[Naynay99]

So i went on my insurance company's website, I was considering finally looking for a new pdoc.
I put in my insurance type (PPO), clicked type of doctor(psychiatrist), didn't even put in amy location or distance filters, and clicked the "accepting new patients" box and there were......wait for it.....
ZERO doctors that came up.

WTF???

So i repeated the exact same search but this time I unclicked the accepting new patients box and now I got 1500 psychiatrists...

Are you fxcking kidding me?!

Well, if that doesn't reflect on the shatty state of mental health care in my state I don't know what does. I was considering going out of network but I can't afford, well really anything right now, to have to pay up front. And I know myself, if i have to submit the forms myself it won't get done. That sort of stuff absolutely overwhelms me.
Besides, there is the small fact that I actually HAVE ****ING INSURANCE! Insurance i pay dearly for may i add, as every year the amount we have had to contribute has gone up, so that i actually take home less $ in pay at the same job than i did 5 years ago!!!

WTF. I give up.
The current state of insurance and healthcare in America is absolutely disgusting, no wonder psychiatrists are opting out of taking insurance.
I guess i am stuck with my ahole pdoc, afterall.

**** all of this. I am so done.

Just a guess, but... maybe the database hasn't been updated? Or maybe some of the psychiatrists don't update their information in that database... ever?

I tried doing the same search as you did when I first sought help, but I wasn't pleased with the results. Then I looked at a bunch of counseling office things. I ultimately found a psychiatrist there, even tho there was nothing suggesting that they were accepting new patients. The office basically hooked me up with a random psychiatrist who was willing to squeeze me in (which was better than nothing). So that's an avenue you could pursue... except you could request a specific dr if you've done research. Sometimes when you ask, they'll be willing to squeeze you in. Or you could just pick a dr you really like (if you don't want one at a counseling office thing) and ask them directly, but i had more luck with offices for some reason. idk.

edit: sorry, word vomit lol

Two questions:

1. Do you have an EAP for your employer (Employee Assistance Plan - no this is not your insurance this is a support and resources program most companies have - though fail to inform their staff about); and
2. Are you able to get a referral from your family doctor?

[Naynay99]

bluebicyle- im sure you are right about it not being updated.
As in the past, drs who are listed as taking new patients really were not, or they didnt even exist at the phone # given, etc.

Im just frustrated...

and i dont really have any ideas of who to call that doesnt suck.
I am rather close to just saying fxck it to the whole thing. quitting my current pdoc and T and meds and just taking up yoga and eating vegan instead. seems just as much like bs to me at the moment...

ok, i know i am being ridiculous here, but the urge to solve the problem of a burning pan in the kitchen by burning down the entire house is starting to make sense to me....

Im just very frustrated and feeling completely alone and broken at the moment.
im pretty sure rational thought will return when i stop being so pissed off.
sorry for the whiny post.

[Victoria'smom]

I would call your insurance and ask. Tell them you couldn't find anything on their site.

[Naynay99]

justafriend- i think we have an EAP, but i dont think i would trust it being confidential.

I could probably get a referral from my pcp, who is actually a specialist, but he is in another state over an hour away from me, so the chances they would take my insurance out of state is unlikely.
maybe i will ask him next time i see him anyhow, and see what he comes up with.

[Naynay99]

yeah, i think i will need to syke myself up a bit before i call up the insurance company.
a friend told me if they cant find you a doctor in network within an hour of where you live, they are supposed to cover an out of network doctor. idk if thats true or not.

and i do have a pdoc. i just dont like him. thats probably not a good enough reason for them. i dont know.
will think on this when i am calmer and feeling more sane.
thanks for the suggestions.

Originally Posted by Naynay99

bluebicyle- im sure you are right about it not being updated.
As in the past, drs who are listed as taking new patients really were not, or they didnt even exist at the phone # given, etc.

Im just frustrated...

and i dont really have any ideas of who to call that doesnt suck.
I am rather close to just saying fxck it to the whole thing. quitting my current pdoc and T and meds and just taking up yoga and eating vegan instead. seems just as much like bs to me at the moment...

ok, i know i am being ridiculous here, but the urge to solve the problem of a burning pan in the kitchen by burning down the entire house is starting to make sense to me....

Im just very frustrated and feeling completely alone and broken at the moment.
im pretty sure rational thought will return when i stop being so pissed off.
sorry for the whiny post.

Hmm... just some ideas:

If you like your T and you trust him/her a lot, you could ask him/her for recommendations. I'm sure a lot of T's are "in the know" about pdocs.

If you don't like your T either, then: https://psychcentral.com/find-help/

You could also contact your Primary Care Doctor. I'm sure he or she does referrals all the time.

Or you could check your local State Psychiatric Society. Here is NJ's (I think you're in NJ?): New Jersey Psychiatric Association

[gina_re]

If you don't like your doctor, I would switch too. I mean, you're paying for it, after all. But it is a pain to find new doctors. It's why I have been out of therapy for so long. Trying to find one where I live and takes my insurance... It's a bit overwhelming, but I had to just make those phone calls one day to see who takes new patients and my insurance. I had my list and I crossed off what I needed to. I made appointments with those that were able to accept me and then went back and cancelled the ones I felt like weren't a good fit. It's a pain, but once you do it, it's over and done with. And I now have a T that I LOVE! Good luck, and let me know if you need help.

[~Christina]

If there is no openings for an appt with a "reasonable "wait time using you're insurance, you're insurance has to pay for an out of network provider.

Sweeky wheel gets the oil , Yanno !

[Naynay99]

hey. thanks for the ideas. i appreciate it.
yeah, i think maybe i will start with asking my T. i honestly sort of wanted to start from scratch with a new everything, but that's probably me being impulsive.

Maybe this coming week i will feel like i can really look and make those phone calls and all that, attempting to find a new pdoc. That should be priority 1. if no success than i will contact my insurance company and see what they can do...

i am really bad at making phone calls in the best of conditions. it is enough to cut that thin rope i am sometimes hanging from.
anyway, thanks for the suggestions and support.

i was outside shoveling for 2 1/2 hours just to unbury my car, which sucks, but i think the rage i was feeling made the first hour of shoveling go by pretty fast and easy. After that i had to deal with the road snow, which almost made me give up. but i am still here. freezing cold, but here.