I have never done this before - that is, not gone for my annual exam. I was due for one, and had to cancel, due to the fact that we have no health insurance right now (DH lost his job ). I ran out of refills for my birth control pills, and called in today, to ask the nurse to ask the doc if he would write me one for just a couple of months, hoping and praying that DH's situation changes ASAP (oh my gosh, that's another story for another day).

Anyway, the nurse lectured me on the phone about how normally they don't do this, I need to come in for an exam to be sure nothing has changed (I'm like, NOTHING about me physically has changed! still weigh the same, etc etc), how it's important to have an exam (again, I said, I have NEVER missed my annual exam, and once this situation is over, it's the FIRST thing I am going to take care of!).... She said she'd call me back.

Just called back, the doctor said NO. So..... Now I am without BC pills! Aside from the obvious, the pills really help with terrible cramps and the intensity of the period. Edited this to add, I have been on these same pills, with the same doc, for like 7 years! NOTHING has changed!

I'm so mad, bummed and disappointed in my doc. Thanks for listening....

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Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant, filled with odd waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't always like. - Lemony Snicket

Two thoughts.....try talking to another nurse or to the doctor directly......second thought, try your family doctor. I don't know if either will work, but worth a try!! So sorry for you! I know how frustrating it can be.

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"If they are serious about alternative renewable energy sources they should really look into 3 year olds!"

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~~~~**Maryann**~~~~

I just got a firm grip on reality....
Now I can strangle it

can you ask for some samples mine gave me about 2-3 months samples once & if they wont do that try planned parenthood places like that they will do it based on your income I had to do that. I had no insurance I had to pay full price but it wasnt too bad I think it was around $85 for my exam $30-35 a month for my pills.

Another thing if you get different from what you had before be careful thats how I had my last baby planned parenthood switched my pills she is truly a blessing I love her dearly but she was unexpected best suprise I ever had but at the time I was in shock!!!

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mom of 3 greats girls

Call planned parenthood yes you will need the exam but they are cheaper than your doc. Good luck

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Laura
Please visit my blog
http://mylifeinlaurasworld.blogspot.com/

No, they won't give me any samples. The nurse was not very nice OR helpful to me... I guess she thinks I'm just trying to avoid my exam. All the doc had to do was look at my file and he would see how faithfully I have come in each year for this.

Hmm, hadn't thought of PP. Thanks.

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Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant, filled with odd waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't always like. - Lemony Snicket

I can't believe they didn't do that. . I have had a Dr call in Refills before when I couldn't make a appt they had no problem with it . My parents have forgotten their medicine when they were out of town and their doctor called it in for them.

If it was me I would changed Doctors even after this blows over. . You explain the situation and it seems like he could care less. If you were asking for a year prescription that would be a different story. Unbelievable!

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Angels may not come when you call them, but they'll always be there when you need them.

I know this seems like something personal against you, however, I don't believe it is. Doctors are not allowed to hand out prescriptions over the phone if they haven't seen the patient within the last year. Nor are pharmacies allowed to refill a prescription, even if there are refills left on it, if the prescription is over a year old. I'm speaking from personal experience.

While I understand your frustration, I agree with the doctor's stand on this. I'm sure he is covering himself from liability as well.

I would also contact your local Health Dept. and see if they can see you and maybe even get you the pills??? I don't know how they operate, so I can't say for sure.

Good Luck, and I hope things get better for your entire situation.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

In your doctor's defense, there is potential legal liability for prescribing the pills w/o a check up in the required period. My doctor will only give me a refill if it's been less than a year, otherwise i have to come in.

i would definitely try planned parenthood which will be cheaper, or maybe you could borrow the exam cost from a close friend or family member?

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rhapsody112@gmail.com

Believe me, I am so ticked off right now, I'm considering changing... Unfortunately, though, he is a good doctor and this is a good practice. It's just, as you say, I'm not asking for a year's worth, just a couple of months' worth! I TOTALLY explained the circumstances. I understand from their perspective about covering themselves...I just think they could have made an exception this time.

Thanks for everyone's support. Every day I wake up hoping that DH will get an interview and a job...

