

I feel your pain.

Thankfully my experience wasn't similar, but I understand not wanting to have to fork out the money for the deductible again. The best you can do is follow their instructions and work out your frustrations at the gym instead of with food.

Kill them with kindness. It's easier to say than do, I know.

[MNMema 82]

I can assure you, you are not the only one!!! I am also frustrated but due to different reasons. If I had to wait an hour to see the doctor, I myself would consider changing doctors. By today's standards, that is unacceptable. If the insurance coordinator is with the bariatric clinic, then again, change clinics. As for your insurance. Be thankful that you have insurance that pays for WLS. My does not. If I only had to worry about paying $5000 as a deductible I would be on cloud nine!

The whole process is frustrating. I think most of it is from our expectations today. We want everything now. I am learning to be patient. You will too! We can't be impatient after surgery because it is just the vehicle for our success. The rest is up to us and it too may be a slower than expected result. Here is wishing you the best!

[Roo101769 742]

Yup- been there and done that. I actually have a blog about my experiences. And from the responses to the blog, we are not alone. The main thing I get out of this is the got us..They know we want this. They know we are excited and anxious. They also know shopping around is not always an option, ( because of insurance) and even if we could switch practices-what guarantee do we have that the new office won't be the same? There is definitely an overwhelming amount of dissatisfaction when it comes to the office procedures of most bariatric facilities. But, at the end of the day, we get there. I think of it in the terms of giving birth...There is a whole lot of pain and suffering that goes on in the "during" stage, but all is forgotten when the end result is so sweet!

[DangerousD 77]

Thanks guys for letting me vent. And I know I am lucky, MNMema to have surgery covered. It is just sometimes I feel like a trained poodle, jumping through hoops, and not even getting a bleeping treat.

[Cupcake 801]

ITS OK YOU CAN VENT ANYTIE YOU WANT TO WE ARE HERE FOR YOU AND UNDERSTAND.