This week I found out that the doctor’s office where my primary care doctor practices is going private. To be honest, this is the first time I have ever had this happen. They offered all of the current patient’s the option to stay with the practice – at a cost. So for $90 a month, I can stay with my doc, get his cell phone number for after hours questions, unlimited visits with no co-pays or deductibles, “unhurried appointments that start on time”, and a bunch of other “perks”. While this sounds great, I still have to pay my monthly insurance in case I need to go to ER or have a hospital stay. Bottom line: it’s gonna cost me more money.
I think the hardest part about this is the fact that I finally found a doctor I like. He’s Italian (we’ve talked about Italy and Sicily often). He listens to me. He doesn’t rush me. He is honest. I trust him. I’ve really only had a few doctors where I felt like this. Now, because the entire practice is going private, I have to begin a new search for a doctor!
Finding the right “doc” should be an easy task, right? Well, it really isn’t for me. Because I work an hour and 15 minutes from home, AND work for a health system, I have to take the insurance provided by them. I have to use doctors that are affiliated with the health system. This is not really a big deal. What makes it difficult is that the closest practices are about 30-50 minutes south of where I live.
Not only do I have to find a new doctor for me, but the new doctor has to be one that I can take the boys to as well. The options keep getting fewer and fewer, especially since there are only a few practices in that area.
The old doctor will see me through the end of December. So I have about 2 months to research, visit, and make a choice. Oh, and amidst all of that, it is time for open enrollment and there are all kinds of changes in that too that I need to look at and consider.
Why must health care and insurance be such a major pain in the ass?! Urgh! I am really hating that my doctor’s office is doing this!! I understand why, though. I mean, really, if I were a doctor and could avoid all the insurance company bullshit, I’d do it too! It’s just very frustrating and unfair to the patients who are established. To assume that a patient can afford an extra $1100 a year on top of what they already pay for insurance really sucks!
It is no secret that in many cases all it would take is one major medical emergency to put a family into financial distress! Hell, one ER visit with my son, at the health system I work for cost me over $800! He wasn’t even admitted! Health care costs are astronomical (not to mention pharmaceutical costs)!
So the search is on … I have a short time to interview, research and make the decision on my new doc. I am loathing ever damn second of it. Who is the right Doc??
Doc Bricker?
Doc Brown?
Doc Severinsen?!?!
Doctor Howard? Doctor Fine? Doctor Howard?
Dr. Van Helsing??
Dr. Nick?!?
Gratuitous Grey’s Anatomy photo (cause my wife loves that show)
Doctor McSteamer? McSteaming? Or McDreamy? Whatever the hell they call him?!?!
Wish me luck … I am NOT looking forward to this at all ….
BLOG ADDITION!!!
My brother read this blog and reminded me that there are many other doctor options that I forgot. So, here are a few more I will look into:
Dr. David Banner – although his temper may be an issue.
Dr. Samuel Beckett – though he is often in and out
Dr. Bombay – he’s magical!
Dr. Frasier Crane and Dr. Niles Crane – they are crazy fun!
Dr. John Watson – The game is afoot!
Dr. Rumack – I am serious!
Dr. Honeydew and his faithful companion, Beaker.
Dr. Richard Kimble – although he’s on the lamb
Dr. Bob Hartley
Another Dr. Bob …
Dr. Zhivago
Dr. Zaius
Dr. Strangelove
Dr. Fu Manchu
The Family Practice of Dr. Jones and Dr. Jones
Dr. Frankenstein – it’s not pronounced how it looks.
Dr. Cockroach – he creeps me out a bit
These doctors!
Dr. Spaceman – not pronounced how it looks either!
Dr. Teeth – I have all his albums!
Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz – He has his own jingle and nemesis.
With all of those wonderful choices …. I may just go with the Dr. I can relate to the most … perhaps you have heard of him….
Dr. Johnny Fever!
Thanks to my brother for reminding me that I have many more options … LOL!
Various Ramblings of a Nostalgic Italian 
I agree, a real good doctor is hard to find. I’m sorry for your troubles.
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Thanks, Kenneth! I’m not one who likes change, but I will search for the next doc.
Thanks for reading!
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So glad you included Dr. Bricker! You know if the Love Boat had him – he had to be good. 🙂
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I am going to add some bonus doctors at the end …. 🙂
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You forgot…Doctor Who! He is the alien to see.
My work insurance is awful and costs a fortune…I do have a good doctor though that I’ve been going to for 10-15 years. Good luck
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I did indeed forget him….so many of them though!! Lol
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