Oh well. Thanks.
Suzanne

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Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant, filled with odd waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't always like. - Lemony Snicket

I second planned parenthood. Once our income was so low that we received family health plus through the state, and then it was determined we made to much, so we had to sign up with insurance through my work. Well there was a period that I was without insurance for quite a while. All I had to do was going over a questionaire with a nurse which basically just asked how many people in your family, and hourly wage. I ended up qualifying for FREE services and BC. I'd much rather try there, than stop a BC I've been on for 7 yrs! I'm sorry your drs office is doing this, I can understand both sides, but I would HATE to be in that situation!

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If you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now, quiet! The're about to announce the lottery numbers... - Homer Simpson

Or try www.tcoyf.com. Invest in the book and a basal digital thermometer - the software's not necessary - and you don't need bc pills at all. I'm on Cycle 17, effectively preventing pregnancy. If you check the message boards on that website, you'll find women who've been preventing successfully for years. No health insurance or regular cost at all; just a few minutes a day of charting certain fertility signs. (not to be confused with the ineffective rhythm method, which even ob/gyns will do).

The Health Dept. should be able to do an exam on a sliding fee scale and provide the BC pills. If your income is low enough then it will be free. Same with Planned parenthood, so there are other options. As far as the prescription, I would have to side with the doctor. IF you were to have developed cervical cancer or anything else over the past year and it was later found out that pills were provided without an annual exam, it would leave him open for liability. If I were a doctor I wouldn't take the risk.

I have been thinking about you all day. I second (or third) the Health Dept. It is income based. When I first moved here I only made $9000 the entire year and I did not have health ins. I was able to get an exam for next to nothing and my bc for 3 months was $5.25 I have several friends who get their bc through the health dept even though they have insurance b/c it is so much cheaper. Definitely worth looking into!

Best wishes!! I've been where you are and I'll remember you and your dh in my prayers!
Julie

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"If they are serious about alternative renewable energy sources they should really look into 3 year olds!"

call the pharmacy and see if they could call the doctor on your behalf.

The doctor will not renew your prescription because you have not had an exam. He is following safe and good practice guidelines for your safety. You state he is a good doctor, well this is one of the things that makes him good. There are people in this society who would beg and beg and wear him down, then sue the pants off him if there was a problem. Did you ask if you could come in and make monthly payments on the exam? I bet he would let you.

I just had my yearly exam, and while waiting for my doctor, I read the little sign about what medicare generally covers/doesn't cover, and the cost for things that aren't covered. I read that the pap exam is around $62 out-of-pocket. At least at my doctors office.
I agree with calling to ask about the cost of the exam and/or payment plans. It might be less than you think it will be. And if nothing else, planned parenthood is always an option, as others have suggested.

It sounds like it's all nurse heresay. Have you tried talking to the office manager and seeing if there is ANYTHING they can do for you? Maybe if you tell them you are so upset to the point you are considering changing obgyn's they will give you options...such as a payment plan or a special rate.
If you can't get anywhere with them, leave a message for the doctor to call you directly. If you tell them you need just 2 more months to come up with the cash...they may just fill your prescription. Hopefully this helps!!

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Instead of asking for a script without being seen, why not explain your situation and ask if there is any way you can make payment arrangements on your exam and visit? Changing Doctors isn't going to help you in any way....any doctor who does not know you, surely is not going to write you a script for anything..... I doubt going to another Dr and asking them what their policy is on writing scrpits without being seen will not go over too big......

SIL is a Dr and there is no way she is going to write a scrpit for anyone without backing it up with being seen.not even family members!....the risk of a lawsuit and loosing her lively hood is too great.....

You should have been given the option to continue your health insurance for at least 30 days, why not just pay for the month, go to the Dr and the pharmacy and get your exam and be done with it.....

Asking a doctor to put his medical license on the line is kinda unfair to the doctor....if there is something wrong with you or you are pregnant, he can be open to all sorts of lawsuits should the pills cause side effects.......

For one thing, DH lost his job in December - the week before Christmas, actually. For another, our insurance ran out at the end of the month (December) and COBRA would run us nearly $1000 a month for family coverage, which we could not afford. [Don't get me started about being w/o insurance, I am the most conservative person I know and it's been freaking me out] Lastly, I understand - as I already said - about the doc's point of view. I am not/was not trying to put anyone at risk. I am most definitely NOT pregnant, and nothing at all about my health had changed. I was just hoping he could make an exception this one time. I have a consistent health history with him, going in every year for exams, taking the same meds, etc etc. He has been my doctor for 8+ years now.

