The state of the welfare state
May. 18th, 2005 10:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bronwynrhMy mymsn.com horoscope says I should see a doctor today. That's funny. Jeff and I decided last night that I should see a doctor today. *spooky*
See, I've had this snotty, coughing, headachey, fatigued-all-the-time THING for a month-plus now. In fact, I went to see a nurse practitioner about it 'round about a month ago. It flared up again about two and a half weeks ago and still hasn't gone away. I'm tired of it, Jeff's tired of it, we have a wedding to attend and it's time to see a doctor about it.
Mymsn.com agrees.
Apparently, the lady over at the Internal Medicine appointments desk didn't get the memo.
Back at the beginning of the year, this happened and it sucked. I couldn't pay the bill and I needed help. I hated having to ask for help, but rationalized that within the month I would be insured again, would be making money again, would be paying taxes through the nose again, and that all those things would make my asking for help just this once come out in the wash as fair and then some. Little did I know that asking for help did not mean that I would get help for the one $2100 bill. Oh no. State Papers, as they're called here in Iowa, run from July to July, which means that every time I incur a medical expense, it goes through my insurance first, then to the state. All I ever pay are prescription co-pays.
Sweet! you say?
Sure, if you like taking advantage. I don't particularly care to do that. Then again, the taxes around here are twice what they are at home in Kentucky or in Texas. So in a way, I'm still paying for it. And when I consider all the paycheck withholdings that have shrunk my income three times since I started here . . . I feel a little less bad about it too. It still grates on me, though, that I'm being forced to take hand outs that I didn't ask for.
So we come to this morning. I call the appointments desk to ask for an appointment with a physician regarding the monthlong cough and headache and periodic fevers.
"You're state papers"
Yes, I also have UIAccess insurance. . . And no, I'm Bronwyn.
"I'm transferring you to Care Management"
*click*
. . .
after which I get a recording telling me to leave my name, social and birthdate and they'll get back to me. Um. No.
I dial the appointments desk again. I just called (etc.) What was that?!?
"You're state papers"
No, I'm fully insured, see that on your screen? Now please answer my question: what's Care Management?
"It's for state papers"
Ok, we've established that. What is Care Management? Jeez, answer the fucking question.
"Well since you're on state papers you have to be referred to them to see if you can qualify to see a physician," she says, as if every state papers welfare abuser should KNOW this already.
Excuse me? I have full insurance coverage, for which I pay out of my paycheck every month. I just paid about $1500 in property taxes. I don't need permission from anyone to see a doctor. I didn't ask for the state of Iowa to dominate my medical life, and they didn't ask my permission to do so, nor did I give them such permission. I called for a doctor's appointment, and that's what I'm going to get. Now, what times do you have available today or tomorrow?
"Oh, yes ma'am. I'm sorry. We have appointments today at 1:50 and 2 o'clock. Which time will work for you?"
*boggle*
So the whole point of the exercise was, what? To make me feel like dirt because I have state papers? Whose brilliant idea was it to force people to take assistance from the government for an entire year when all the help they need may be for a week or a month? Or a DAY?!? What am I paying all these taxes for, anyway?
Helped my headache loads, thanks.
See, I've had this snotty, coughing, headachey, fatigued-all-the-time THING for a month-plus now. In fact, I went to see a nurse practitioner about it 'round about a month ago. It flared up again about two and a half weeks ago and still hasn't gone away. I'm tired of it, Jeff's tired of it, we have a wedding to attend and it's time to see a doctor about it.
Mymsn.com agrees.
Apparently, the lady over at the Internal Medicine appointments desk didn't get the memo.
Back at the beginning of the year, this happened and it sucked. I couldn't pay the bill and I needed help. I hated having to ask for help, but rationalized that within the month I would be insured again, would be making money again, would be paying taxes through the nose again, and that all those things would make my asking for help just this once come out in the wash as fair and then some. Little did I know that asking for help did not mean that I would get help for the one $2100 bill. Oh no. State Papers, as they're called here in Iowa, run from July to July, which means that every time I incur a medical expense, it goes through my insurance first, then to the state. All I ever pay are prescription co-pays.
Sweet! you say?
Sure, if you like taking advantage. I don't particularly care to do that. Then again, the taxes around here are twice what they are at home in Kentucky or in Texas. So in a way, I'm still paying for it. And when I consider all the paycheck withholdings that have shrunk my income three times since I started here . . . I feel a little less bad about it too. It still grates on me, though, that I'm being forced to take hand outs that I didn't ask for.
So we come to this morning. I call the appointments desk to ask for an appointment with a physician regarding the monthlong cough and headache and periodic fevers.
"You're state papers"
Yes, I also have UIAccess insurance. . . And no, I'm Bronwyn.
"I'm transferring you to Care Management"
*click*
. . .
after which I get a recording telling me to leave my name, social and birthdate and they'll get back to me. Um. No.
I dial the appointments desk again. I just called (etc.) What was that?!?
"You're state papers"
No, I'm fully insured, see that on your screen? Now please answer my question: what's Care Management?
"It's for state papers"
Ok, we've established that. What is Care Management? Jeez, answer the fucking question.
"Well since you're on state papers you have to be referred to them to see if you can qualify to see a physician," she says, as if every state papers welfare abuser should KNOW this already.
Excuse me? I have full insurance coverage, for which I pay out of my paycheck every month. I just paid about $1500 in property taxes. I don't need permission from anyone to see a doctor. I didn't ask for the state of Iowa to dominate my medical life, and they didn't ask my permission to do so, nor did I give them such permission. I called for a doctor's appointment, and that's what I'm going to get. Now, what times do you have available today or tomorrow?
"Oh, yes ma'am. I'm sorry. We have appointments today at 1:50 and 2 o'clock. Which time will work for you?"
*boggle*
So the whole point of the exercise was, what? To make me feel like dirt because I have state papers? Whose brilliant idea was it to force people to take assistance from the government for an entire year when all the help they need may be for a week or a month? Or a DAY?!? What am I paying all these taxes for, anyway?
Helped my headache loads, thanks.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: May 18th, 2005 04:36 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: May 18th, 2005 04:40 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: May 18th, 2005 08:19 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: May 18th, 2005 08:26 pm (UTC)The good vibes are always welcome. Thank you muchly.
(no subject)
Date: May 19th, 2005 04:14 am (UTC)It's when I get on something that I'm supposed to take for two weeks that it sucks. All the side effects with no punch, you see.
Hey, you're closer to being a medical doo-dad than I am. Here's hoping you get better soon, Bronwyn.
(PS: When does the boy start his job? Is he excited?)
(no subject)
Date: May 19th, 2005 09:24 pm (UTC)He'll be starting sometime next week. I think the excitement will really set in once he gets Ops Manuals in hand and is filling out paperwork. You know, when he's actually got his foot on the threshold. Now it's still just a future hypothetical feeling, I think.
I'm excited for him, though.
(no subject)
Date: May 19th, 2005 05:42 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: May 19th, 2005 09:22 pm (UTC)We'll miss each other entirely :(