My Own Healthcare Endeavor...

*Random Musings*

After being seen by my Pediatric Doctor through college, the time came this summer to actually establish with a family practice doctor. Aside from just being an all around good idea, my ulterior motive was that my tonsils have been giving me problems and I wanted to see an ENT. (Ear, Nose, Throat Doctor) Of course to do this, you need a referral, which means establishing with a new doctor, and all the jazz that goes with it. (hoop, hoop, hoop)

Why choose now to worry about this tonsil issue which has been nagging for a few years right now? Well, first off, I'm still on my parents insurance.(Thanks Governor Doyle! If not for you changing the law when you did, I was 3 months away from losing it.) Plus, it's the summer months, and if I want to be any kind of teacher this fall, I will need a voice capable of quelling a room full of 30 students. That being said, the time is right to take the plunge and see if I need to have them taken out.

This whole endeavor has put me into the "healthcare system" for the first time on my own. I've generally been a healthy person who's only gone to the simple EZ Care clinic if I need an antibiotic. I have no chronic issues and usually little reason to ever go to the doctor. The whole notion of "in network", "referral", my mother wondering whether or not the non-local clinic is covered by insurance, is a new experience for me. It's not that I'm naive of the whole system, I've just been lucky enough to avoid it. (Unlike some people who are very close to me and fret about it constantly.)

Truth be told, I'm nervous as all heck about what will happen July 16th. It's not like having your tonsils out is an experimental surgery or anything, but being 25 doesn't make this an "easy" surgery. As someone who's only having his wisdom teeth out being the most "medical" thing I've ever done, I'm naturally worried. But what worries me more is getting off of work for 10 days, what my job will think, being able to recoup in time, and what the bill will look like. This coming from someone who's covered by good insurance his parents have because one of them works for the local tech school. I can't imagine what it would be like for people who pay $500 a month for a $5,000 deductible. (Like some other people I also happen to be related to)

Why don't we have "Medicare for Everyone" again???