Showing posts with label THT: Doctors out of State/Country Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label THT: Doctors out of State/Country Series. Show all posts
Thursday Health Thoughts: Doctors out of State/Country Series-Part Six- Communicating with a Doctor Out of State/Country
August 7, 2014
{Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her health care provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Reading the information on this website does not create a physician-patient relationship.}
Happy Thursday y'all!! I am so excited to continue this six part series on Thursdays dealing with topics related to seeing doctors out of state or country. Here is the list of the topics for the series and the coming weeks:
June 5th- Part Two- How to find a doctor (general)
June 12th- Guest Blogger- Katie from Always, Katie
Happy Thursday y'all! Today I wanted to conclude this series on dealing with doctors out of state or country by discussing an important topic: communication. I hope that some of the things that I have learned the last couple of years (sometimes the hard way!) might help someone and also I am excited to hear from y'all who have experience with this! (Side note: No offense to any of my doctors but since NONE of them have ever looked like this guy or I think all of the ladies would have no problem with communication! Right? Hahaha! *smiles* This single gal can dream right? *smiles*)
As a little background I have dealt (in deep communication - not talking about hospitals around the country that I have been seen at) with three out of state doctors offices. Two of them have been wonderful but sadly one was a little bit of a nightmare to deal with. Some of these things that I am sharing were a hard lesson to learn and other things are just general tips! I hope that this is of help to any of you who may be traveling out of state or country to see a doctor!
General Thoughts
(one) Understand that your doctor is out of state or country. I know that this sounds silly to state but it a true fact. Having a doctor out of state or country requires the acknowledgement that things are going to operate differently then if they were in your same town. You will need to understand time zone differences, the way to communicate with your doctor if there is a serious or important issue, phone consultations (which may or may not be covered by your insurance), how many times you will need to go back and see this doctor for "in office visits" throughout a calendar year, have patience with communication between in state doctors and your specialist, and a variety of other things that you would never have to think about if they weren't out of state or country. Sometimes it is a bit overwhelming so my encouragement to you is to try to take a deep breath and patiently walk through the maze before you.
(two) The key to success is CLEAR communication (from both parties). I am going to say this numerous times in this post but it is true: I love my current doctors who are out of state. They communicate clearly, are delightful and helpful each time that I interact with them, and are extremely professional. I am honestly so grateful for their compassion and the way that they respect me as a patient and give such clear instructions and help.
While I have had this happen with two of the doctors offices that I have dealt with out of state, one of the offices that I dealt with was the complete opposite and it was a bit of a nightmare. It was incredibly difficult to get a hold of my doctor (or her nurse), the phone consultations appointments would be scheduled for a certain time and then I wouldn't get a phone call until hours later, often times I had been trying to get a hold of this doctor and since I wouldn't hear a response (for days or weeks) I would follow the course of my GP's thoughts only to receive "a lecture" (unfortunately true), and finally I would just not hear back. One time I waited for over five days for her response on a serious stomach infection I had only to have to wait two more days for the prescription to be filled (and this was only after I finally allowed my father to get involved) and ended up in the hospital because I was so sick. Unfortunately at that point I knew that it was time to part ways. I don't believe this was the way the entire practice was run (and am currently under the care of a different doctor at this practice for something other than Lyme Disease) but it was extremely frustrating, discouraging, and scary. Scary because my health was in such a precarious situation and I couldn't even speak to my doctor get a response and frustrating because we had paid a lot of money to the practice.
I share that story to say that it is extremely important to have clear communication on your expectations and the doctors commitment and your commitment to working with someone out of state. It will take some navigating but I do promise that it can be done! One of the best ways to accomplish this is to understand the following four things:
Things to Understand
(one) Understand your doctors policies on office visits. Having an out of state/country doctor means that you will be scheduling appointments in advance. Unlike a doctor who is in your hometown you won't just call up and say that you would like to "drop in" for an appointment. Due to this you will need to understand in depth the doctors policies on office visits: (1) How far in advance do you need to schedule them? (2)What is the time frame for a cancellation appointment? (3) Is there a penalty of any kind (financial or other) for missing an appointment? (4) Is it easy to reschedule the appointments if they need to be cancelled? Finding out as much detail as you can will save you both time and frustration. As I mentioned above the key to success is clear communication. Ask as many questions as you need to to understand the policies on office visits. Do not assume that it is the same as your GP (general practitioner) at home.
(two) Understand your doctors policy on emergency situations before they occur. This one really is critical, especially for those that are seriously ill. In all likelihood you will experience a medical crisis while under the care of your doctor who is out of state/country so understand what the protocol is before the situation occurs. For example, understand if they want you to call after you have called 911 and are on the way to the ER or if they want you to call once you are released from the hospital. Do they want to have the final say over a prescription that might be administered while you are under the care of another doctor or do you need to understand that you will need to be air-lifted to their hospital? All of these things are really important to understand.
**NOTE: MANY out of state doctors can't (legally) recommend whether or not you should go to the hospital without seeing you in person, so most of the time if you call up and ask - "should I go to the hospital" they are going to recommend that you do so. Don't get frustrated with this, unfortunately it is just the nature of the beast that they can't see you so they want to make sure that you are safe.
(three) Understand the cost of telephone consultations before your first phone appointment. This was discussed in the post about insurance in this series but make sure that you understand if you will need to pay for your phone appointment (and how much this is per billable minute!) or if they are submitting it to insurance.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE my current Lyme Doctors office. They are COMPLETELY up front with every single item, and this is one of them. I know exactly what I am being charged for and how many minutes that I have per phone conversation. Unfortunately I have experienced the opposite and have heard from many others the same thing. My best advice is to have something in writing that shows exactly how much each minute costs for a phone appointment and find out who will be timing the call. One friend shared that she dealt with an office that said that they would "watch" the minutes for her and the next thing she knew she was paying double the amount she should have. Yikes!
(four) Understand your the offices policy on medication refills. Different doctors offices have different policies on medication refills. Some require that you have the pharmacy fax a refill request, some request that you call in and ask, some require that you write or fax an email with your signature, etc. It is really important to understand the refill system before you need your medication.
My current Lyme Doctor's office (and my hometown GP's office) are AMAZING with medication refill requests. SO much so that I feel that I am completely spoiled. They are prompt with their actions (completing the request within an hour) and are quick to help answer questions and help me in anyway that they can. Unfortunately this was not the case with one doctors office out of state that I dealt with. It was a nightmare. I would call in the refill request and it would take up to two weeks (!!) with no answer, numerous phone calls, emails, and eventually having to involve the patient advocate each time. I NEVER experienced such frustration in my life as I did with that office over medication refills. Compounding the frustration was that certain states (mine is one of them) does not legally allow their pharmacists to call in refill requests (which was this doctors office policy). I had explained that at the time, been assured that things would be fine, and it turned out it was anything but fine. Also, I had to time things "perfectly" because I couldn't request the medications to early or my insurance wouldn't pay for it (because they saw that I had just refilled it!) and I couldn't wait too long because I never knew when I would get a response. It caused a lot of stress and a few tears and eventually became one of the reasons that I left that particular doctor. I share all of that to say that I would encourage you to understand the process as best as you can and be up front about your insurance needs or your states requirements so that there is no confusion.
As a little background I have dealt (in deep communication - not talking about hospitals around the country that I have been seen at) with three out of state doctors offices. Two of them have been wonderful but sadly one was a little bit of a nightmare to deal with. Some of these things that I am sharing were a hard lesson to learn and other things are just general tips! I hope that this is of help to any of you who may be traveling out of state or country to see a doctor!
General Thoughts
(one) Understand that your doctor is out of state or country. I know that this sounds silly to state but it a true fact. Having a doctor out of state or country requires the acknowledgement that things are going to operate differently then if they were in your same town. You will need to understand time zone differences, the way to communicate with your doctor if there is a serious or important issue, phone consultations (which may or may not be covered by your insurance), how many times you will need to go back and see this doctor for "in office visits" throughout a calendar year, have patience with communication between in state doctors and your specialist, and a variety of other things that you would never have to think about if they weren't out of state or country. Sometimes it is a bit overwhelming so my encouragement to you is to try to take a deep breath and patiently walk through the maze before you.
(two) The key to success is CLEAR communication (from both parties). I am going to say this numerous times in this post but it is true: I love my current doctors who are out of state. They communicate clearly, are delightful and helpful each time that I interact with them, and are extremely professional. I am honestly so grateful for their compassion and the way that they respect me as a patient and give such clear instructions and help.
