At the beginning of the month I posted about not being able to find a dentist that would fill a hole in my tooth. Remember? I have very little insurance coverage so it took me a week and numerous phone calls to finally get someone to look at my tooth and fix it. As it turned out, when I went to the dentist, I didn't have a hole in my tooth. She said it was nothing a good cleaning couldn't fix. Great! My insurance - Healthcare USA, issued by the State - covers x-rays and a cleaning at no cost to me. I made an appointment for today to return and have the cleaning done.
Between my initial appointment and today I made a few other phone calls to different dentists, ones that were a little closer in distance, to see if I could make the appointment with one of them and save myself the cost of gas. I don't remember how many places I called but every receptionist told me that they only take government insurance for kids and pregnant women. Huh? That doesn't make any sense but, whatever. So I kept my original appointment.
When I made the appointment I told the lady at the desk about my insurance. She 'okay'ed me. When I called yesterday to confirm the appointment I told her again about my insurance. She 'okay'ed me again and confirmed the appointment. All was well and I was getting the services recommended by the dentist.
I got up this morning, got gas, and drove across town to the dentist. I walked in, signed in and handed the receptionist my insurance card. She and the other woman behind the desk looked at my insurance card and asked if the appointment was for me. "Yes, it's for me. Why?" "Oh, we don't take this insurance for adults, only for kids." ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
I told them about my insurance twice and was 'okay'ed twice. As soon as I walk in they tell me they don't accept my insurance? I was ANGRY!! I looked directly at the lady holding my card, snatched it out of her hand, looked at the other lady, held my temper and said, "I guess if you don't have money you're not allowed to get dental care." Then I turned and walked out leaving them both standing there staring at me with their mouths agape.
My kids and I all have the exact same insurance. I'm allowed to keep them healthy, but I'm not allowed to keep myself healthy. I can take my kids to the doctor to get any medical services needed, at no cost to me. I can take them to the dentist and get any dental services needed at no cost to me. I can get medical for myself, for the time being, but I can't get any dental services for myself. Once my ex starts paying child support again I won't even qualify for insurance at all so I won't have medical at that point either. I'll have to go back to the clinic and pay on a sliding scale. If I don't have the $25 in hand, I won't be seen by a doctor. The dentist at that clinic has a $40 up-front cost before I can be seen. A lot of poor people, like me, don't always have cash lying around because we're too busy paying bills and raising kids.
You'd think that people who decide to become dentists and doctors would actually give a shit about all people, not just the select few who can afford insurance coverage with cash left over to make the co-pays. Apparently they don't, though. With the exception of a very few, most doctors and dentists don't care about anyone who doesn't walk through the door with an insurance policy that will pay them $300 or more for a 20-minute visit/procedure. I know for a fact that they won't provide preventive services to any not-pregnant adult who can't pay, even if that person has insurance to cover the cost of said preventive treatment. Seems like the professionals are just focused on the money and kickbacks they receive from insurance and pharmaceutical companies. They don't really care about keeping poor people healthy regardless of what they tell you.
I'm so tired of having doctors and dentists tell me that I can't be seen because I don't have the right insurance coverage and no cash in the bank. As far as I'm concerned they're just a bunch of greedy, prejudicial assholes who work for themselves and don't give a shit about anyone who doesn't have thousands of dollars on hand. If they want me to believe they do care they can change their policies; maybe then I'll change my opinion of them. I highly doubt that will happen, though. The way I see it, they all suck, but because I'm poor, my opinion, much like myself, probably doesn't matter to them.
Until next time... peace to all.
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