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I moved from New York where there was pretty good healthcare, to Pennsylvania. Not far from the Jersey border. It is almost impossible to see a specialist here. There always seems to be a 4 to 6 month wait. Trying to see a primary care dr is another story. The doctors here are just not available. The health network where we are has no quality care and is a mess. We are thinking about looking at New Jersey to re-locate again. We know nothing of the health care in that state. We are seniors, and appreciate any feedback. Thanks!
I moved from New York where there was pretty good healthcare, to Pennsylvania. Not far from the Jersey border. It is almost impossible to see a specialist here. There always seems to be a 4 to 6 month wait. Trying to see a primary care dr is another story. The doctors here are just not available. The health network where we are has no quality care and is a mess. We are thinking about looking at New Jersey to re-locate again. We know nothing of the health care in that state. We are seniors, and appreciate any feedback. Thanks!
Your difficulty seeing a primary care doctor or a specialist may be more a function of what specific health insurance plan you have than of what state you live in.
• Did you acquire a Pennsylvania health insurance plan or do you still have your New York insurance?
• If you did obtain a Pennsylvania insurance policy, what company is it with? Did you go with a policy through the ACA-established exchange (ObamaCare) or did you buy one in the open market?
I've been quite happy with NJ BC/BS Horizon Blue Omnia Silver HSA. (Quite a mouthful, even with the abbreviations!) However, based on the shenanigans in Trenton last weekend, I'd be surprised if the premium doesn't skyrocket come renewal time in January. Worse, based in the shenanigans in Washington, I expect curtailment of the tax credit that makes the plan affordable.
I moved from New York where there was pretty good healthcare, to Pennsylvania. Not far from the Jersey border. It is almost impossible to see a specialist here. There always seems to be a 4 to 6 month wait. Trying to see a primary care dr is another story. The doctors here are just not available. The health network where we are has no quality care and is a mess. We are thinking about looking at New Jersey to re-locate again. We know nothing of the health care in that state. We are seniors, and appreciate any feedback. Thanks!
Do you have Medicare?
Do you have secondary insurance? If so, was it bought in NY or PA? That can make a big difference.
In NJ I've waited three months to see a specialist (non-emergency situation.)
Near New Jersey. That's a pretty long shoreline. What part of NJ?
I am looking in different areas. So, I don't have one spot although my niece is moving to Toms River (?) and is checking on houses for me this weekend.
Thanks good people for your replies. We have good insurance BC/BS ppo. The problem is not the insurance. The problem here is everyone belongs to the Lehigh Valley Health Network, which is under staffed with doctors. When the ER tells you to see a specialist in the network asap, that transfers to at least 4 to 6 weeks. Non emergency is always a 4 to 6 month wait to see a dr in the network. We wondered about NJ and dr availability there?
Thanks good people for your replies. We have good insurance BC/BS ppo. The problem is not the insurance. The problem here is everyone belongs to the Lehigh Valley Health Network, which is under staffed with doctors. When the ER tells you to see a specialist in the network asap, that transfers to at least 4 to 6 weeks. Non emergency is always a 4 to 6 month wait to see a dr in the network. We wondered about NJ and dr availability there?
Is Lehigh Valley Health Network an insurance plan? A doctors practice?
If you are a senior (as you stated) than you should have Medicare, and I assume that BC is your secondary.
What is the reason that you have to see a doctor in this Lehigh Valley Health Network?
Do doctors in Lehigh Valley Health Network take Medicare and your BC?
When you try to get an appointment with a doctor do you tell them that the ER told you it is an emergency situation, and you need an immediate appointment?
If it is an emergency than perhaps return to the ER and ask them for help? Why did the ER not admit you and have a specialist see you in hospital?
In NJ I have waited 3 months (as a new patient) to see a specialist (not an emergency though.)
Once I am a patient of the doctor than it usually is just several weeks for an appointment (again, non-emergency situations.)
It sounds like you're living in a sparsely populated area with a limited supply of doctors. If ready access to specialists is important to you, maybe you should move closer to a big city? That's where most of the specialists practice.
Are you restricted to doctors in your network? If not, and you're willing to drive, you might have better luck finding specialists with availability in the Philadelphia or NYC area. Where I live, in Essex County, NJ, just outside NYC, there are specialists on every corner. Based on what I hear, it doesn't take an unreasonable amount of time to get appointments.
I do not have that insurance but in Bergen county between Hackensack, englewood holy name and valley hospitals, I can usually get an appointment within a week or two. My very popular primary care or gyno runs 6 weeks for an annual physical but that's an hour booking. I can get an appointment in a couple of days for a sore throat or flu shot. Any tests, mri, mamo, lab tests etc can Be scheduled next day. Ear Doctor, eye doctor, podiatrist, allergist, dermatologist are within a week at most. A top top unique specialist at Colombia Pres runs much longer tho....
We have good insurance BC/BS ppo. The problem is not the insurance. The problem here is everyone belongs to the Lehigh Valley Health Network, which is under staffed with doctors. When the ER tells you to see a specialist in the network asap, that transfers to at least 4 to 6 weeks. Non emergency is always a 4 to 6 month wait to see a dr in the network. We wondered about NJ and dr availability there?
I also have a PPO through BCBS--in my case, through Horizon BCBS.
All that I can say is that the longest delay that I ever encountered in Central NJ when I was a "new patient" was 2-3 weeks for a non-emergent condition.
When I use my usual PCP, Cardiologist, Pulmonologist, and Urologist--who are all "in network"--I can get an appointment for a non-emergent situation w/in 2-3 weeks. If I make it clear that I have an emergent situation, I am always accommodated w/in 1-2 days.
Recently, my PCP diagnosed a "possible Basal Cell Carcinoma", and recommended that I see a Dermatologist. I called my Dermatologist--whom I hadn't visited in at least 6 years--and I was told that no appointments were available in less than 4 weeks. However, when I mentioned "possible Basal Cell Carcinoma" I was able to get an appointment in less than one week.
As was already stated, I have to think that your problem is the result of your geographical location and the supply of MDs in that area, rather than a problem with your health insurance.
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Worse, based in the shenanigans in Washington, I expect curtailment of the tax credit that makes the plan affordable. 