While I have had this happen with two of the doctors offices that I have dealt with out of state, one of the offices that I dealt with was the complete opposite and it was a bit of a nightmare. It was incredibly difficult to get a hold of my doctor (or her nurse), the phone consultations appointments would be scheduled for a certain time and then I wouldn't get a phone call until hours later, often times I had been trying to get a hold of this doctor and since I wouldn't hear a response (for days or weeks) I would follow the course of my GP's thoughts only to receive "a lecture" (unfortunately true), and finally I would just not hear back. One time I waited for over five days for her response on a serious stomach infection I had only to have to wait two more days for the prescription to be filled (and this was only after I finally allowed my father to get involved) and ended up in the hospital because I was so sick. Unfortunately at that point I knew that it was time to part ways. I don't believe this was the way the entire practice was run (and am currently under the care of a different doctor at this practice for something other than Lyme Disease) but it was extremely frustrating, discouraging, and scary. Scary because my health was in such a precarious situation and I couldn't even speak to my doctor get a response and frustrating because we had paid a lot of money to the practice.
I share that story to say that it is extremely important to have clear communication on your expectations and the doctors commitment and your commitment to working with someone out of state. It will take some navigating but I do promise that it can be done! One of the best ways to accomplish this is to understand the following four things:
Things to Understand
(one) Understand your doctors policies on office visits. Having an out of state/country doctor means that you will be scheduling appointments in advance. Unlike a doctor who is in your hometown you won't just call up and say that you would like to "drop in" for an appointment. Due to this you will need to understand in depth the doctors policies on office visits: (1) How far in advance do you need to schedule them? (2)What is the time frame for a cancellation appointment? (3) Is there a penalty of any kind (financial or other) for missing an appointment? (4) Is it easy to reschedule the appointments if they need to be cancelled? Finding out as much detail as you can will save you both time and frustration. As I mentioned above the key to success is clear communication. Ask as many questions as you need to to understand the policies on office visits. Do not assume that it is the same as your GP (general practitioner) at home.
(two) Understand your doctors policy on emergency situations before they occur. This one really is critical, especially for those that are seriously ill. In all likelihood you will experience a medical crisis while under the care of your doctor who is out of state/country so understand what the protocol is before the situation occurs. For example, understand if they want you to call after you have called 911 and are on the way to the ER or if they want you to call once you are released from the hospital. Do they want to have the final say over a prescription that might be administered while you are under the care of another doctor or do you need to understand that you will need to be air-lifted to their hospital? All of these things are really important to understand.
**NOTE: MANY out of state doctors can't (legally) recommend whether or not you should go to the hospital without seeing you in person, so most of the time if you call up and ask - "should I go to the hospital" they are going to recommend that you do so. Don't get frustrated with this, unfortunately it is just the nature of the beast that they can't see you so they want to make sure that you are safe.
(three) Understand the cost of telephone consultations before your first phone appointment. This was discussed in the post about insurance in this series but make sure that you understand if you will need to pay for your phone appointment (and how much this is per billable minute!) or if they are submitting it to insurance.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE my current Lyme Doctors office. They are COMPLETELY up front with every single item, and this is one of them. I know exactly what I am being charged for and how many minutes that I have per phone conversation. Unfortunately I have experienced the opposite and have heard from many others the same thing. My best advice is to have something in writing that shows exactly how much each minute costs for a phone appointment and find out who will be timing the call. One friend shared that she dealt with an office that said that they would "watch" the minutes for her and the next thing she knew she was paying double the amount she should have. Yikes!
(four) Understand your the offices policy on medication refills. Different doctors offices have different policies on medication refills. Some require that you have the pharmacy fax a refill request, some request that you call in and ask, some require that you write or fax an email with your signature, etc. It is really important to understand the refill system before you need your medication.
My current Lyme Doctor's office (and my hometown GP's office) are AMAZING with medication refill requests. SO much so that I feel that I am completely spoiled. They are prompt with their actions (completing the request within an hour) and are quick to help answer questions and help me in anyway that they can. Unfortunately this was not the case with one doctors office out of state that I dealt with. It was a nightmare. I would call in the refill request and it would take up to two weeks (!!) with no answer, numerous phone calls, emails, and eventually having to involve the patient advocate each time. I NEVER experienced such frustration in my life as I did with that office over medication refills. Compounding the frustration was that certain states (mine is one of them) does not legally allow their pharmacists to call in refill requests (which was this doctors office policy). I had explained that at the time, been assured that things would be fine, and it turned out it was anything but fine. Also, I had to time things "perfectly" because I couldn't request the medications to early or my insurance wouldn't pay for it (because they saw that I had just refilled it!) and I couldn't wait too long because I never knew when I would get a response. It caused a lot of stress and a few tears and eventually became one of the reasons that I left that particular doctor. I share all of that to say that I would encourage you to understand the process as best as you can and be up front about your insurance needs or your states requirements so that there is no confusion.
I hope that this helps y'all! It's hard to believe that this is the last post in this series! (Where has the summer gone??) I am excited to share though an exciting new project that I have been working on for months and months next Thursday!!! I am so giddy about this!!
Happy Thursday y'all!!
Thursday Health Thoughts: Doctors out of State/Country Series-Part Five- Answering the "critics" about out of state/country travel to see a doctor
July 17, 2014
{Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her health care provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Reading the information on this website does not create a physician-patient relationship.}
Happy Thursday y'all!! I am so excited to continue this six part series on Thursdays dealing with topics related to seeing doctors out of state or country. Here is the list of the topics for the series and the coming weeks:
June 5th- Part Two- How to find a doctor (general)
June 12th- Guest Blogger- Katie from Always, Katie
Today I wanted to address the reality of the land of "the critics" that will inevitably arrive in your life if you decide to make the decision to travel out of state or the country to see a doctor. I am hoping that some of the things that I have learned the last couple of years might help someone and also I am excited to hear from y'all who have experience with this! (Side note: No offense to any of my doctors but since NONE of them have ever looked like this guy or I think we would have the answer of why I am traveling to a different state for the critics! Right? Hahaha! *smiles* This single gal can dream right? *smiles*)
**This post is related to critical comments with traveling out of state or country to see a doctor but could definitely be applied to those that are using a variety of forms of treatment and receive criticism. I hope it is encouraging to you!**
**This post is related to critical comments with traveling out of state or country to see a doctor but could definitely be applied to those that are using a variety of forms of treatment and receive criticism. I hope it is encouraging to you!**
I almost cringed when I realized that this was the topic for the post today. It was ironic because in my post from yesterday (when I gave an update on my personal health) I announced that I had two upcoming trips out of state. The first is a required visit to my Lyme Doctor's office and the second is a necessary trip back to Whitaker Wellness Institute for additional therapy. I told a good friend of mine that I "brace myself" because every time that I write a "Notes from the Porch" update that involves travel out of state I inevitably will hear from the "critics". They don't comment publicly but I will receive many emails criticizing my choice to see a doctor so far away, criticizing my asking for financial support, and even one yesterday criticized my request for prayers. Unfortunately on some days the critics can see "much bigger" then the voices of support and I have learned that this is the case for many people with chronic illnesses (or serious illnesses that last for more than 18 months). I have received numerous emails asking me, "How do you respond when someone says..." or, "I am hurting so much because someone said..." so today I wanted to share some thoughts on the top three frequently asked questions by the critics for traveling out of state or country to see a doctor and some responses that might help you navigate these tricky waters.
Question #1 by the critics:
Don't you think that the doctors in (our beloved state) are good enough for you?
This is a tough question to answer because at the heart of it there is a bit of criticism in the choice that you must feel that you are "better" then the numerous qualified doctors in the state that you live in. My best advice for this question is to remain calm, explain patiently the unique reasons that the numerous qualified doctors in your state can't help you and explain that this is your only option at this moment.
Question #2 by the critics:
My sisters friend's aunt had what you had and they received excellent care and were better much quicker than you are because they stayed in state. Where the heck are you going?
This question can be tricky to answer because you never want to critize another person's wonderful experience with a good doctor. At the same time though anyone with a chronic illness knows and understands that the path to "stability" or healing can look entirely different from one friend to another. I have a dear friend who struggles with Lupus and hears this question all of the time. She says that it is truly incredibly hurtful because while her state does provide doctors who are very knowledgeable and capable with Lupus she has additional health issues that need a different kind of specialist with her condition. For her it is not as simple as just seeing "any" doctor. The best advice that she gave when responding to this question is to simply state that "due to a variety of reasons and health complications I need a doctor out of state" and try to move on. This question is hurtful though and I applaud each of you that answers it with dignity!
Question #3 by the critics:
So... you are going to fundraise money again to go travel to...
