Is this the Future of Health Care?

I live in Massachusetts where the pilot program for national health care was passed with little objection. I am enrolled in the state plan which is open to everyone who wants to participate.

About six months after initial enrollment, I was sent papers requesting updated financial information. I filled them out and mailed them in.

A few days later I got a phone call asking if I had mailed the papers. I said I had. Two or three days later I got another phone call asking if I had mailed the papers. I said I had. Three weeks later I got a notice that I was being canceled from the program for not returning the paperwork.

Then in July of last year I went to the local hospital and got fresh paperwork to mail to the state. I filled out the papers and mailed them with postal tracking so that there would be no way for them to deny receipt. In August I got a notice saying that it appeared the applicant (me) is qualified to participate in the state program. The notice said that I would be getting more paperwork within 2 weeks. I waited f or the promised paperwork to arrive....

That was August of 2009 and Lo and Behold!! Today in the mail I got my new medical card!!
It only took seven months!! Now that is what I call efficient! During those 7 months I did not call or write to them. I had saved the August notice in case they tried to hit me with the $1000 fine for not having insurance. But now I am all legal again.

The health care system in Massachusetts is a mess and I promise you that the national version will be no better.

I only used the insurance once during my initial enrollment and this is what happened:

I called the assigned doctor to get an appointment for a problem I was having with my ears. They said I could be seen in two weeks. I said but I need to see the doctor now. They said "Go to the emergency room."

I thought part of the selling point of this government run health care was to reduce emergency room visits which burden the system... Hmmmm

So I went to the ER and was treated very well. They referred me to an ear, nose, and throat guy. He ordered a few thousand dollars worth of tests for which I had to go to three more appointments at three different locations.

Two weeks later when the results were back, the ENT doc referred me to another specialist 80 miles away. I never called to make that appointment. I have no patience for all the tests, referrals, doctors visits with no results... I long for the good old days before everyone was a specialist and there were real doctors who would take the time to find out what the problem was and fix it.

The problem I was having is still with me, but I have adjusted to it and will seek no further medical care for it even though I have this swell health insurance.