if you have Medicaid does that mean that doctors can say you...?

Question

arn't sick but you really are? because baby seems to be sick and iv'e told his doctor about it and he just brushes it off and says nothing is wrong. Iv'e told baby's doc numerous times that I think he's sick, and he still does nothing.. could this be the workings of goverment paid insurance? what do you think? I think that if you have goverment insurance they treat you differently. is this true? or am I inaging it?

i meant imagining it?

Answer 1

I have Medicaid and feel that yes, the doctors do sometimes "make light" of situations or symptoms I take more seriously. I do believe having government insurance results in a lack of respect towards the patients. I thought I was imagining it, too. Then I started talking to other Medicaid moms and found I was not the only one who felt this way.

Legally, I'm pretty sure that you are entitled to the same quality of medical care as someone with private insurance or paying out of pocket. But this does not seem to change the fact that some patients feel they were treated "differently" somehow... Usually like they are ignorant, like they are not worthy of having children, or that they are doing something wrong.

I am really sorry to hear that your doctor is not listening to you. If you really feel something is wrong with your baby, by all means, BE PERSISTENT!! Keep taking him to see the doctor. Do your own research on medical sites and baby health sites, and see if there are any indications that he may indeed be sick, based on the symptoms he's showing. Print these out and take them to the doctor too, to show your doctor why you feel this way. Ask him to explain to you why you should not worry. If nothing else, try going to a different hospital, if possible. (I did this mid pregnancy because I felt I was being discriminated against, and was indeed being treated very rudely by my doctors)

Answer 2

No you are not imgaining it they do treat you different depending on your insurance.My son and I both have medicaid except his is through BlueCrossBlue shield for disability. I noticed when we both had the same insurance we were treated very differently. When we had Cigna the doctors and nurses treated us with respect and then when we got omnicare we were treated like dirt. I am currently 37 weeks pregnant and I was being seen at a place called UT medical group they keep tossing me to different ob Dr's every month and then when i requested an ultrasound they tried to lie and say the insurance would not cover it...After that I switched to a new ob and he is the only doctor i can honestly say that has treated me with respect since i had this insurance. I have filed unfair treatment complaint against the UT medical group and I am looking into also suing them.

Answer 3

I think that some doctors discriminate, I know there not suppose to but they do, when my brother and his girlfriend had there baby the doctor wouldn't even circumsize my nephew because they were on medicaid at the time. It all depends on what doctor you see and what hospital, When they had the baby they were out and she went into labor fast and they went to the nearest hospital other than there own. So they felt that the doctor treated them like crap because of there medicaid status. Im sure the doctors are not suppose to discriminate, but that doesnt mean they dont. I would be taking my lil one to a different doctor just to be on the safe side. You never know.

Answer 4

They are not supposed to treat you any differently. Have you thought about going to a different doctor? If you know your baby is sick then take him/her to another doctor, or even the ER.

Answer 5

Doctors need to learn to listen to the mom. It took me 6 months to get those da** docs to listen to me when I told them that my son did NOTHING but puke. Dos think they know it all and if there isn't anything on the surface then there isn't anything at all. Try taking the child to a childrens hospital. That's what I had to do to get someone to help my son. (He had G.E.R.D and is doing great now)

Answer 6

Your doctor knows best. But motherly instincts are usually right. Tell your doctor whats wwrong with the baby and ask their opinion. I had medicaid with my daughter and did great. Good Luck

Answer 7

I don't know anout the Medicaid policies, but if you go to the ER....they have to treat you by law. They cannot turn you away, with or without health insurance.

Answer 8

Unfortunately, yes, it does happen. Money talks. So if you're not paying, you may get lower quality treatment. It is not *always* the case, but it does happen. It's sad, isn't it? And, it's true that legally they can't turn you away, but they *can* brush off your concerns.

Answer 9

If I was you I would call hoosier health wise and turn the doctor in and tell them you would like to find a new doctor for your baby ....

Answer 10

Try seeing a different doctor if you truely believe something is wrong with your child.