This is the question/statement that I probably get the most and hear from others that they receive the most. It's difficult because it implies that you are "traveling" for the fun of it to another state (hello- anyone that is struggling with illness finds traveling difficult!!!) and that this almost implies you are fund-raising just so you can travel. First, to all of the critics this is not the case and if this is the direction of the email I will state that I am not traveling to travel but I am going to a doctors appointment. (We would never say to someone going to a doctors appointment in their own city that they are "traveling" so I try to remove that word from the discussion but also directly respond to it.)
When I wrote my post yesterday I was literally emotionally bracing myself for the response since I mentioned that I would be taking two out of state visits and am fund-raising again for the latter trip. Out of the 23 critical messages that I received yesterday this question/statement was said in about 20 of the emails. Its hard because as I shared yesterday it is incredibly humbling to lay your heart on the line and state that you need financial support. I can only imagine that the "critics" have never been in a situation where those that are fund raising are or they would never send emails like the ones that I received yesterday. Before I became ill I never questioned things like this but would hear those that were ill sometimes address this and I thought, "who would say things like that?". Unfortunately now I have experienced it. If you are the recipient of this question you know that you feel like you have to almost "justify" your time that you spend. It is irritating, hurtful, and difficult to deal with. I never would have thought to have the need to do this with someone asking for help or money but unfortunately the question implies this.
I want to tell the critics (which I guess I am going to now *hahaha*) I am not simply laying around eating bonbons or just lazily watching TV. In fact my day is extremely structured due to not only medications and doctors appointments but due to the fact that I am working incredibly hard to bring in every single penny that I can. I am constantly working on freelance writing articles, items for my shop, custom orders, trying to promote the shop or the parcel post tribe, and trying desperately to bring money in. I personally hate TV (you can ask any of my family members), I can't eat bonbons, and the days that I am in extreme pain? Well I am in bed still working on things because finances are always on my mind and at the top of the prayer list. The financial aspect of Lyme Disease is complicated, tricky, and extremely emotional. For the record (and to help bring understanding) I haven't bought "new" clothes in over two years (I love thrifting and have spent a total of $15 in the last two years at a thrift store- and that was only because due to certain medications I have gained weight and none of my clothes fit), I have had my hair cut twice in the past 23 months, haven't bought things that people would call "necessities" (such as extra shampoo or conditioner, fancy girly items, or simply bought lotions or had my nails done or my eyebrows waxed in forever, etc. etc. etc.), we don't go out to eat or get Starbucks (except if there are giftcards sent by a dear friend), I wear my glasses to extend the life of my contacts until I get a migraine to save money, we obsess over every single penny as a family to see where and what we can do "without" (sometimes its milk, sometimes its food, sometimes its not using the car to save gas...) and nothing absolutely nothing is frivolous. (And we never were a frivolous sort of family so we have gone even more extreme. If you haven't had to fund-raise for your health then you have absolutely no idea the humility it takes to ask and lay everything out in the open. My best advice for those that receive this criticism is to calmly respond. I usually state something like, "At this time this is the decision that I have made for my health. Kind Regards, Rebecca" and I refuse to engage. Those that care about you are not going to be critical even when they have questions and it is definitely not worth your energy to respond to things like this. For emails that are extremely critical and harsh (yesterday I received one that said: "If God wanted you to go back out to California you wouldn't have to ask others for money God would have already given it to you and you are being just lazy", simply delete them. It is definitely not worth your energy for that kind of negativity in your life. Cry if you need to (I certainly did yesterday), delete the emails, and move on.
I hope that this helps y'all! The best thing that I can share is to stay strong and lean on the love of those who care about you and love you in your journey! It's hard to believe that we are wrapping up this series next Thursday!! Where have the six weeks gone?? Join me next Thursday for the final posting in this series! Happy Thursday y'all!!
Thursday Health Thoughts: Doctors out of State/Country Series- Part Four: Important insurance considerations when Going out of state/country
July 3, 2014
{Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her health care provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Reading the information on this website does not create a physician-patient relationship.}
Happy Thursday y'all!! I am so excited to continue this six part series on Thursdays dealing with topics related to seeing doctors out of state or country. Here is the list of the topics for the series and the coming weeks:
June 5th- Part Two- How to find a doctor (general)
June 12th- Guest Blogger- Katie from Always, Katie
Today I want to talk with y'all about some general but important insurance considerations when you have to go out of state or country to see a doctor. I am hoping that some of the things that I have learned the last couple of years might help someone and also I am excited to hear from y'all who have experience with this! (Side note: No offense to any of my doctors but since NONE of them have ever looked like this guy maybe I should look at the insurance agents? Hahaha! *smiles* This single gal can dream right? *smiles*)
So last week when I talked about the expenses that should be considered when traveling out of state or country to see a doctor one of the things that I mentioned was the reality that some things vary when you travel with your insurance. Here are some tips to help (hopefully!) navigate these tricky waters!
General:
(one) Understand your policy and what is included and what is not included in it. In this scenario no knowledge is not a good thing. You want to have ALL of the facts in front of you before you even think of going out of state or country. I have heard so many horror stories of people who didn't do their research ahead of time and then went into extreme debt or even bankruptcy because they were not sure what their policies included and just "hoped for the best". Read through your policy and any questions that you don't have answers to or anything that needs clarifying spend the time to talk with someone about it! Talk with your insurance companies ahead of time and get ALL of your answers.
(two) Understand what your doctor (or hospital) will accept and will not accept when dealing with your insurance. What many people don't know is that doctors do have a right to determine whether or not they will accept insurance or not (and if they don't - what their set fees are can be determined by them also). For my current Lyme doctor they do not accept insurance but do provide me with all of the paperwork so that I can submit the paperwork afterwards to my insurance company to hopefully be reimbursed for my appointments. (This means that I pay for all of my phone consultations, appointments, and in person appointments up front and then hope to receive some benefits back. Just so y'all are aware this can sometimes not have any "turn around" affect. I have yet to receive a penny for any appointment with my doctor from my insurance company.) This is really important to understand also because you could potentially be writing a large check from the get go and you need to be prepared for that. (Just as a side note- be prepared that this might be a very large amount out of pocket. As a little picture- my phone consultations range from $180 to $300 dollars and my in person appointments can be as much as $650.)
(two) Understand what your doctor (or hospital) will accept and will not accept when dealing with your insurance. What many people don't know is that doctors do have a right to determine whether or not they will accept insurance or not (and if they don't - what their set fees are can be determined by them also). For my current Lyme doctor they do not accept insurance but do provide me with all of the paperwork so that I can submit the paperwork afterwards to my insurance company to hopefully be reimbursed for my appointments. (This means that I pay for all of my phone consultations, appointments, and in person appointments up front and then hope to receive some benefits back. Just so y'all are aware this can sometimes not have any "turn around" affect. I have yet to receive a penny for any appointment with my doctor from my insurance company.) This is really important to understand also because you could potentially be writing a large check from the get go and you need to be prepared for that. (Just as a side note- be prepared that this might be a very large amount out of pocket. As a little picture- my phone consultations range from $180 to $300 dollars and my in person appointments can be as much as $650.)
(three) Understand how phone consultations fit into your policy. If you are going to need additional phone consultations (like I do) then be aware that these are not always included in your plan.
(four) Understand that you will be spending more money then if you stay in state or country. As I mentioned above the cost to go out of state or country (with just the doctor) can be extremely expensive. Often times this is just the only option (like I have) and this will cost a lot of money. While this article HERE focuses on a hospital stay it shares an all too common story of traveling to get the health care that you need and the costs associated with it.
(five) Understand how you will be billed: in-network or out-of-network. This can definitely make a difference in how much money that you will be paying. HERE is a great article that shares the difference between the two (in nice layman's terms! *smiles*).
(six) Traveling Abroad? Understand "Medical Tourism". "Medical Tourism" is a term that some companies now consider as part of their insurance packages. This term means that you can travel to receive medical care. This article HERE discusses a little bit about this.
(seven) Traveling Abroad? These articles can give you some great ideas and tips on health insurance! Most of these articles are general but there can be some great tips! Just click HERE, HERE, or HERE!
(four) Understand that you will be spending more money then if you stay in state or country. As I mentioned above the cost to go out of state or country (with just the doctor) can be extremely expensive. Often times this is just the only option (like I have) and this will cost a lot of money. While this article HERE focuses on a hospital stay it shares an all too common story of traveling to get the health care that you need and the costs associated with it.
(five) Understand how you will be billed: in-network or out-of-network. This can definitely make a difference in how much money that you will be paying. HERE is a great article that shares the difference between the two (in nice layman's terms! *smiles*).
