[spoiltmom]

I talked to my family dr today about my Pdoc. She suggested I find a new one. The one I see is a 170 mile round trip. Between my gas and copay I spend around 67.00 for each visit.

My family doctor said we have a new Pdoc that is right here in town. She said she is very good but she only takes cash. The first visit is $250 and then each visit after that starts at $125.

My insurance won't reimburse me for it until I meet my out of network deductible which is $1,000. So chances are if I go this route I'll be paying 100% and won't get reimbursed for any of it.

I called my Pdoc a couple of weeks ago and I was in a bad mixed state and needed help. He couldn't see me and he didn't even bother to return the message I left him. My family dr said that because of that she recommends I find someone new.

Would you do this cash or find someone that takes insurance? All the ones that take my insurance are a minimum 170 mile round trip.

[faerie_moon_x]

Prices like that are exactly why I don't have a pdoc.

If your insurance covers for a pdoc then you should find one that is covered. I agree you need a new one if your current one didn't even return your call at all, or at least forward it on to someone on-call if he was on vacation or something.

For me it comes down to what I can afford. I can't afford that tyep of money but I can't afford that type of gas either. So, it just is what you think is best for your budget, I guess.

[Doxie mom]

I pay out of pocket I pay $150 for half an hour I usually go once a month right now I am going twice a month while I am trying a new med. it is really expensive but I know it is worth it. I have to really tighten the belt right now.

[Eliza Jane]

I pay cash because otherwise it is really hard to get someone decent around here. There are pdoc's on my insurance, but they only will see you for 5 minutes and from what I have seen are not great doctors. I need 20-30 minutes at least and I want someone who will return a phone call (doesn't sound like too much to ask, I would think). I also feel that my medication needs are a little complex (not just a quick rx for Prozac) so I want someone good.

I don't have a lot of extra money, but i make it happen because when my meds are off, i have no quality of life.

Best,
EJ

[emgreen]

Originally Posted by dark_heart_x

Prices like that are exactly why I don't have a pdoc.

Just out of curiosity, do you get meds from a general practitioner (a possibility for you, spoiltmom?), or just go without meds?

Cash payer here. No insurance.

That's quite a good rate for a Pdoc from what I've seen. Trying to remember how insurance works .... after you've met your out-of-network deductible, do they cover at the same rate as an in-network, or is it a different rate?

How is your insurance regarding PMHNPs (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners)? That'd be something to look into. Their charges can be considerably less than Pdocs, and can do both therapy and meds management. (States have varying levels of prescriptive authority for NPs. At a quick glance --for focus eludes me tonight -- it looks like TX has the arrangement where they have an "overseeing" doctor, but yes, they do prescribe.) I can't remember atm if you do therapy or not, but in figuring your costs, PMHNPs can be like a "two-fer". If your insurance covers them, that's great, but even if they don't, you could run a cost comparison. Especially if you could have something closer by, it'd be worth your while. (170 miles?!!! Holy cannolis.) And that's to say nothing of the "service level" your current Pdoc seems to be providing... Or, um... not providing.

(I've got a PMHNP, and she's great. )

[Trippin2.0]

When I did have a pdoc, I paid cash because my health insurance only covered x amount of visits to a specialist... I know the currency is way different, but I was paying R450 per visit, which was a huge blow to my budget. Worth every penny though, I had a great first pdoc, it was the free one that wouldn't listen to me...

[spoiltmom]

My family doctor will continue prescribing my meds BUT only if a psychiatrist gets me stabilized first. Right now I'm not stabilized and my family doctor said what I really need is a good p doc that knows their stuff and will communicate with me.