AAAAAAAGH!!!!!!

On my last blog, I was talking about hope. The very next day I got a migraine so painful, I accidently overdosed slightly, I had a panic attack and totally thought I was going to die. My mom had to come home from work and just hold me for about an hour until I went to sleep. I had mixed acetaminophen and muscle cream along with my hard core anti-inflamatories prescribed by the doctor. I was on the computer when I got the aura, so that's why I haven't been on it again since. I just got brave enough to get on again, because today I got really, really pissed.

Since my husband left in April of last year, I have been trying to get to see the doctor. I applied to Medi-Cal again, and waited and waited for my cards. I called my worker. He said he would send me a temporary Medi-Cal card. I got it in a few days. More time goes by. I called my worker. Where's my permanent medical card? That WAS your permanent medical card, he says. Ok, but who's my dentist and doctor? Ok, I'll have them send you your information packet to fill out. You have to send it in by the deadline it gives you or you'll have to start all over again-ok? Ok.

I get my packet. On the doctor and dentist form there isn't a place to put my doctor choice. I put it on the form anyway. A month or so later, I get my dentist and dental card. I call my worker. Where's my doctor? He says, I don't know. Call this 800 number. So I call the 800 number. You're listed as having Kaiser, ma'am. What? You have to tell your worker to get Kaiser off of here. He's the only one who can do it. I call my worker. I had to leave a message. He didn't call me back for over a week and two messages later. I finally called the office to speak to his supervisor. Oh, he's in a meeting with everyone, and there's no one who can help you right now, sorry. Just leave another message.

I left a message for his supervisor, but got a call from him. I told him what happened and how he has to take Kaiser off my file. He said he would mail me a form. A few days later, I get the form. It looks like the wrong form. I called my worker. No that's the right form, just fill out this one little question, and send it back to me. I did. FINALLY, I got my medical card and my doctor. I made an appointment. I had to wait about three weeks, but it was today.

I am filling out the papers for new patients when I hear them call my name. They said, sorry, you are listed as having Kaiser. WHAT?!!!! We can't see you today, bye bye!

Furiously I head for the welfare office. I wasn't going to call that idiot again. I get to the window and the lady says I can't see my stupid worker because he isn't my worker anymore. I don't have a worker, right now. WHAT?!!! OH MY GOD! I HAVE to talk to someone today! Ok, the lady says, you can see the Worker of the Day.

FORTY MINUTES LATER! I go to the window, again, as I have had to do twice already. (This is their way to make you give up and go home, maybe?) Finally, I got to see the Worker of the Day. She says I have to get a letter from Kaiser stating that I don't have them anymore. What?

Now, let's take a second here, and look at all the technology in the world and figure out why these idiots can't just call each other, or fax the letter to Medi-Cal, or communicate in some way? Why do I have to do this?

I started crying. This HAS to work, I tell her! My migraines and allergies are out of control! This has been going on since APRIL! Come ON! She says I can just to to one of Kaiser's administrative offices and get the letter and then just bring it back to them. So I drive down to Kaiser. There is no parking. Not one space! It's the hospital, what was I thinking, anyway?

So I go home and call the member services 800 number. When I get through all the automated crap and finally get a person she says that Kaiser doesn't give letters. They will take the K-code off of me and that will take 24 to 48 BUSINESS hours to complete. I said, but Medi-Cal told me to get a letter! What if this doesn't work? She said it WILL work, and that it may be Medi-Cal's policy to ask for a letter, but it isn't Kaiser's policy. Their policy is to do the K-code thing. Bye!

So that's where I am now, waiting for almost a week to get this K-code thing off my file. I will make another appointment with my doctor, but I'm going to check my eligibility before I go in. I am soooo pissed right, now!

Nobody cares about you when you are on Medi-Cal. Nobody has any sympathy for you. It doesn't matter that your life is falling apart. It's just not their policy.