(six) Traveling Abroad? Understand "Medical Tourism". "Medical Tourism" is a term that some companies now consider as part of their insurance packages. This term means that you can travel to receive medical care. This article HERE discusses a little bit about this.
(seven) Traveling Abroad? These articles can give you some great ideas and tips on health insurance! Most of these articles are general but there can be some great tips! Just click HERE, HERE, or HERE!
Thanks so much for reading y'all! At the end of the day the most important thing that you can do is take the time to understand your coverage and what options you have. I hope that this series will be a help to you or a friend! If you have experience with insurance and of traveling to see a doctor who is out of state or country could you share in the comments your ideas? I would love to learn new ideas and thoughts! Also I am so excited that Next Thursday to have a guest post sharing about their experiences!!!! Happy Thursday y'all!
Thursday Health Thoughts: Doctors out of State/Country Series- Part Three- Paying for Costs&Expenses when Traveling out of State/Country
June 26, 2014
{Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her health care provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Reading the information on this website does not create a physician-patient relationship.}
Happy Thursday y'all!! I am so excited to continue this six part series on Thursdays dealing with topics related to seeing doctors out of state or country. Here is the list of the topics for the series and the coming weeks:
June 5th- Part Two- How to find a doctor (general)
June 12th- Guest Blogger- Katie from Always, Katie
Today I want to talk with y'all about how to pay for the costs/expenses when traveling to see a doctor who is out of state or country. This is probably one of the questions that I receive the most from people who read my story and I am excited to share but also hear from y'all who have experience with this! (Side note: No offense to any of my doctors but NONE of them have ever looked like this guy otherwise I am sure all of us ladies would be traveling to out of the state or country! *smiles*But this single gal can dream right? Either way I hope it brings a smile to your face! *smiles*)
So how do you pay for the expenses and costs associated with traveling to see a doctor who is out of state or country for your illness? Here are just a few ideas:
(Next week I will be talking about insurance issues when going out of state or country so I am not discussing that in this post today. Please note though that not all insurances will cover the costs of your doctors visits (or testing) so make sure to get all of this information upfront!)
General:
Take Stock of ALL expenses:
Make sure that you take stock of ALL of the expenses that you will need when you travel out of the state or country to see a doctor. Here is a list of what I have learned (sometimes the difficult way) of things that I will need when I am staying for 3 weeks or even when I am staying just for 48 hours:
Before you Leave:
*all medications
*travel size containers
*clothes
*toiletries (either before you leave or when you get there)
*magazines to read (or books or something on a kindle or nook)
Traveling:
*items to eat & drink in airport or when traveling
*something to read or to listen to
*travel pillow
*travel blanket (do I even need to mention the germs on the blankets on the planes?)
At your Destination:
*rental car or money for taxi or transportation
*hotel
*meals
*water or things to drink at hotel
*snacks for hotel
Doctors Visit:
*anything that insurance is not coveringMake sure that you take stock of ALL of the expenses that you will need when you travel out of the state or country to see a doctor. Here is a list of what I have learned (sometimes the difficult way) of things that I will need when I am staying for 3 weeks or even when I am staying just for 48 hours:
Before you Leave:
*all medications
*travel size containers
*clothes
*toiletries (either before you leave or when you get there)
*magazines to read (or books or something on a kindle or nook)
Traveling:
*items to eat & drink in airport or when traveling
*something to read or to listen to
*travel pillow
*travel blanket (do I even need to mention the germs on the blankets on the planes?)
At your Destination:
*rental car or money for taxi or transportation
*hotel
*meals
*water or things to drink at hotel
*snacks for hotel
Doctors Visit:
(Next week I will be talking about insurance issues when going out of state or country so I am not discussing that in this post today. Please note though that not all insurances will cover the costs of your doctors visits (or testing) so make sure to get all of this information upfront!)
General:
(one) If possible, contact the non-profit organization that deals with your disease. Certain organizations that deal with diseases do have grants and programs associated with helping to defer the costs of traveling to see a specialist. Unfortunately this is rare but there are some that can help. If nothing else the organization associated with your illness might have some ideas on where you could look for funding.
(two) Ask your current doctor for any suggestions. This also is a really simple idea but sometimes very effective. Sometimes your doctor might know of a grant or scholarship that might be available to you. Don't be afraid to ask for help and any suggestions that they might have.
(one) Be realistic about your needs. Due to Sojourn's I have to be drinking water voraciously literally throughout the day. Unfortunately you can't carry water with you through security so I always have to purchase water in the airport. I literally budget this ahead of time and know that I need to have $21.87 (yes, I know the exact amount hahaha) for waters in the airports as I travel back and forth to California. Knowing this ahead of time helps me to be more realistic about what exactly I need and the money that I need. I save by packing snacks and my lunch (or breakfast or dinner) while I am traveling as I can take this with me.
(two) Choose your stores ahead of time to make it easy for people to donate gift cards.Due to my insane strict diet I do not have the "freedom" to just choose anywhere to eat. Due to this I could potentially spend alot of extra money even though I don't want to on food and snacks. My best suggestion is to think of anything and everything that you can purchase ahead of time and take things with you that you can in your suitcase. After this I always research for a Target and a Whole Foods nearby and purchase the remaining items that I need. In choosing these two stores (everywhere that I travel for doctors appointments) I always make this known as some people like to donate gift cards and they know that these are the two stores that I will go to to purchase the items (including my smartwater!) that I need! I have also contacted both of these stores ahead of the time I travel and although I haven't received anything yet I will continue to do so each time that I am traveling!
Basic Fundraising:
I have shared numerous times that the costs associated with being ill are astronomical. Even just this morning I was talking with the Lord about some bills that are due tomorrow and I am not sure where all of the money is going to come from. This is one of the most difficult parts of this journey. I won't re-share but I know that from the hundreds of emails that I receive each month that many people are in the same position that I am: every conceivable source of funding is "drained" and it is extremely humbling to have to ask for help. I want to encourage you to continue to pray and step out in faith. So many people do want to help but they don't know how. The suggestions listed below are just a few that might help you during this very difficult time.
(one) Set up a place where people can donate directly. I researched a bunch of different options and chose to go with "go fund me". After looking at a few different options I chose to go with this particular group because the site is very user friendly (to you and to the giver), it allows for the option to input "off-site donations" at no extra cost to you (some sites do not allow for this), and it only charges you a very minimal fee. (Unfortunately on this last point each site that I looked into did charge a fee so you will want to choose the best option for you!)
(two) Share the site on your twitter, facebook, and all social media sites.
(three) Ask your friends, family members, co-workers, etc. to share your site! Honestly I have not done this yet (it goes back to the whole idea of feeling embarrassed) but I know several friends who have and this has been wonderful for them. This allows for those who love you to get involved and to share the news. Yes, I am going to ask people to do this today! (*smiles*)
(four) Ask everyone you know to donate their facebook status' to you for a certain number of hours to raise awareness. In the fall my sister and I asked everyone we knew to donate "8 hours on the 8th" to Rebecca's Run. It was incredible to not only see the donations come in but more than that to feel the love and support of so many people. I definitely recommend doing this!
(five) Donate "___________" day. Along the same lines of number four is to ask everyone you know to donate a: ____________- fill in the blank (starbucks, lunch, movie, etc.) for that day to your fund. I have had several friends do this and I am actually in the process of setting this up in a couple of weeks. The idea is that you ask everyone you know (and ask them to spread the word too) that instead of purchasing a $5 lunch, starbucks, movie (well these are probably a little bit more *smiles*), app, etc. they will donate that $5 to your fund. This is great because while large donations are incredible EVERY SINGLE dollar helps you and this will allow everyone and anyone to participate. If you want to see how this can work I will definitely be posting about it on my blog in a couple of weeks so I will let you know! *smiles*
(six) Use social media to your advantage! Share to anyone and everyone about the fundraising that you are doing!
(two) Ask your current doctor for any suggestions. This also is a really simple idea but sometimes very effective. Sometimes your doctor might know of a grant or scholarship that might be available to you. Don't be afraid to ask for help and any suggestions that they might have.
(three) Research. Research. Research. Sometimes the research will bring you to a dead end but other times you could be surprised by what you learn. Research any and all options and keep knocking on the doors that you need to have opened!
(four) Sometimes "mr. Google" is the best way to obtain information. Sometimes this has been the best way to find out about different scholarships and grants that might be available. With my specific diseases there is not a lot of options but for children who are ill there are tons of options so don't be afraid to ask and research "mr. google".
(five) Contact your schools alumni association to find out if any alumni work in a position to help you out with any of your travel needs or costs. Sometimes someone that you graduated with or someone that graduated from your school might be the president of a hotel or rental car agency. Who knows? Ask and find out!
