Weddingbee boards

I'm relatively healthy, so I'm not at the doctor much.  Recently, I ran out of my daily prescription and they wouldn't refill it unless I came in and saw the doctor.  I have been taking the same presciption for over a year, why do I need to spend the money to go to the doctor?  Its $35 dollars to just step in the office, then another $35 copay to see the doctor, and then whatever else the doctor decides to do.  I then had a yeast infection and called the doctor for the oral mediction.  Guess what, they wouldn't give me the medication unless I came in.  Another $35 dollars for the doctor's office and whatever they charge to do the lab work. I've had yeast infections before...I know I had one, just give me the medication.  Then today, my contact order was cancelled, because my eye doctor told visiondirect that my prescription had expired.  I had ordered one box to hold me over until next year.  My vision insurance doesn't kick in until next year; I'm pretty sure one box of contacts won't hurt me.  Ugh.  Eye doctor, another expense.

Something needs to be done about healthcare costs.   They are getting riduculous.

The ob/gyn had to do a colopscopy on me in August...it was over $600 just for that portion.  Not to mention the cost of the second abnormal pap before the colop. and the lab costs and the person to read the lab results.

Ridiculous!

@LGenz:Ha, I cancelled my ob/gyn appointment and waited to call back the day after Thanksgiving.  There were no appointments available, so they had no choice to write me a prescription to get me through the weekend.  Guess what...I'm feeling a lot better. down there and feeling good I didn't have to spend the money to go to the doctor.  LOL!

@Mrs.KMM:My primary care physican is part of the Cleveland Clinic.  Cleveland Clinic has a wonky billing system.  They bill doctor's appointments as outpatient services, so you get charged a $35 dollar facility fee just to walk into the office; this is not covered by my insurance and in addition to my copay.  And then, I've had doctors ask me if anything was wrong other than what I came in for, and they charge me an extra copay amount.  Wonderful.  I ususally switch doctors.

@LGenz: As someone whose had two eye procedures in two years, eye appointments are especially important. Your eye can change every year in subtle ways that need to be addressed. I actually like the law/rule that it's in place to ensure that you're taking the best care of your eyes as possible. I still owe $200 on my last eye procedure. I'm okay with paying for it knowing that I received the best care I needed for my eyes.

I think alot of the costs comes from high amounts of malpractice insurance doctors have to carry in the US, since everyone sues.

@LGenz: I don't have eye insurance, so I pay everything out of pocket for my exams and lenses. Thankfully, my procedures have been covered by insurance.

@Baby_Diva:I've been charged a contact fitting fee every single time the eye doctor writes me a contact prescription.  My FI gets charged too, but he fights with the office until they remove the charge.

@coffeegal85: What another copay if you have a second problem?!?  Sometimes I'll ask questions about things- They would have to charge me like 4 copays.

I used to get yeast infections every month with my period. Every month, I'd start itching, so I knew to carry around a pad or tampon. And being a student, I can go to student health as many times as I'd like, fo freeee, but I had to get a test done, each month. well.. Finally I called and was like, I know you're going to stick this little wire brush up in my vag. Can you just write me the script for a year? Plllleeeeaaaassssseeeeee? and they did. 

But yeah, it's outrageous. I went into the dr (pt 1st/urgent care if you're not in the area) and it was a normal $35 copay, and I get my scripts there, because it's easier. And because the lady didn't believe that my ears were infected, "if you start getting dizzy, weezing, or your ears start hurting, come back" AKA I'm not giving you exactly what you'll need so we can charge you another $35 dollars AND Bill your insurance. When I went back in, I was livid. Because in 2 days I started weezing. They wanted to do chest x-rays for pneumonia. AGAIN.

Sorry, but yearly exams are necessary. There are laws in place preventing doctors from extending prescriptions without a recent exam (1yr). They are just trying to cover there asses in case some problem does arise and they dont catch it early because they haven't examined you in years.

@artbee:Its not like I haven't been to the doctor in a year...its just been that I haven't seen my general practioner in a year.  I usually just go to urgent care when I'm not feeling well, because doctors work business hours and I need to go to work. 

I also know my body well enough to know when I have an yeast infection.  If I've never had one before, I understand going into the doctor, but I have had many.  It sucks.

@artbee: agree.  There are reasons why many medications are only available with a prescription.  Any medication can cause serious problems if it is used incorrectly.  Even when someone swears they have had several UTIs/yeast infections/sinus infections and know that's what it is, if I had a dollar for each time those people were wrong, I could buy a car.

ETA: I was agreeing with artbee the first time, and we replied at almost the exact time.  Your second response was exactly right.