Friday, May 28, 2010

I am Frustrated

So awhile back I went and saw my Primary Care Manager(doctor). I was having some problems with my knee. I also wanted a referral to go see an OB/GYN. My PCM ending up saying she would write me two referrals, one for Physical Therapy for my knee and the other so I could go see an OB. With TriWest insurance I have to have a referral to go anywhere besides my PCM. So I waited for my referrals to be sent in so I could set up appointments. I got my letter from TriWest in the mail authorizing my PT. But no letter about the OB. I waited. A week went by since receiving my PT referral and still no letter about the OB. I called my PCM office and talked to one of the girls in the referral department. She ho hummed and said she would resend the request...did she send it in the first place? I really wonder the way she was ho humming around the whole thing that maybe she forgot! So I wait another week. Yesterday I got my letter for the OB in the mail :) FINALLY. The letter states that I have been referred to the Naval Medical Center for treatment. Also on the letter it states that if I choose to have services provided by a civilian doctor that I will be financially responsible. I was not very happy about only being allowed to go to the Naval Medical Center for treatment. They separate their patients into groups of colors. And if you are not an officer, an officers wife or are not having a pregnancy with issues you are in a insignificant color group. I personally feel that they discriminate! But thats just me. But nonetheless I am grateful to finally have approval to go see and OB. So today I call the Naval Medical Center OB clinic and am told by the girl who answers the phone that they have no record of an authorization on file for me. She tells me I need to call another clinic. So I am transferred to another clinic who also inform me that there is no authorization on file for me. So I call TriWest, by this time I am getting emotional. The representative I speak with assures me that I have authorization to be seen and a letter just like mine was sent to the clinic. She gives me another number to call. I hang up and call that number, I am then transferred to the first lady I spoke with she again tells me there is no letter even after I explain that I just got off the phone with TriWest. She transfers me to another lady who tells me the same thing. By this time I am crying. I explain to this lady that I feel like I am getting the run around and no one feels like its their job to find out whats going on so I can get an appointment. She puts me on hold. After five minutes of hold music she comes back on the phone and tells me that they received the letter but they sent it back to TriWest suggesting that I see a civilian provider! By this time I am so frustrated and emotional that I just listen. I tell her Thank you and hang up. I don't understand whats going on and have no idea when I will be able to get an appointment. I am almost to the point where I am going to go see a OB on my own and pay for it out of my pocket (actually David's pocket). I really just want to go see someone so I can figure out whats wrong and hopefully get the help I need so that David and I can have a baby! That's all I want is to be able to have a baby and no seems willing to help me!

3 comments:

*Aliese* said...

Yuck, yuck, and more yuck. I absolutely LOATH anything which requires me to rely on others for this very reason. So sorry that the frustrating run around is happening! It's definitely not fun. And, not to mention, HORRIBLE PR for the Navy. They should treat their patients better.

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry they are giving you the run around, that is so frustrating! I hope everything works out for you!

Amberdawn said...

Craziness! But on a funny note, when you said they separate their patients into color, I was thinking Asian, Hispanic, African, European. Hehehehhe.