Day 114-115
Today I spent the morning calling City of Hope, Blue Shield, and my HMO group. I found the extension number of the financial advisor at City of Hope and gave her a call. She picked up with a confused voice. I told her that my wife had a diagnosis and was wondering if my insurace would cover services. Before I finished the word services she rudely interrupted saying I have to call new patient services. I apolegitically said I did not know and I guess she felt bad for her rudeness, she decided to transfer me. I jotted down the extension and waited for my transfer to voicemail. “Thank you for callin City of Hope new patient services, we are open 8-5 Monday thru Friday. If you are getting this message we are currently assisting others.” Ten minutes later I called, my repsonse “If you are getting this message we are currently assisting other.” Ten minutes after…they are still goofing around.
I called Blue Shield to ask if I was covered for City of Hope. I think Blue Shielf may have trasferred customer service overseas. I told her I am wondering if I was covered to go to City of Hope. The representative asks me what country is that in. She did tell me that I have to contact my HMO group and if that did not work I can write an appeal that will take at least 30 days to respond.
I was very hesitant to call my HMO group, because I was yelled at a few months ago for asking why my wife was denied to receive care at City of Hope. I called in and a very nice representative picked up. She expalined to me everything about City of Hope not being contracted and I can try an appeal but shes never seen it work. In conclusion, I wasted my whole morning!
To top it off I found out my old HMO group whom I volunteered to change was contracted with City of Hope. We changed to this new group because our current oncologist is in network. I can never beat the system. When I finally relieved myself the stress of finding Jackie proper health insurance after 2 months of insanity, I find myself still under the wrong policy. Jackie says at least we have insurance and doctors who are trained. Luckily, City of Hope isn’t the only cure for cancer.