Idaho Healthcare vs. California and Oregon Healthcare (low income, 2014)

[slay6454]

My husband and I have been trying for years to get out of California. For multiple reasons including child custody issues and taking care of elderly parents we were just not able to get out of here. Now due to husbands health issues that is something else to take into consideration when considering a move.

The healthcare system in California moves at the speed of Molasses. It took 5 months to get the health insurance coverage to go thru due to a comedy of multiple clerical errors on their part and it took 9 more months to get the 1st Spine surgery authorized and completed. We are now looking at a second Spine surgery. Unfortunately we are back at square one because our Orthopedic Surgeon is no longer at our facility because his contract was not renewed. My husbands situation is NOT work comp related.

At this point we are thinking that maybe a move to either Oregon or Idaho might be in our best interests for speedier care. Does anyone have a recent experience with getting serious medical issues or surgeries covered in these two states? Any info is greatly appreciated.

[mistyriver]

Wouldn't that depend on your insurance company?

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by mistyriver

Wouldn't that depend on your insurance company?

Agree with Misty. First it will depend on who the insurance company contracts with or doesn't and how much you want to pay on your own.

I'd encourage you to talk to your insurance company first, find out if it provides benefits in other states and if you know, you can look for providers yourself. If you are covered in other states, you can go ahead with a surgical opinion anywhere your insurance will pay for it, with you paying the balance, of course, or a secondary insurance.

I'd get the surgery ASAP, if you can find an insurance covered surgeon you'd trust then after recovery rethink the moving.


Good Luck!

MSR

[slay6454]

Basically we have Obamacare. Insurance is what it is. My question was more about the hoops that certain areas of the Country have you jump thru and the speed that care is handled from Dr. recommendation to scheduled procedures. I was previously a nurse working in homehealth care. Insurance was not so much the factor as the professionals that would either push or not push to get the patients the care that was needed. I also noticed that in Pa. when my dad was in the hospital there dying from Lung Cancer the care was top notch and it had nothing to do with the insurance coverage. It was simple care and compassion to do for the patient.

[mistyriver]

Originally Posted by slay6454

Basically we have Obamacare. Insurance is what it is. My question was more about the hoops that certain areas of the Country have you jump thru and the speed that care is handled from Dr. recommendation to scheduled procedures. I was previously a nurse working in homehealth care. Insurance was not so much the factor as the professionals that would either push or not push to get the patients the care that was needed. I also noticed that in Pa. when my dad was in the hospital there dying from Lung Cancer the care was top notch and it had nothing to do with the insurance coverage. It was simple care and compassion to do for the patient.

I've lived all over the country and never noticed any regional differences in how quickly doctors refer to other doctors or procedures.
Are you talking about Medicaid? There is no actual insurance called Obamacare. It's individual policies provided by various companies or Medicaid depending on your income level.

[cujo1950]

I recently had to have surgery done, not emergency, and I thought the process was much quicker than similar circumstances in So. Cal. ( I had Kaiser). It was around 3 months from initial family Dr. visit to seeing a specialist and having surgery completed, for what that's worth.

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by mistyriver

I've lived all over the country and never noticed any regional differences in how quickly doctors refer to other doctors or procedures.
Are you talking about Medicaid? There is no actual insurance called Obamacare. It's individual policies provided by various companies or Medicaid depending on your income level.

Again, I'll agree with Misty. Are you aware Gov. Otter did not expand Medicaid? So only you would be able to review whether you would still be eligible for one of the three plans. I don't know if a person/family can still be signed up in 2014.

I don't know if you are still working as a nurse or not. If so, check what it would take to be licensed in Idaho. Then focus your work search on hospitals where surgeons perform the specific surgery your husband needs.

Remember some of the state is at higher altitude. If your husband has pulmonary or cardiac issues, check with your PCP about the safety of moving.

It sounds like checking in with your PCP would be helpful anyway. A phone call, letter etc. to a qualified ortho surgeon could move things along for your husband. Or a referral to a different Ortho surgeon.

Good luck

MSR

[slay6454]

Yes we have what would be considered Medicaid. In California its called Medi-cal

[slay6454]

Originally Posted by Mtn. States Resident

Again, I'll agree with Misty. Are you aware Gov. Otter did not expand Medicaid? So only you would be able to review whether you would still be eligible for one of the three plans. I don't know if a person/family can still be signed up in 2014.

I don't know if you are still working as a nurse or not. If so, check what it would take to be licensed in Idaho. Then focus your work search on hospitals where surgeons perform the specific surgery your husband needs.

Remember some of the state is at higher altitude. If your husband has pulmonary or cardiac issues, check with your PCP about the safety of moving.

It sounds like checking in with your PCP would be helpful anyway. A phone call, letter etc. to a qualified ortho surgeon could move things along for your husband. Or a referral to a different Ortho surgeon.

Good luck

MSR

I am a retired nurse now.

Here is the situation.
We have Medi-cal due to low income since husband can no longer work. I am self employed. It is very frustrating having been a nurse and wanting to see my husband be well but at the same time knowing I can't do anything to help except use my knowledge of procedures to try and expedite everything and anything that I can.

The problem comes in when the Insurance wastes time by putting Orthos on the list that don't even take their Ins. It took 1 month of repeated phone calls, faxing, and filling out online contact forms trying to reach the 1st referred Ortho. There was always a message machine that would answer saying calls would be returned in 3-4 days but they never were. We finally had to have the Ins. 3 way in the call to the Ortho only to find out that they didn't take the Ins. One of the things I have recently started doing is get the list of Ortho's from the Insurance Co. then call each one to find out how far out they are booking appts. research their credentials and see if they have any complaints against their License. My GP is nice enough that he will refer us to any Ortho we request.

It seems that the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing The process is so long it almost feels as though the Insurance companies are hoping you'll die before they have to pay anything

[mistyriver]

I don't have any great answers for you but I'm so sorry you're having such a tough time. It has to be awful seeing your husband suffering and having to jump through hoops like this.