Posted by detroitpistons on January 28, 2009, at 17:44:11
In reply to Re: No insurance / No doctor / Need help - UPDATE » detroitpistons, posted by rvanson on January 28, 2009, at 9:38:43
So I had the actual intake appointment at the county mental health center, and I was actually VERY impressed. The guy I talked to on the phone was completely wrong. The intake psychologist was very surprised that he said what he said.
The intake was the most comprehensive I've ever had. I was interviewed for more than an hour and a half. I never had that kind of attention when I had insurance and when I was a paying patient at psychiatrist's offices. She really made me feel at ease with the process and seemed like she genuinely cared, and that I would get all the medication that I needed.
I have my first appointment with the psychiatrist on Saturday. Hopefully it goes well. The biggest difference with these kinds of free services, obviously, is that you don't get to choose your doctor...I can live with that.
In our hyper capitalistic society, I'm surprised that there are resources like this. I'm truly grateful. Our healthcare system in the U.S. is garbage. It's inefficient and too profit driven. If you have an illness and don't work for a company who offers group insurance, you can't buy individual insurance that will cover the things that you need the insurance for (as far as I know). The individual health insurance market is a friekin joke.
> Do not let them make you feel this way. Its your tax money that pays these clowns and if we ever get a universal healthcare plan in the US these jokers will be out of business.
>
> You need your medications and you need to make that clear to them. Don't take any BS off of them. There are usually some mandatory phone numbers and addresses posted at county services to make a complaint or greivance, so make sure you get down there and get an appointment with them.
>
> If you feel suicidal at all, make that clear to these people and that may help speed these overpaid county employees to get the message.
>
>
>
> > So I called the community mental health center and talked to a clinician for about 45 minutes. He deemed me eligible and scheduled me for an intake! He made it sound like the center might balk at him a little bit for accepting me...Apparently, they are so overwhelmed, that most of the patients there are very severely ill and very needy. I almost feel guilty asking for a handout. I wish I didn't have to take these stupid drugs.
>
>
poster:detroitpistons
thread:873209
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090104/msgs/876857.html