Forum Index > Full Moon Saloon > ISO: Group Health Primary Care Doctor
 Reply to topic
Previous :: Next Topic
Author Message
Hiker Mama
Member
Member


Joined: 25 Jun 2006
Posts: 3448 | TRs | Pics
Location: Lynnwood
Hiker Mama
Member
PostTue Feb 02, 2010 5:12 am 
We had to switch insurance at the beginning of the year. We've never had Group Health before, and now I have to find all new Drs for us. I need a new primary care DR, ASAP. Someone compassionate and preferably with a holistic mindset, though at this point I just need me some meds. Any recommendations?

My hiking w/ kids site: www.thehikermama.com
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
tmatlack
Member
Member


Joined: 21 Aug 2007
Posts: 2854 | TRs | Pics
tmatlack
Member
PostTue Feb 02, 2010 5:21 am 
HM, At which clinic are you a patient of record? Seattle? Everett? I had to leave Group Health this year and already miss them. It is a huge, cluster agency, but once you wound your way through the primary care "gate", their specialists were top notch. Tom

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Hiker Mama
Member
Member


Joined: 25 Jun 2006
Posts: 3448 | TRs | Pics
Location: Lynnwood
Hiker Mama
Member
PostTue Feb 02, 2010 5:31 am 
Sorry, I should have specified, I'd like to use the Lynnwood clinic (didn't even know they had one until just now) but I could also drive to Seattle or Everett. Closer to home is better, but right now I just need to see someone. Thanks for your reassurances. HM

My hiking w/ kids site: www.thehikermama.com
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
furthur
Berry Bagger



Joined: 21 Sep 2006
Posts: 341 | TRs | Pics
Location: onward and upward
furthur
Berry Bagger
PostTue Feb 02, 2010 7:15 am 
Our insurance also switched to GH this year; however, we can retain our own drs, though they are not covered at the same rate. As we change insurance every year, I'm keeping the out-of-GH system dr that I love. I'm knock on wood healthy, with no dependents, so this will work for me. Another consideration is that many drs are not accepting new Medicare patients. So, I intend to hold on to my dr and clinic to make sure I get grandmothered in when the time comes. Bartells doesn't take GH for prescriptions. Many co-workers use the Everett clinic (a GH group), and are very pleased with the care there. My 2 cents.

"You're either on the bus or off the bus." Kesey
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Hiker Mama
Member
Member


Joined: 25 Jun 2006
Posts: 3448 | TRs | Pics
Location: Lynnwood
Hiker Mama
Member
PostTue Feb 02, 2010 8:35 am 
Thanks, Further. When we had to switch, I was hoping we could get the plan that allowed us to see our own Drs., but we just got the plain vanilla plan. I'm bummed. I've had the same primary care Dr. for like 15 years or something. He's seen me through a lot of stuff. I have a bunch of specialists I've been working with, too. Change is hard. Hopefully DH will get a job soon and we can get back to a different plan. In the meantime, I'm trying to view this as an "opportunity". Have to stay positive. dizzy.gif

My hiking w/ kids site: www.thehikermama.com
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
sarbar
Living The Dream



Joined: 28 Jan 2002
Posts: 8055 | TRs | Pics
Location: Freeland, Wa
sarbar
Living The Dream
PostTue Feb 02, 2010 8:44 am 
In a way I didn't mind the GH setup (we had GH for a couple years). I did end up with a regular doctor at the clinic in Kent East Hill - unless I had an emergency and needed to see whoever was on. I had my monthly appointments with her. The clinic was usually fast and efficient and their pharmacy was good. I also used the GH hospital on the east side for a couple procedures. I had 2 MRI's during that point and payed a $15 co-payment each time. The cost of that would have been overwhelming on normal insurance. The one thing I did love was the low cost....sigh. No hidden surprises. If I had GH right now my pregnancy bills would be minimal. As is, even though we have great insurance we are getting reamed due to all the extra work I have to have done. For example, in GH all my ultrasounds would be in facility. No being charged by a 3rd party setup. Same with lab bills. It would be all in house - just a co-payment and out I go. With our current insurance I pay 20% of every lousy stinking freaking US or lab bill I have till we meet our $5,000 out of pocket ceiling mad.gif mad.gif With GH our hospital stay would have been a certain amount set in advance...with our insurance now only when we hit the above limit mad.gif OK, rant over lol.gif It can work though!

https://trailcooking.com/ Eat well on the trail.
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Yana
Hater



Joined: 04 Jun 2004
Posts: 4212 | TRs | Pics
Location: Out Hating
Yana
Hater
PostTue Feb 02, 2010 9:11 am 
I am a former Group Health victim, but I'll spare you the gory details since you're trying to stay positive. clown.gif This may or may not help you, but if you need to see someone ASAP, consider going to the Saturday walk in clinics. You probably will not have much of a wait, especially if you go early. Can't help you with the primary care doc decision, since I actually ever saw mine once.

PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
bonobo
Owl Juggler for rent



Joined: 23 Jun 2004
Posts: 818 | TRs | Pics
bonobo
Owl Juggler for rent
PostTue Feb 02, 2010 10:31 am 
I loved Dr. Barbara deitering at the Cap Hill clinic, was with her for years and wish I was stll with GHC so I could still go to her.

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
strider
Member
Member


Joined: 24 Aug 2002
Posts: 464 | TRs | Pics
Location: Silverdale
strider
Member
PostTue Feb 02, 2010 10:49 am 
Proximity to large concentrations of Group Health facilities / specialists can be an issue. We had GH insurance for many years while livin' inna big city. We were very pleased with the quality of service and care. Then we moved to the boondocks. 30 years ago Silverdale was the boondocks as far as GH was concerned, there was one small clinic staffed with a few GP's. Any issue requiring referral to a specialist was a nightmare as they would only refer to their specialists in Seattle. After fighting that for a couple years, we switched to another provider.

strider I've never been lost, but I'm frequently uncertain where my destination might be in relation to where I am at the moment....
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Hiker Mama
Member
Member


Joined: 25 Jun 2006
Posts: 3448 | TRs | Pics
Location: Lynnwood
Hiker Mama
Member
PostTue Feb 02, 2010 4:54 pm 
Bonobo, you were the second person to recommend Dr. Dietering to me. I was actually able to get in to see someone in the Lynnwood clinic this afternoon, thankfully. I did also appreciate the lab and the pharmacy being in the same clinic and not having to drive all over Seattle like I normally do. So, I came home with some meds. Now I'm going to lie down for a bit. Thanks everyone. I think I just had the 4am worries this morning, stupid brain. doh.gif

My hiking w/ kids site: www.thehikermama.com
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Layback
Cascades Expatriate



Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 5712 | TRs | Pics
Location: Back East
Layback
Cascades Expatriate
PostTue Feb 02, 2010 5:02 pm 
Congrats. Group Death is to healthcare as Denny's is to fine dining.

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Yana
Hater



Joined: 04 Jun 2004
Posts: 4212 | TRs | Pics
Location: Out Hating
Yana
Hater
PostTue Feb 02, 2010 5:04 pm 
LOL! Layback - I thought only my coworkers called it that. embarassedlaugh.gif I actually have two friends who work for Satan... er, I mean Group Health. Sadly, they really like it (they're biostatisticians, though, not actual health care workers).

PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Layback
Cascades Expatriate



Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 5712 | TRs | Pics
Location: Back East
Layback
Cascades Expatriate
PostTue Feb 02, 2010 5:39 pm 
The reason why Group Death is so cheap is because they practice something called economic based medicine. That's evidence based medicine with an emphasis on getting the most reasonable outcome for a low cost. Real evidence based medicine looks at the best outcome possible without regards to cost (most of which the insurance plan pays). Most docs practice this type of medicine. So they pretty much offer you the solution that's the cheapest (supported by evidence), but may have been proven to be a less effective outcome than the solution presented by evidence based medicine. That's why it's called Group Death by every self-respecting evidence-based healthcare provider I know. The horror stories that have been shared with me about desperate patients being denied the care they need would make you cringe.

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
tmatlack
Member
Member


Joined: 21 Aug 2007
Posts: 2854 | TRs | Pics
tmatlack
Member
PostTue Feb 02, 2010 6:41 pm 
Layback, I won't argue with the managed care philosophy of Group Death, but my surgeon at East Side then Overlake was a great dude, we laughed alot, and he put in two sweet titanium hips for me. He did recently retire though. I would be careful criticising any health care when you have insurance. Think of the millions of patients and providers who have to deal with no insurance. I teach at risk teens, and health and dental care is a huge problem for them. Tom

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
DIYSteve
seeking hygge



Joined: 06 Mar 2007
Posts: 12655 | TRs | Pics
Location: here now
DIYSteve
seeking hygge
PostTue Feb 02, 2010 6:57 pm 
There are some big fans of Group Health. There's a flip side to some of the scares posted above:
Quote:
Above all, Group Health’s physicians are paid a salary and can earn bonuses of up to 20 percent for high-quality performance. Unlike most doctors, who are paid by the visit or procedure, they have little incentive to churn patients through and order unnecessary tests and operations. At Group Health, doctors are rewarded for consulting by telephone and secure e-mail, which allows for longer appointments. Patients are assigned a team of primary care practitioners who are responsible for their well-being. Medical practices, and insurance coverage decisions, are driven by the company’s own research into which drugs and procedures are most effective.
I'll avoid getting into politics here. This is my personal story. I switched to GH effective January 1, mostly because our small business premiums for conventional health care insurance increased 38% in the past two years, even though our coverage (which sucked) weakened. I cannot afford to pay skyrocketing premiums. I know other small biz people who have made the move. I asked my friends who are GH subscribers, and they unanimously endorsed GH.

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
   All times are GMT - 8 Hours
 Reply to topic
Forum Index > Full Moon Saloon > ISO: Group Health Primary Care Doctor
  Happy Birthday speyguy, Bandanabraids!
Jump to:   
Search this topic:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum