Feeling Like a "Secondary Customer"

i am sorry they should do that at all,,,,

Well... I was raised in a Customer Service type setting. I always feel strongly about leaving problems and what-not at home, and to treat every single customer the same, with a warm smile, and try my best to make them feel comfortable.... so in my head, no matter the reason, it's wrong to treat someone different like this.

But... maybe it's not a matter of being paid less... but maybe they've had lots of trouble billing that insurance company before.... it doesn't make it right, but it happens.

I had one Dr office that flat out said, we have so much trouble with that insurance, so if you get a letter or something that is wrong, let us know so we can try to get it fixed.

it is true. we don't have insurance, and when we go somewhere, and say that we don't, they all look at us horribly, they expect us to not pay. bleah.

I wonder if it involves extra work or red tape for them? No excuse in any event..just wondering if it was the cause of their dismay.

I know what you mean! One of my children is disabled and gets Medicaid. Every nurse gives me a dirty look when she sees it.

This is heartbreaking. You should not have to endure this. Actually, none of us should.

It's a shame that people do this. But it does happen. I've also had similiar situations happen to me.

I hear ya! The military guys should have just as many choices as civilians do, and you'd think there would be more incentives to make it so, or at least it should be. It seems like whenever you need any kind of help, you really get to know who your friends really are. I think the whole bureaucratization of everything, has had a resultant dehumanizing effect. Thomas Jefferson wrote that without liberty, "man becomes a member, and instrument, and a thing". I even have that on a metal light switch plate in our den. We need to honor the brave people who are protecting us, by giving them as much consideration as possible. The best way to do that is by honoring the rights and activities of free individuals in a free market -- then, we would truly be serving each other and you would see the difference!

Well, I have to say I've been treated the same regardless of my insurance carrier. I just changed neurologists...the one I had treated everyone rotten. LOL Seriously, up until the year 2000 I had excellent coverage...not even a copay. When I went on disability I then fell solely under my husbands John Deer plan...again, excellent coverage. My husband has now officially retired from the military so I am now covered by Medicare (primary) and Tricare (secondary). I have a new neurologist who is twice the doc of any I have ever had. Thru all of this I have never felt like a secondary customer...though I have felt like just another number at times.

Perhaps it's time for a doc change or perhaps the staff is just so covered up they are just not cordial. I think the medical profession is financially strapped and feeling the bite of taking in their belts. Everything is so specialized...that has its good points and its bad.

I know what I would do if I felt as you do. I'd very nicely ask them how they feel about Tricare. If they say there's a lot of red tape etc etc...offer to help them out anyway you can. Once they see you are a team player the chance is you'll become fast friends.

Good luck!
bren

It could just be your perception of them. You may be expecting to be treated differently, so you are. I have no insurance. I always tell them when I make the appointment that I have no insurance, ask how much they charge for office visits, blood work etc, so there are no surprises for me when I get there. Maybe it is just me, but I never feel like they treat me any different than they would treat someone else.

No one should be treated like a "secondary" in any situation. Thanks for starting a good discussion.

Thanks, everyone, for your kind comments.

Karen - I do not believe I had a bad perception to begin with. I did call and talked to two different employees in that office. I told them what insurance I had, and they were happy to take me. Unfortunately, the receptionist on duty on the day I visited the office was a different person.

I wonder what kind of personality test you have to fail to be a receptionist at a doctor's office? Sorry that you have problems, but at least you have some insurance, unlike many of us.

Totally understand that feeling, and it makes me wonder because they act as if the money was coming out of their pocket. It isn't.

Read the fine lines in your health insurance policy....it says "DON'T GET SICK". You're not alone, Selene. A doctor's office I recently visited has a sign on the front desk announcing that after a certain date they no longer accept a certain insurance. And it's the one I have.

I'm sorry to hear that you are treated poorly. I sort of felt like that when I went to the doctor the other day and I don't have ANY health insurance... I think it's just doctor's offices in general!

Im sorry -- no one should be treated or made to feel like they are secondary in importance!

sorry you experienced this!

I don't think a lot of us get the care we should no matter what insurance we have. I have experienced receiving less treatment because I am a woman. I think a lot of doctors still tend to think if your a woman with a complaint your a hypochondriac. They think they can treat everything with drugs instead of sending you for diagnostic tests. i had a doctor prescribe medication to me for a rapid heartbeat with our performing any kinds of tests to see what might be causing it. Both my parents have had heart attacks due to vascular disease. When I tell my doctor he just kind of shrugs it off as if it isn't important. Yet when you read all about heart disease they tell you that you should discuss these things so your doctor can test or monitor you. What gives? I think we really need some type of health care reform. Everyone should be treated the same.

Thanks, everyone.

Charlotte - Yes, you are right. I should just be glad I have insurance at all.

lucky you have insurance at all, some people don't have insurance would love to have what you got.

it's a darn shame Selene. I know the feeling tho. The way I've been treated as a person hasn't changed since I changed insurances at my dr's but it seems like they aren't as fast to do some tests like a chest xray. but maybe that is because they know what the insurance will and won't fuss about too. I'm not taking it personally.

You shouldn't be treated like that. It may be what someone said above, that they aren't making a face so much at you as the pain in the butt your insurance can be.
So, I say try not to take it personally:)