The Adventures of me and my HMO

I've always had an HMO and up until yesterday, didn't really understand why people have PPOs. OK, sometimes it's a pain to get a referral, but it's not really a big deal. I just thought that people liked PPOs because they already had a doctor that they liked. I was wrong.

So I had a urinary tract infection last week, was put on antibiotics and I thought that was that. Wrong again. I worked Tuesday night and was woken Wednesday afternoon with the return of the UTI, I had some medication that helps with the symptoms so I took that with the intention of working that night then going to urgent care in the morning. I head over to urgent care after work, and I'm the only one in the waiting room! Whoo-hoo! I hand the receptionist my insurance card and she tells me that they can't see me until after 4 because of the contract they have with the partnership. I ask what I'm suppose to do, and she tells me I can go to my MD or to the ER. Great.

I go to my MDs office, which is just down the street. I get there, thinking they open at 8, the office is closed. I call and find out they open at 9. I'm starting to panic because I have to work that night and it's not looking like I'm going to make it to bed before 11. I call my insurance co, and tell them it's ridiculous that I can't go to urgent care since my MDs office is closed. We found a solution (or so I thought). I changed to an MD who doesn't have restrictions on urgent care and was given the address of the new urgent care. Drive there, 20 minutes away, and sign in.

The receptionist there tells me that I need a WRITTEN REFERRAL to go to urgent care. You have GOT to be kidding me. What is the point of going to urgent care if I need a referral? I might as well just go to my MDs office. I call the office, asking if I can just get a referral, they tell me no, but I can take an 11 o'clock appointment. "I guess I don't have a choice." was my bitchy reply. So frustrating! I call my boss, crying at this point and ask her what I can do. I called in last week and there is a limit as to how many sick calls you can have. She tells me not to worry about it, and to get myself better. I will need to show her proof that I went to the doctor. This lowers my stress level a little.

I drive all the way down to Newport and get in to see my new MD, who is the wife of one of the neonatalogists I work with. I get right in, give them a sample and she's in the room with me within 20 minutes. She's great, I'm not exaggerating, the best MD I've had. She's friendly, listens, offers good advice and acknowledges that some of the suggestions may not be realistic with my lifestyle. Writes me a script, tells me to call her if I need anything else and sends my on my way. I fill the script and decide since I'm so close to Sprinkles, I'll go get myself a cupcake. And that, of course, made my day better.

You all will learn about my cupcake obsession....