A few weeks back, I decided it was finally time for a routine checkup. Like many overwhelmed parents, I had been postponing this simple task for years. But I rolled up my sleeves and dove in. I logged into my health insurance’s sluggish online portal to search for a local doctor. After spending a frustrating amount of time reading various reviews, I compiled a list of potential candidates to call.
“Not too difficult,” I thought after about 30 minutes of effort. I planned to contact my top three picks the following morning, mentally kicking myself for procrastinating on something so straightforward.
You can probably guess what happened next.
I called each doctor on my list, only to encounter issues with every single one. One was incorrectly listed as covered under my insurance plan, another was at full capacity and not accepting new patients, and the last had transitioned to a concierge model that required a monthly fee on top of insurance costs (yes, that’s a real thing). After wasting another 20 minutes, I returned to the database for more referrals, made additional calls, and finally located a doctor who accepted my insurance and could see me—after enduring over 15 minutes on hold to confirm everything.
Then came the next hurdle: I had to call my health insurance to ensure this new provider was officially designated as my primary care physician (PCP). This was another long and futile endeavor, as I was initially directed to handle it online, which proved unsuccessful. To make matters worse, after finally switching my PCP on the phone, I learned days later that my husband’s PCP had been changed instead. So, both of us had to spend additional time on the phone to correct the mix-up. Ugh.
In total, I dedicated nearly four hours over several days just to secure one doctor’s appointment. No exaggeration. And it hit me once again why I had been hesitant to seek medical care in the first place.
When I vented about this ordeal on social media, numerous friends shared similar experiences, highlighting the additional stress and complexity faced by individuals with serious or chronic health issues. After all, I was merely trying to book one appointment for my otherwise healthy self.
“I often struggle to focus on work because so much of my life revolves around managing doctors’ appointments, therapies, insurance issues, rescheduling, and dealing with prescriptions,” said Lisa Turner, who battles rheumatoid arthritis along with other health challenges.
Mark Thompson, a Type 2 diabetes patient, echoed these frustrations, admitting he frequently spends five to ten hours daily navigating medical bureaucracy. The stress, he noted, often exacerbates his condition. “Just the act of communicating with my insurance or medical offices can cause my blood sugar to spike,” he remarked. “It’s ironic that the institutions meant to promote health can, in fact, worsen it.”
What kind of society has reached a point where seeking medical attention can lead to increased suffering? This situation is unacceptable.
Let’s not overlook that battling with insurance companies and healthcare systems often yields no results. Last year, I spent countless hours trying to secure my child’s asthma medication through our insurance. Despite my child’s pediatrician advocating for the necessary nebulized medication, the insurance company insisted he had outgrown the need and should switch to an inhaler. This change didn’t suit our needs, and after a fierce struggle, we ultimately had to abandon the fight after spending about five hours on the issue. Thankfully, we could afford to pay out-of-pocket, but at $300 for a box of medication, that’s simply not an option for many families.
There are individuals rationing their medications due to these barriers, skipping vital appointments because they lack the time or energy to navigate the complicated healthcare landscape, and accumulating crushing medical debt from administrative errors or corporate greed. Many are unable to afford their insurance premiums and forgo coverage altogether, leading to dire consequences for their health, sometimes even resulting in death.
It’s time to wake up to the glaring issues within our healthcare system. This is one of the most pressing challenges of our time. While I don’t have a clear answer, I firmly believe that in countries where health insurance is considered a right—similar to the guaranteed education for children in America—people enjoy better quality of life and longer, healthier lives.
We can achieve more, America. Healthcare is a fundamental human right, and it shouldn’t be this complicated.
For a deeper dive into the myriad challenges surrounding healthcare and insurance, check out one of our other blog posts here. If you’re interested in more information about specific medical topics, visit this resource for expert insights. For those considering pregnancy options, this page offers great information on fertility services.
Summary
The navigation of healthcare in America often feels like a part-time job, with countless hours spent wrestling with inefficiencies and red tape. From insurance issues to appointment scheduling, many people find themselves overwhelmed, especially those with chronic conditions. The system is flawed, and healthcare should be a right, not a complicated endeavor.