Thanks everyone, for your suggestions. Now if anyone has any tips on me keeping my sanity OR can give my DH a job, that'd be even better!!!

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Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant, filled with odd waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't always like. - Lemony Snicket

It must depend on the state or the practice because I've run out and had the pharmacy call the doctors office and had it refilled for 12 more months at one time and then a few years later they would only refill for 3 more months but they definately refilled it.....I would try calling through the pharmacy. My ob/gyn is really hard to get an appointment unless your prego though, it's always a few months wait. So that might be part of the reason. Good Luck!
Jodi

I don't really have anything to add thats helpful, but I wanted to at least chime in and say I understand how you feel. My husband lost his job in July of 2005 and we haven't had health insurance since. He's since found work at various times, but its (the latest contract has lasted near continuously since July of 2006) always without health insurance. I ended up asking my mother to pick up the tab for my annuals and birth control - because as I pointed out to her its not like we can AFFORD to have a kid now even if we wanted one. I have this mortal fear that something horrid is going to happen - and even though my parents would likely pick up the tab (only and adopted child) for me (or him). Its just well - extremely stressful. His current contract ends in mid-April and we have no asssurance there will be any work after that. I hope that you are able to get the birth control you need, and that he finds work.

ps, I did manage to get some help early one from one of our states local clinics for people with low incomes - until medicaid messed up my paperwork. They currently won't provide me with anything until I can provide them with paperwork that doesn't exist - ie paystubs for certain months from companies my husband wasn't working for at that time etc. No matter how many times I tell them he wasn't working for that company then, or anybody - they keep insisting I give them the paperwork (sigh). If this contract ends we might be able to straighten it out since he will have 6 months of working records from the same company again.

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Meddle ye not in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crispy, and taste good with Ketchup!

Sorry if you are offended, but being without health insurance is not the end of the world. Should you have a sudden illness that puts in the hospital there are programs out there that will help you.... Anyone who changes jobs, has the risk of being without insurance for some period of time unless you are fortunate enough to find a job where coverage starts on day one........ And really how can you be so sure your health has not changed? No offense, but I think you need to step back and relax...if having birth control means so much to you, ask the doctor to see you and pay for the visit out of pocket.....Yes it stinks but that is the state of this country today., not everyone is covered and some who are are badly covered....there are THOUSANDS of people who have no insurance...but there are also safety nets should you truely need to see a doctor and can not afford it...instead of wasting your energy being POed at a doctor who is only covering his butt, start calling local agencies and see what you qualify for...you may be able to get welfare, just medical coverage, food stamps etc....bitching about the Dr is not going to solve your situation.... MORE people qualify then realize it and sadly go without becuase they "assume" theymake too much or don't have the time or energy to find out.....but not knowing what is in your area, I really can't help except to say open the phone book and start asking questions! You may have to go to a different doctor, but again, you have decide how bad you want to get the pills and what effort you are willing to put out...
Start with:
County assistance office/welfare
Chidren and Youth services
Planned Parenthood
Local clinics
---You should qualify for most if not all if your without an income----

Really you need to be proactive.... When I got pregnant with my son, I thought I was screwed...we had no health insurance since Hubby had just started a new job, I live in a hick little county and I found a Prenatel clinic that saw me all through my pregnancy and delivery for $10 a visit! Vitemins were FREE! They even ended up giving me 3 cases of formula b/c it was about to expire...... I don't mean to be a B----, but look around .....call around and explain your situatation.....

I LOVE Planned Parenthood! They are so great There is no waiting like in the Doctor's office and everything just goes so smoothly. I have an OB/GYN, but I still prefer Planned Parenthood! That is where I go for my annuals and my Depo shots . . .

Most physicians have ONE nurse who handles phone requests--either one for each doctor in the practice or "the phone nurse" for the whole practice. So, chances are no other nurse will be able or possibly even willing to speak to the OP.


From the OP--while birth control is the primary reason for the pills, she also needs them to help prevent painful periods (which I understand can be debiliatating for some women)....


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OP, check you local county Health Dept/Health Unit they usually will provide family planning services on a sliding fee. I do not know about Planned Parenthood as I have never had the opportunity to utilize their services, but from what everyone has said they also provide services based on your income (on a sliding fee scale...)

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"