(six) If you work ask co-workers to donate a vacation day to your time off. Unfortunately for those who are working and balancing obtaining treatment you might have to use your vacation days or pay for your time off. Consider asking those that you work with if they would be willing to donate a day or a certain number of hours to help you out. For many co-workers this is a lovely way to help a friend in need so don't be afraid to ask!
(seven)- Ask your workplace about working from a different location. I have a friend who is a college professor who had to travel to receive treatment. After talking with her boss ahead of time she videotaped herself teaching the courses for the three weeks that she would miss and had that played while she was gone. In addition to this she set up skype so that she could communicate and even answer questions in the middle of her taped lectures. It took a ton of work on her part and I am still shaking my head at her ability to do so much but it worked. Y'all those of that are fighting illnesses are warriors and can come up with amazing solutions like this one so don't be afraid to think outside the box!
(eight) Embrace life while you travel. I was SHOCKED last year when I was fundraising to go to California when someone donated two tickets to Disneyland for me and my best friend. I have to admit that at first I thought "what a waste of $200" - I could use that for .... and had a whole list in my mind. BUT honestly after talking with the couple who generously donated this to me and experiencing the day at Disneyland I still tear up at the goodness of their gift. They wanted me to remember that I was still living life and had carefully thought about not only my heart but me as a person when giving this gift. It was a BEAUTIFUL day and I am forever thankful for this gift. My advice is to embrace life as you travel- whether it is in visiting Disneyland or simply walking around the town that you are in (or driving through it if you aren't well enough to get out for a walk). Embrace the opportunity to see a new place and allow these healing thoughts to help you in the journey.
Paying for Travel:
Unless your doctor is in a state where it is easy to travel to by car (and this is a viable option due to travel fatigue and travel pain) most people will be traveling by plane. The ideas listed below are mainly for this but could be easily adapted to other means of travel.
(one) Using frequent flier miles to pay for plane tickets. Almost every ticket (except for four) that I have used to fly to my doctors visits have been done through frequent flier miles donated by friends and family. This does make traveling a tiny bit trickier (with the way that frequent flier miles work with times and dates) but with a little bit of research (and patience!) this is the best option. I have a friend who has asked every single one of his friends who flies on a particular airline to donate all of their miles to him and it works out to his benefit. This is a great gift to give someone and it can be the best way to travel the cheapest.
(two) Contact the airlines directly for help. Unfortunately for adults, but fortunately for children there are a lot of airlines that do help cover some or all of the costs for sick children traveling to an out of state specialist. This is very rare for adults but something that should definitely be explored. I have never received any help in the actual cost of a plane ticket but I have received the fee waiver of checking bags and that has been an extreme blessing! ($25 is a HUGE amount of money that is saved!!) Certain Airlines do offer grants if you are traveling to a specific state or country. There was an article from 2013 about how Southwest Airlines was helping patients that needed to travel to Baltimore (John Hopkins). You can read more about this article HERE.
(three) Research options for Travel. If you click HERE you will find a list of charitable organizations that help out those who are ill and need to travel. Most of these are very specific in their guidelines but some people can and do benefit from these amazing opportunities. If you have cancer this article HERE has some great suggestions!
(four) Use a credit card for miles. I am almost hesitant to suggest this one as I am not a major fan of credit cards AT ALL. BUT in saying that - if done responsibly and correctly this can be an easy way to accumulate miles for free. I don't have experience with this at all but I know many people do and have found this a really helpful option.
Rental Car Savings:
When I was out in California last year for three weeks it became quickly obvious that it was MUCH cheaper to rent a car to get to my variety of doctors visits then it was to take a taxi. (I had to pay $160 for a taxi to and from one of my doctors offices who was 7 miles away but could rent a car for a week for $99!!) So make sure to check out all of your options! Some hotels do offer shuttle services to major hospitals (for example some hospitals near Mayo Clinic and MD Anderson do have shuttles from their hotels) so you might not need to rent a car. Call the hotel and ask about these options! If you need to rent a car here are just a few practical suggestions:
(one) Using "frequent user" miles to pay for rental car. Similar to the frequent miles that can be used for airline tickets save up and ask friends to donate to your miles (or days as the case may be) so that you can obtain free car rental days. TAKE NOTE though that certain rental car agencies do not allow you to do this so you will want to do your research ahead of time!
(two) Always use the same rental car agency if possible and choose a rental car that gives you savings beyond money. Do your research about major places that you travel to and from and make sure that you always use the same rental car company to add up those days and savings. After doing a ton of research I settled in on Thrifty Car Rental Company because they were located in all of the cities that my doctors were located at, gave amazing deals, has amazing time saving practices (I don't have to wait in lines!! this is HUGE to this sick lady!), and will even pick up their customers and drop you off at your airport gate so that you do not have to walk if you are in a wheelchair or are seriously ill. (I am not receiving any type of promotion to say this but can genuinely say that I have been extremely happy with them!)
(three) Contact the rental car company directly to ask for any special savings and discounts. I do this every single time I travel to see my doctor. Sometimes I have received nothing but other times I have received a "free tank of gas". This is HUGE! It never hurts to ask and even if the answer is "no" it is always best to knock on every single door that you can. Also don't be discouraged if at first you don't hear a "yes". Be polite and then ask for a supervisor or a manager. Sometimes the person you are speaking with might not know of certain programs or hidden gifts so ask and ask again!
Hotel (Or Lodging Savings):
(one) Check out all of your options when looking at the lodging situation. I have had "air bnb" suggested to me so many times and I think that for some people this is an excellent option. Unfortunately for me this is not an option with my fragile immune system, but can be a great option for those that might be able to do this.
(two) Use hotel rewards. Similar to the frequent flier miles and the rental car savings ask friends and family to donate their hotel points to your stay and always try and stay at the same hotel to incur more points.
(three) Choose a hotel that gives you savings beyond money. Similar to the rental car - explore all of your options when you are booking your hotel. The number one reason that I chose the hotel that I did in Newport Beach was because it offered a free shuttle to the Whitaker Wellness Institute. At the time I didn't know that I would be diagnosed with Cancer or need surgery so I didn't know that I would need to rent a car and this originally saved me the cost of the car. So do your research ahead of time!
(four) Contact hotels for any special rates. Don't be afraid to contact a hotel and ask if there is any special rates that they offer if you are coming in to see a specialist or a major hospital in the area. There have been several times where this has discounted the price for my hotel stay by an additional ten dollars (after the triple AAA rate!) each night. Just like I stated above keep asking for a supervisor or manager or can help you with this!
(five) Ask family and friends for suggestions. I have a friend who needed treatment in a state and she couldn't afford to pay for the cost of lodging as she was going to be there for about six months. It turned out her aunts best friends best friend (did you follow that? *smiles*) knew someone who was looking for someone to house sit while they were out of the country for the year. It was a perfect solution! Don't be afraid to ask for help and see if anyone has any suggestions like this!
(six) Check out Travelocity, Hotels.com, Hotwire, etc.etc. etc. There are drawbacks to doing this but sometimes these can provide excellent rates if you are not in a situation that you will need to travel regularly to the same location several times a year.
Meals & Snacks Savings:(five) Contact your schools alumni association to find out if any alumni work in a position to help you out with any of your travel needs or costs. Sometimes someone that you graduated with or someone that graduated from your school might be the president of a hotel or rental car agency. Who knows? Ask and find out!
(six) If you work ask co-workers to donate a vacation day to your time off. Unfortunately for those who are working and balancing obtaining treatment you might have to use your vacation days or pay for your time off. Consider asking those that you work with if they would be willing to donate a day or a certain number of hours to help you out. For many co-workers this is a lovely way to help a friend in need so don't be afraid to ask!
(seven)- Ask your workplace about working from a different location. I have a friend who is a college professor who had to travel to receive treatment. After talking with her boss ahead of time she videotaped herself teaching the courses for the three weeks that she would miss and had that played while she was gone. In addition to this she set up skype so that she could communicate and even answer questions in the middle of her taped lectures. It took a ton of work on her part and I am still shaking my head at her ability to do so much but it worked. Y'all those of that are fighting illnesses are warriors and can come up with amazing solutions like this one so don't be afraid to think outside the box!
(eight) Embrace life while you travel. I was SHOCKED last year when I was fundraising to go to California when someone donated two tickets to Disneyland for me and my best friend. I have to admit that at first I thought "what a waste of $200" - I could use that for .... and had a whole list in my mind. BUT honestly after talking with the couple who generously donated this to me and experiencing the day at Disneyland I still tear up at the goodness of their gift. They wanted me to remember that I was still living life and had carefully thought about not only my heart but me as a person when giving this gift. It was a BEAUTIFUL day and I am forever thankful for this gift. My advice is to embrace life as you travel- whether it is in visiting Disneyland or simply walking around the town that you are in (or driving through it if you aren't well enough to get out for a walk). Embrace the opportunity to see a new place and allow these healing thoughts to help you in the journey.
