Most people who live with a chronic illness end up with a lot of experience when it comes to dealing with healthcare. How would you improve or change your healthcare experience? What would you like to see happening during medical visits with your healthcare team? How about when dealing with your health insurance companies? What's your Healthcare Wish List or Biggest Frustration? Today is the day to share it all.
(Yes.. this prompt was supposed to be yesterday's but life got hectic and I didn't get anything written. My goal is to catch up by tonight. We'll call it #BlogGoals.)
This is a LOADED question and I'm sure many have sounded off on insurance issues, physicians not listening issues, being rushed issues, and a number of other issues that just add to the frustration of living with a basically invisible disease.
How would I improve my healthcare experience? Other than not having to go ALL THE TIME, I would like to see more personal interaction. My endo's office is the perfect example. They all know me there... true, I'm there every three months for an appointment, and additionally once a month for our local networking group, but still. I feel welcomed, at home, and totally heard on everything. My doctor, herself, is always checking on me. Her first question each time is "How are YOU doing?". She doesn't ask about numbers, or insulin, or test strips, or anything traditionally diabetes related. She asks about ME. If there is even the slightest "eh" in my voice she puts everything down and we talk first. THAT, in and of itself, is huge in my book. It reminds me that I'm still human. I'm still a person. I'm not a disease.
Dealing with health insurance companies? That is a headache and a half. I've been blessed to have very good insurance coverage, but that doesn't mean there haven't been problems. Some of the carries I've had people have had MAJOR issues with, but mine seem to minor when looked at in comparison. I've had the "limiting test strips" battle and the "must switch insulin" battle. I've dealt with having to switch supply companies because the one I loved wasn't on the preferred panel of my new insurance. I've had supply companies be bought by someone else, and therefore their services and how they bill items change, which caused denials by my insurance. That was a battle that thankfully ended in my favor and not out of my wallet.
My Healthcare Wish List: my own parking spot (I'm there often enough), a prepaid Starbucks card for reward after my A1C is checked, and to be able to get what I need when I need it without any extra battles or exceptions.
