On medicare and not a senior

Amen.

Right on. We don't deserve this attitude!

totally relate. the best

outstanding!

whats the point? I get no answers. My medicaid is on a inactive status...I need it for PSR treatment, group therapy and the meds that shuts up the voice that says kill yourself till it's ringing in my ears. I sent all the paper work in for the review. I did tell them about my diagnosis....after all that's why I got medicare and medicaid in the first place. If I cant afford my meds the voice will come back telling me to kill myself and I don't think I find an argument against it.

I got in touch with how I really felt about that eye doctor.

I cancelled my appt today (was supposed to follow up with some eye tests) because I realized that not only was I uncomfortable with his attitude about my Medicare, but also he had seemed impatient with me about my anxiety *ie about medical procedures*.

I want a doctor to be patient with me when I have questions or anxiety.

I will see if I can write to them or call them and tell them how I really feel and maybe things will improve. I will either need to change docs or things will be better between me and them.

I can't tolerate this attitude anymore.

I hold fast to the idea of patients deserving respect, compassion, and humane attitudes toward them. Very very fast.

We are living beings and we have feelings and when this kind of thing occurs, it HURTS. And we are hurting enough!

Carol

one more thing I want to ask them, "What kind of pic flashes thru your mind when you hear the word "Medicare" or "Medicaid"?

A senior citizen? A "loser" who doesn't work?

What?

Carol

Don't listen to that voice. It's evil.

I am so sorry about what is happening to you.

You hold on.

Carol

In case anyone wants to know what happened, I am bumping up my original post.

Carol

Now I wish I hadn't even joked. That was kind of a show of guilt, which I should have not done. I wish I had looked him in the eye and aske him, "Why do you ask me this question?"

Carol

I finally won my Disability case after a 2 1/2 year battle. I received my medicare card 3 weeks ago or so. Of course my Pdoc and T's office was a non issue as far as questions.
Yesterday I had to go to a walk in clinic due to a ear infection that caused my ear drum to rupture. The front desk person just smiled and made a copy of the card. The Nurse took my medical history and of course a list of my medications. She was polite, professional.
The Doctor came in gave me a exam and very gently checked my ear, He reviewed my medications for a possible interactions, Told me what medications he was faxing to the pharmacy.

Maybe I got lucky . I honestly don't really care if I am asked why I have medicare from a medical provider .. as in they need to know to provide me care.

I'm 46 so it's pretty obvious I am not a retired person.

I haven't had an issue. But I would feel really embarrassed if someone questioned why I was on Medicare. I am 32 and really REALLY young to be on Medicare.

Eventually though, I plan on working again full time and getting my life together. They are reviewing my case again in 2016 so I do have some time before I have to worry about it.

But I know I can't be on disability and medicare forever.

update:

Good news!

My eye doctor called me and wanted to talk to me and he apologized profusely for being so ignorant. I had some notes ready about Medicare and I actually educated the man! Yay!

I am also on medicaire because I have a disability, and i have been on it over 20 years because of it, and i'm 52, and not ashamed.

the doctor referred me to another one for an evaluation. Maybe one day my disability will be more defined with that. No more vague, "I don't know what it is..." if the neuro-optho diagnoses me with something physical, I can put these other ignorant, less apologetic drs to shame.

Carol

I am so proud of you!!!
I know we haven't talked in awhile but I do see your post here and there.
You really do deserve to give yourself a YaY!

To reply on your question about what to say to these ignorant doc.
You can ask them why they accept medicare patients but that may start the relationship off on the wrong leg. But you understand what I am saying.
Or you can direct them to your read your medical history or at least refer to notes. It is none of their business of why your medical insurance is what it is.
It is their obligation to treat you as any other patient.
And if they fail to do so that is discrimination.
Love/Hugs
Happiedasiy

Really you can ask them if it is essential knowledge that affects their ability to treat you.

If they say no, you can say, simply and politely "I would prefer not to discuss that" and just carry on with the appointment- don't act like it is awkward or you have done anything rude or inappropriate- because YOU HAVEN'T.

If they claim it is essential information for your care- that they know how you are qualified for medicare, and it is not simply that they are being snide or rude or nosey-, you can definitely ask how it affects their ability to treat you and continue from there.

Well, I have an appt on the 29th of aug. I plan to tell them about that "C1" thing. There is a letter after my claim number. I have a paper that I printed from the gov site. Not all medicare claimants are "primary wage earners". This experience made me and my eye doctor look things up.

thanks again,

Carol

BrokenNBeautiful I like your quote, I am here also as a sounding board, i like "listening " to help people out there on this site, it really helps me see my problems in a different perspective, and I'm happy to help others out if possible.

I am 28 and in the same situation. The way I figure, if I did not have medicare, I would not be able to get the medical help that I need. Embarrassing yes, but if it gets me the help I need, it is what it is. All the best.

Well, the appt did not work out. He did not know why I was there. I told him the eye doc referred me and he goes, "Why?"

It is a year later.

I asked my eye doctor to refer me again to that neuro doctor.

He did.

Now, today I am going and challenging his question "why?"

I will look him right in the eye and say, "Because my eye doctor referred me...and I want to know what's wrong with my optic nerves! So does my doctor!"

I pray I will not let him intimidate me again.

I go to the doctor for a reason, not just to have fun.

It took me a whole year to get over what happened.

Now I am ready to stand up for myself!

Carol

Well, I went. He was not very nice. But I did go and I will follow up with my eye doctor and see if we can push for a brain scan. he kind of brushed me off. He just confirmed what myself and the eye doctor already knew. pmmmpt (grimace).

Life goes on.

thanks sidestepper, for the thanks and hug.

Carol

I'm glad you went even if he didn't do much other than confirm. Hopefully your doctor will get that brain scan done. It's sad that we on medicare have to jump so many hoops just to get diagnosis.

At least my conscience is clear and I feel at peace that I finally got that appointment over with!

I am not sure what I will do next. I know I will at least speak to the eye doctor and follow up with him.

thanks,

Carol