Paying for Travel:
Unless your doctor is in a state where it is easy to travel to by car (and this is a viable option due to travel fatigue and travel pain) most people will be traveling by plane. The ideas listed below are mainly for this but could be easily adapted to other means of travel.
(one) Using frequent flier miles to pay for plane tickets. Almost every ticket (except for four) that I have used to fly to my doctors visits have been done through frequent flier miles donated by friends and family. This does make traveling a tiny bit trickier (with the way that frequent flier miles work with times and dates) but with a little bit of research (and patience!) this is the best option. I have a friend who has asked every single one of his friends who flies on a particular airline to donate all of their miles to him and it works out to his benefit. This is a great gift to give someone and it can be the best way to travel the cheapest.
(two) Contact the airlines directly for help. Unfortunately for adults, but fortunately for children there are a lot of airlines that do help cover some or all of the costs for sick children traveling to an out of state specialist. This is very rare for adults but something that should definitely be explored. I have never received any help in the actual cost of a plane ticket but I have received the fee waiver of checking bags and that has been an extreme blessing! ($25 is a HUGE amount of money that is saved!!) Certain Airlines do offer grants if you are traveling to a specific state or country. There was an article from 2013 about how Southwest Airlines was helping patients that needed to travel to Baltimore (John Hopkins). You can read more about this article HERE.
(three) Research options for Travel. If you click HERE you will find a list of charitable organizations that help out those who are ill and need to travel. Most of these are very specific in their guidelines but some people can and do benefit from these amazing opportunities. If you have cancer this article HERE has some great suggestions!
(four) Use a credit card for miles. I am almost hesitant to suggest this one as I am not a major fan of credit cards AT ALL. BUT in saying that - if done responsibly and correctly this can be an easy way to accumulate miles for free. I don't have experience with this at all but I know many people do and have found this a really helpful option.
Rental Car Savings:
When I was out in California last year for three weeks it became quickly obvious that it was MUCH cheaper to rent a car to get to my variety of doctors visits then it was to take a taxi. (I had to pay $160 for a taxi to and from one of my doctors offices who was 7 miles away but could rent a car for a week for $99!!) So make sure to check out all of your options! Some hotels do offer shuttle services to major hospitals (for example some hospitals near Mayo Clinic and MD Anderson do have shuttles from their hotels) so you might not need to rent a car. Call the hotel and ask about these options! If you need to rent a car here are just a few practical suggestions:
(one) Using "frequent user" miles to pay for rental car. Similar to the frequent miles that can be used for airline tickets save up and ask friends to donate to your miles (or days as the case may be) so that you can obtain free car rental days. TAKE NOTE though that certain rental car agencies do not allow you to do this so you will want to do your research ahead of time!
(two) Always use the same rental car agency if possible and choose a rental car that gives you savings beyond money. Do your research about major places that you travel to and from and make sure that you always use the same rental car company to add up those days and savings. After doing a ton of research I settled in on Thrifty Car Rental Company because they were located in all of the cities that my doctors were located at, gave amazing deals, has amazing time saving practices (I don't have to wait in lines!! this is HUGE to this sick lady!), and will even pick up their customers and drop you off at your airport gate so that you do not have to walk if you are in a wheelchair or are seriously ill. (I am not receiving any type of promotion to say this but can genuinely say that I have been extremely happy with them!)
(three) Contact the rental car company directly to ask for any special savings and discounts. I do this every single time I travel to see my doctor. Sometimes I have received nothing but other times I have received a "free tank of gas". This is HUGE! It never hurts to ask and even if the answer is "no" it is always best to knock on every single door that you can. Also don't be discouraged if at first you don't hear a "yes". Be polite and then ask for a supervisor or a manager. Sometimes the person you are speaking with might not know of certain programs or hidden gifts so ask and ask again!
Hotel (Or Lodging Savings):
(one) Check out all of your options when looking at the lodging situation. I have had "air bnb" suggested to me so many times and I think that for some people this is an excellent option. Unfortunately for me this is not an option with my fragile immune system, but can be a great option for those that might be able to do this.
(two) Use hotel rewards. Similar to the frequent flier miles and the rental car savings ask friends and family to donate their hotel points to your stay and always try and stay at the same hotel to incur more points.
(three) Choose a hotel that gives you savings beyond money. Similar to the rental car - explore all of your options when you are booking your hotel. The number one reason that I chose the hotel that I did in Newport Beach was because it offered a free shuttle to the Whitaker Wellness Institute. At the time I didn't know that I would be diagnosed with Cancer or need surgery so I didn't know that I would need to rent a car and this originally saved me the cost of the car. So do your research ahead of time!
(four) Contact hotels for any special rates. Don't be afraid to contact a hotel and ask if there is any special rates that they offer if you are coming in to see a specialist or a major hospital in the area. There have been several times where this has discounted the price for my hotel stay by an additional ten dollars (after the triple AAA rate!) each night. Just like I stated above keep asking for a supervisor or manager or can help you with this!
(five) Ask family and friends for suggestions. I have a friend who needed treatment in a state and she couldn't afford to pay for the cost of lodging as she was going to be there for about six months. It turned out her aunts best friends best friend (did you follow that? *smiles*) knew someone who was looking for someone to house sit while they were out of the country for the year. It was a perfect solution! Don't be afraid to ask for help and see if anyone has any suggestions like this!
(six) Check out Travelocity, Hotels.com, Hotwire, etc.etc. etc. There are drawbacks to doing this but sometimes these can provide excellent rates if you are not in a situation that you will need to travel regularly to the same location several times a year.
(one) Be realistic about your needs. Due to Sojourn's I have to be drinking water voraciously literally throughout the day. Unfortunately you can't carry water with you through security so I always have to purchase water in the airport. I literally budget this ahead of time and know that I need to have $21.87 (yes, I know the exact amount hahaha) for waters in the airports as I travel back and forth to California. Knowing this ahead of time helps me to be more realistic about what exactly I need and the money that I need. I save by packing snacks and my lunch (or breakfast or dinner) while I am traveling as I can take this with me.
(two) Choose your stores ahead of time to make it easy for people to donate gift cards.Due to my insane strict diet I do not have the "freedom" to just choose anywhere to eat. Due to this I could potentially spend alot of extra money even though I don't want to on food and snacks. My best suggestion is to think of anything and everything that you can purchase ahead of time and take things with you that you can in your suitcase. After this I always research for a Target and a Whole Foods nearby and purchase the remaining items that I need. In choosing these two stores (everywhere that I travel for doctors appointments) I always make this known as some people like to donate gift cards and they know that these are the two stores that I will go to to purchase the items (including my smartwater!) that I need! I have also contacted both of these stores ahead of the time I travel and although I haven't received anything yet I will continue to do so each time that I am traveling!
Basic Fundraising:
I have shared numerous times that the costs associated with being ill are astronomical. Even just this morning I was talking with the Lord about some bills that are due tomorrow and I am not sure where all of the money is going to come from. This is one of the most difficult parts of this journey. I won't re-share but I know that from the hundreds of emails that I receive each month that many people are in the same position that I am: every conceivable source of funding is "drained" and it is extremely humbling to have to ask for help. I want to encourage you to continue to pray and step out in faith. So many people do want to help but they don't know how. The suggestions listed below are just a few that might help you during this very difficult time.
(one) Set up a place where people can donate directly. I researched a bunch of different options and chose to go with "go fund me". After looking at a few different options I chose to go with this particular group because the site is very user friendly (to you and to the giver), it allows for the option to input "off-site donations" at no extra cost to you (some sites do not allow for this), and it only charges you a very minimal fee. (Unfortunately on this last point each site that I looked into did charge a fee so you will want to choose the best option for you!)
(two) Share the site on your twitter, facebook, and all social media sites.
(three) Ask your friends, family members, co-workers, etc. to share your site! Honestly I have not done this yet (it goes back to the whole idea of feeling embarrassed) but I know several friends who have and this has been wonderful for them. This allows for those who love you to get involved and to share the news. Yes, I am going to ask people to do this today! (*smiles*)
(four) Ask everyone you know to donate their facebook status' to you for a certain number of hours to raise awareness. In the fall my sister and I asked everyone we knew to donate "8 hours on the 8th" to Rebecca's Run. It was incredible to not only see the donations come in but more than that to feel the love and support of so many people. I definitely recommend doing this!
