Switcheroo

I just got a letter from my health insurance company telling me that my primary physician was leaving their network and that I had been assigned to a new doctor.  I wasn’t particularly attached to my first doctor, but I’m still wondering if this switch is “normal” with all healthcare these days, or more frequent because of the state-subsidised, safety-net style health insurance that I have. Should I be happy that the informed me of the switch and that I didn’t have to do anything to find a new doctor, or should I feel tossed around by the system?

On another health care note, I wanted to give a shout out to Ayada who commented, “no dental care = no insurance.”  I completely agree with this.  I can imagine that for a lot of people, their dental health poses more pain and nervousness in their life than other health issues.  This makes me wonder, what should the baseline for healthcare in this country be?  To me, it’s whatever care it takes to make someone feel safe, comfortable, and dignified.

affordable healthcare for indiana residents

Enrollment to Start For New State Health Insurance Program – Newsroom – Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick:

Thousands of uninsured Hoosiers can now have access to affordable health care through the new Healthy Indiana Plan. Applications for the program will be accepted starting Monday.

House Republican Leader Brian C. Bosma voted for the legislation that created this program during the 2007 legislative session. “The Healthy Indiana Plan offers many working Hoosiers a solution to the high costs of medical care, and it could literally be a life-saver for some,” said Rep. Bosma.

“The HIP program provides basic coverage, including coverage for doctor visits and prescriptions, and it also helps subscribers make cost-efficient decisions when seeking medical care and purchasing prescriptions.” The application program begins Monday, Dec. 17, and coverage begins in January. To be eligible for the program, applicants must be between 18 and 64 years old, have a household income between 22 percent and 200 percent of the federal poverty level and must have been uninsured for at least six months.