The littlest of my littles has been having tooth pain. We went to the Urgent Care late last week and she was put on antibiotics.
I have called the dentist on both Monday and Tuesday trying to get her an appointment but was met with the same answer. "Only if you can pay upfront the day of the appointment."
This is healthcare in America. Our insurance is currently "pending" because someone switched our insurance to the wrong county. A county we don't even live in. So, because the insurance is currently not "active" while the paper pushers fix their mistake, we are held medically hostage.
This morning a piece of the tooth that has been hurting her chipped off during breakfast. Mama Bear came out, no more screwing around.
I called the dentist again, informed them of the new development and and asked them if they were going to let her suffer until next week because her mother is in poverty. I do not have $500 to pony up on demand, especially since we HAVE insurance, its current status was beyond our control!
So, we went in, today. Appointment granted because the dentist that was there today has some compassion. All we have to do is let them know when the insurance goes active.
They started with x-rays of Little Willow's mouth. 4 pictures to make sure they got all of her little teethers.
Not gonna lie, seeing the x-rays of all her baby teeth with all those big teeth waiting to come in was pretty cool and kind of disturbing all at once. And kind of mind boggling, too. It does NOT look like there is room enough in her little mouth for the size of the teeth that will begin erupting soon!
They sat her down in the chair so the hygienist could give her teeth a cleaning, she chose Bubble Gum flavored, of course, lol!
Let me tell you, folks, dentist visits are not the scary hullabaloo they were when we were kids. They have a screen that drops down so she could watch Peter Rabbit, she was given headphones and sunglasses so the wouldn't be too bright.
She has a bad cavity in the pain causing tooth, and a small cavity in the tooth next to it, right in between them. We were told she brushes well but needs to do a better job flossing in the back.
So, next Tuesday the tooth is coming out and the smaller cavity will be filled. Not one word about her insurance.
Now we are on the bus headed home, brother and sister will be coming from the school soon, gotta be there in time to meet them!
Little Willow is being a silly girl on the bus. So few things get her down, she's not going to let some pain stop her!
Now, here's where I have to climb up on my little soap box.
Things need to change. American health care is killing it's people. I worked as an HHA/CNA, went to college to become an RN and I had to stop.
I saw the VA fuck over so many people. One of my clients was denied extra assistance. I was only given 6 hours a week to help this man, though I once walked in to find him on the floor, unable to get up after being there for over 4 hours because he could not reach the phone.
The VA would cancel or change his appointments, he was in constant pain and just absolutely miserable.
I found him on the floor a second time. At this point he has been dealing with this for 2 years. He goes into the hospital and never comes back out.
One week before he died he was diagnosed with ALS. A disease Stephen Hawking lived with for over 50 years.
If you have money in this country, medical professionals will bend over backward to take care of you.
If all you did was serve your country in a war started on a series of lies, or are poor however, nobody fucking cares.
It has to change. My daughter should not have to wait days to see a Dentist, I should not have to shame a receptionist into telling the doctor our situation.
People SHOULD NOT have to choose rent over their life saving Insulin!
It is beyond saving at this point. The entire system needs to be thrown out.
I have a bill for $300 sitting on my table. For a consultation. The doctor and I literally talked about my options for maybe 10 minutes, he wrote a referal. $300.
Fuck. I want that job. $1,800 an hour to talk?!
I don't make that in a month.
In my youth I sprained my ankle quite badly. X-rays, urgent care visit, crutches and gel cast cost me $245 for a 2 hour visit.
$300 for 10 minutes of talking these days. Imagine needing an epipen, or insulin to live. How long would you last? I wouldn't make it 1 month.
It needs to change. #peopleoverprofit
Have a great day everyone.