(five) Donate "___________" day. Along the same lines of number four is to ask everyone you know to donate a: ____________- fill in the blank (starbucks, lunch, movie, etc.) for that day to your fund. I have had several friends do this and I am actually in the process of setting this up in a couple of weeks. The idea is that you ask everyone you know (and ask them to spread the word too) that instead of purchasing a $5 lunch, starbucks, movie (well these are probably a little bit more *smiles*), app, etc. they will donate that $5 to your fund. This is great because while large donations are incredible EVERY SINGLE dollar helps you and this will allow everyone and anyone to participate. If you want to see how this can work I will definitely be posting about it on my blog in a couple of weeks so I will let you know! *smiles*
(six) Use social media to your advantage! Share to anyone and everyone about the fundraising that you are doing!
Thanks so much for reading y'all! I hope that this series will be a help to you or a friend! If you have experience of traveling and handling the costs and expenses to see a doctor who is out of state or country could you share in the comments your ideas? I would love to learn new ideas and thoughts! Also I am so excited that Next Thursday to share about handling insurance when traveling out of state or country to see a doctor!!!! Happy Thursday y'all!
Thursday Health Thoughts: Doctors out of State/Country Series- Part Two- How to Find a Doctor Out of State/Country
June 5, 2014
{Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her health care provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Reading the information on this website does not create a physician-patient relationship.}
Happy Thursday y'all!! I am so excited to continue this six part series on Thursdays dealing with topics related to seeing doctors out of state or country. Last week (in part one) we talked about Making the decision to go out of state/country) and as I mentioned I will be talking about this subject (and sharing some of my own experiences) in the following weeks and am excited to have several guest bloggers who have chosen this option for various reasons and are going to share their experiences too! Here is the list of the topics for the series and the coming weeks:
June 5th- Part Two- How to find a doctor (general)
June 12th- Guest Blogger- Katie from Always, Katie
Today I want to talk with y'all about how to find a doctor who is out of state or country. This is probably one of the questions that I receive the most from people who read my story and I am excited to share but also hear from y'all who have experience with this! (Side note: No offense to any of my doctors but NONE of them have ever looked like this guy*smiles*But this single gal can dream right? Either way I hope it brings a smile to your face! *smiles*)
So how do you find a doctor who is out of state or country for your illness? Here are just a few ideas:
(one) If possible, contact the non-profit organization that deals with your disease. This is one of the simplest ways to find a doctor who might be located out of state or country. You can easily do a search for your illness in Google and it should bring up several options of organizations. You could call or email them and ask for suggestions in your state and if they don't have any ideas they might be able to suggest some doctors out of state who could help you. Some organizations might also have suggestions of "sister organizations" in other countries that you could check out!
(two) Ask your current doctor for any suggestions. This also is a really simple idea but sometimes very effective. One of my friends found her specialist through her current general practitioner. It turned out that they had gone to college together and they had kept in touch! You never know who someone might know in the age of linked in and facebook so don't be shy to ask for suggestions!
(three) Ask friends, family members, co-workers, etc. for suggestions. Sometimes you are not ready to discuss the specifics with your illness (which is completely understandable!!) but if you are at a point where you feel comfortable you might find some great suggestions within your personal network. Be specific for what you are looking for and ask around to see if anyone might know someone. You might be just as surprised as a friend of mine that her brother-in-laws sister's best friend had the same disease and had a suggestion of a wonderful specialist!
(four) Contact major hospitals for suggestions. This point can be really helpful depending on the disease or chronic illness you are dealing with. I have been able to get tons of helpful suggestions for qualified skin cancer doctors, BUT have really been given no significant help with Lyme Doctors. So for some people this might be a really helpful suggestion and for others you might want to pass on it! *smiles* (Just a little side note: don't be discouraged if you the "top doctors" you are recommended aren't able to help you. Keep pressing on till you find a doctor who is willing to work with you for your health!)
(five) Research. Research. Research. I sometimes joke that while obtaining my PhD in History might be on hold I have gained a Masters (soon to be a PhD) in Lyme Disease. Truly. I have read over 350 books and articles on Lyme Disease alone this past year (including those from abroad) and that is not including the other 240 books on Cancer, Sojourn's, IBD, nutrition, herbs, supplements, etc that I have also read. In the midst of all of this I have hundreds of doctors names who have made comments that I have found particularly interesting or noteworthy on an idea that might be helpful and any contact information that I can find about them. Since some of the books were written decades ago these practitioners are not still in practice BUT it is amazing how contacting them can bring about different suggestions and ideas of other doctors! SERIOUSLY amazing. I highly suggest keeping a notebook of any doctor or practitioner that you hear about and keeping this with you to contact or to reference.
(six) Be open to ideas your research brings! When my first choice doctor for Lyme Disease stopped taking new patients I was desperate to find a new solution and doctor. I thought about calling the doctor and now begging to have some ideas of who he would recommend seeing. I called the office numerous times and after I didn't get anywhere with that I was at a loss of what to do as I believed this particular doctors treatment would be the best for my case (after all of my research). One night when I couldn't sleep due to pain I started thinking about all of the research that I had done and started pouring back over it. My idea was to find any doctor who had collaborated with, written an article with, gone to a reception with, or ANYTHING with my "first choice" doctor. *smiles* I came across a particular doctor who kept showing up in several articles, had written a book, had mentioned similar treatment techniques, etc. and called the next morning. It is amazing to see how God orchestrated everything because at the time I had no idea that I would also be dealing with an environmental illness and have a specialist in the clinic that deals with that and Lyme Disease together! Honestly I look back now and see that the "closed" door that I had thought was truly traumatic turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I LOVE my doctor and no offense to the original first choice but I wouldn't trade them at all! I respect their treatment plan and am blown away by the professionalism of their office. TRULY amazing! My suggestion is to keep knocking down every door you can until you find your doctor! You can do it!!
(two) Ask your current doctor for any suggestions. This also is a really simple idea but sometimes very effective. One of my friends found her specialist through her current general practitioner. It turned out that they had gone to college together and they had kept in touch! You never know who someone might know in the age of linked in and facebook so don't be shy to ask for suggestions!
(three) Ask friends, family members, co-workers, etc. for suggestions. Sometimes you are not ready to discuss the specifics with your illness (which is completely understandable!!) but if you are at a point where you feel comfortable you might find some great suggestions within your personal network. Be specific for what you are looking for and ask around to see if anyone might know someone. You might be just as surprised as a friend of mine that her brother-in-laws sister's best friend had the same disease and had a suggestion of a wonderful specialist!
(four) Contact major hospitals for suggestions. This point can be really helpful depending on the disease or chronic illness you are dealing with. I have been able to get tons of helpful suggestions for qualified skin cancer doctors, BUT have really been given no significant help with Lyme Doctors. So for some people this might be a really helpful suggestion and for others you might want to pass on it! *smiles* (Just a little side note: don't be discouraged if you the "top doctors" you are recommended aren't able to help you. Keep pressing on till you find a doctor who is willing to work with you for your health!)
(five) Research. Research. Research. I sometimes joke that while obtaining my PhD in History might be on hold I have gained a Masters (soon to be a PhD) in Lyme Disease. Truly. I have read over 350 books and articles on Lyme Disease alone this past year (including those from abroad) and that is not including the other 240 books on Cancer, Sojourn's, IBD, nutrition, herbs, supplements, etc that I have also read. In the midst of all of this I have hundreds of doctors names who have made comments that I have found particularly interesting or noteworthy on an idea that might be helpful and any contact information that I can find about them. Since some of the books were written decades ago these practitioners are not still in practice BUT it is amazing how contacting them can bring about different suggestions and ideas of other doctors! SERIOUSLY amazing. I highly suggest keeping a notebook of any doctor or practitioner that you hear about and keeping this with you to contact or to reference.
(six) Be open to ideas your research brings! When my first choice doctor for Lyme Disease stopped taking new patients I was desperate to find a new solution and doctor. I thought about calling the doctor and now begging to have some ideas of who he would recommend seeing. I called the office numerous times and after I didn't get anywhere with that I was at a loss of what to do as I believed this particular doctors treatment would be the best for my case (after all of my research). One night when I couldn't sleep due to pain I started thinking about all of the research that I had done and started pouring back over it. My idea was to find any doctor who had collaborated with, written an article with, gone to a reception with, or ANYTHING with my "first choice" doctor. *smiles* I came across a particular doctor who kept showing up in several articles, had written a book, had mentioned similar treatment techniques, etc. and called the next morning. It is amazing to see how God orchestrated everything because at the time I had no idea that I would also be dealing with an environmental illness and have a specialist in the clinic that deals with that and Lyme Disease together! Honestly I look back now and see that the "closed" door that I had thought was truly traumatic turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I LOVE my doctor and no offense to the original first choice but I wouldn't trade them at all! I respect their treatment plan and am blown away by the professionalism of their office. TRULY amazing! My suggestion is to keep knocking down every door you can until you find your doctor! You can do it!!
(seven) Sometimes "Mr. Google" is the best way to obtain information. I have had many friends who due to specific illnesses and health reasons have no way of finding out information besides Mr. Google. Sometimes this is the best research tool.
(eight) Use social media to your advantage! Sometimes social media can be an amazing tool to find a new health practitioner- specifically one that is out of state or country. This is very similar to number three above except that you might not know the person who is suggesting the information. Sometimes though the best resources can come from someone going through our particular circumstances. As with number seven I would highly suggest that you research fully any and all information found but this might be a great suggestion for those that can't use any of the other ideas mentioned.
(eight) Use social media to your advantage! Sometimes social media can be an amazing tool to find a new health practitioner- specifically one that is out of state or country. This is very similar to number three above except that you might not know the person who is suggesting the information. Sometimes though the best resources can come from someone going through our particular circumstances. As with number seven I would highly suggest that you research fully any and all information found but this might be a great suggestion for those that can't use any of the other ideas mentioned.
Thanks so much for reading y'all! I hope that this series will be a help to you or a friend! If you have experience of finding a doctor who is out of state or country could you share in the comments your ideas? I would love to learn new ideas and thoughts! Also I am so excited that Next Thursday I will be having a special guest blogger share her AMAZING story!!! Happy Thursday y'all!
Thursday Health Thoughts: Doctors out of State/Country Series- Part One:Making the Decision to go out of state/country
May 29, 2014
{Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her health care provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Reading the information on this website does not create a physician-patient relationship.}
Happy Thursday y'all!! I am so excited to kick off this new six part series on Thursdays dealing with topics related to seeing doctors out of state or country. In the following weeks I will be talking about this subject (and sharing some of my own experiences) and am excited to have several guest bloggers who have chosen this option for various reasons and are going to share their experiences too! Here is the list of the topics for the coming weeks:
June 5th- Part Two- How to find a doctor (general)
June 12th- Guest Blogger- Katie from Always, Katie
So lets get started! Today I want to talk about making the decision to go out of state or country to see a doctor. (Side note: No offense to any of my doctors but NONE of them have ever looked like Dr. Avery from Grey's Anatomy!*smiles*But this single gal can dream right? Either way I hope it brings a smile to your face! *smiles*)
So what are the reasons for making the decision to go out of state or country for your illness? Here are just a few:
(one) Sometimes in your health journey you come to the point where you realize that due to where you live you might not have the best option for a doctor for your particular disease or illness. I think that to a lot of people who are usually healthy this never even crosses their radar. Honestly, it would never have crossed mine if I hadn't been sick. Many people (including myself) have done research and have found that there local GP's (general practitioner's), hospitals, surgeon's, etc. are very qualified and competent people. And they typically are. But the reality is that for many people, including myself, staying local to get well was not an option.
When I was first diagnosed with Lyme Disease I researched thoroughly (and visited) the local hospitals, doctors, specialists (in infectious disease), etc. Unfortunately I kept hearing the same thing: "Lyme Disease doesn't exist in the south". (I should state that my local paper just this week stated that ticks have now traveled south this year. Do NOT even get me started on this.) So in my case I wasn't just fighting a disease alone I was fighting the culture's general thought that while we live near the Smokey Mountains and while ticks can destroy a person's life, they are also smart enough to not cross state borders, be attached to travelers who have hiked the Appalachian trail, been attached to animals that have traveled south, etc. (Yes, I am being completely sarcastic.) But just like my battle with endometriosis I had a choice. I could use my limited energy on being angry and irritated or I could put that little energy into finding a doctor to help me get well. I chose the later and I would recommend anyone to do so also.
As I searched for a doctor I did try to remain "somewhat local". I tried to make an appointment at hospitals in my "area" (within 250 miles) and even called around to different doctors within my state but hours away. I finally expanded my search to include all of the states around me (which included Duke Hospital). While I had been initially seen at Duke, my diagnosis came from a different practitioner and I had to make a new patient appointment. Guess what? I still have that appointment at Duke... for 2015!!! After THIRTY-THREE (yes, you read that correctly) doctors in my city told me that they couldn't help me, the news that I would have to wait two more years for an appointment at Duke, and major hospitals in my surrounding area telling me they had no answers I expanded my search across the United States.
Some people called it desperate. Others thought I was insane. Others told me that I didn't have enough "faith" that God could heal me where I was at. And there were tons of other comments. But as I researched and called 78 doctors who were treating Lyme across the United States I became even more sure that this was the right decision. As a believer I was praying for wisdom and I do believe that going out to California last year for treatment saved my life. The reality was that the doctors in my local area were just not equipped to deal with the disease that I am fighting.
(two) Sometimes in your health journey you come to the point where need to find a specialist. While you may have the options and opportunities to find a specialist in your area, you may decide that you need to find a specialist. The reality is that "specialists" just don't exist in every single town or state (or even in the country!). Due to this you might, after researching decide that you need to add a specialist into the equation - whether that is a long-term solution for the foreseeable future (as mine is) or just to see a couple of times in your health journey. Don't be afraid to "think outside of the box". (I have permission to share the following story.) I had a friend who was desperately trying to find answers to her infertility issues. After traveling to several different states across America and finding no help she was at a complete loss of what to do. "Randomly" she came across a book in a used book store while she was on vacation written by a doctor who runs a health and fertility clinic in England. After reading the book, doing a ton of different research, having several skype conversations with the doctor, and talking to former patients she and her husband went over to England. Two trips and seven years later she and her husband are now the proud parents of four kiddos. As she has often said to me, "I saw tons of specialists in my city, state, and country. But the key was in England where a lady understood my specific history and also had training that was done in a university outside of the USA. She had been taught a completely different approach then what my specialists here in America were saying. If I had never taken the risk and flown to England I would never have realized that there is a whole big world out there with tons of different thoughts and ideas."
(three) Sometimes in your health journey you come to the point where need to find someone who has had unique training. Similar to what my friend shared above, you sometimes need to find someone who hasn't been trained at the University of __________ for their undergrad and medical school. Does this make them less qualified? ABSOLUTELY not. Does this mean that they are not someone I would go to? ABSOLUTELY not. But sometimes you need to know more than just your particular state or countries knowledge. Several years ago when I was diagnosed with CFS & Fibromyalgia I went to one of the leading health centers on Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia for treatment. (I was blessed to have one of the six centers in the US in my particular city at the time.) I definitely am grateful for everything that happened there and in many ways the $7,000 that I ended up paying was worth every penny. BUT as I moved home last year and sought additional answers as my health continued to fail I needed help beyond what I was receiving. I read more and more books on CFS and Fibromyalgia and it wasn't until I came across a book last year from a doctor in Canada written in 2010 that I learned some new things that had never been told to me before! This doctor (and some of her staff) have traveled WORLD WIDE to conferences, doctors clinics, wellness institutes, etc. and have discovered some incredible ideas. I called them up, had an appointment with one of the clinics (over the phone) and honestly saw several of my CFS/Fibro symptoms disappearing over the course of a few short weeks. These same symptoms hadn't disappeared in my entire treatment over 9 months at the clinic. And get this? The one thing that helped the most was a tip that the doctor had learned at a conference in Jordan, from a "tribal doctor" from Africa! WOW! This unique training has helped me IMMEASURABLY even as I fight my other illnesses.
(four)Sometimes in your health journey you need to have an opinion of someone "out of the picture". Over the years I have had numerous friends travel to a "major" hospital (and I myself have done so too) such as Mayo, MD Anderson, Mass General, John Hopkins, etc. The truth is that some of these research hospitals have equipment or tests or the latest research that might help your situation. You definitely deserve a second (or third or 50th!) opinion and don't be afraid to choose someone completely out of the picture.
(five) Sometimes in your health journey you need to have surgery. I have had several surgeries and two of them have been local to where I live and two were out of state. If you read my endometriosis story then you know my experience with that was absolutely wonderful. I have traveled to a doctor out of state for surgery and have had several friends who have done so. NONE of us regrets it. Sometimes this is an excellent option so don't be afraid to think "big spectrum" on this.
Thanks so much for reading y'all! I hope that this series will be a help to you or a friend! Next Thursday I will be talking about "how to go about finding a doctor out of state or country"! Happy Thursday y'all!
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