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August 2016 Moms
imakeeff0rts
member
The OB saga continues - rant
imakeeff0rts
member
One thing after another.
The last time I posted, I was having an issue finding an OB in the states. I found one, fortunately.
This time, I'm having trouble getting pre-natal care in Germany. Last week, I went in to the clinic on post to do the formalities - POAS and get some vitamins. While there, the nurse told me that even though I'm having this baby in the states, I'm required to go to some class about having a baby in Germany. The class happens once every two weeks, and I was able to get into the one today. I had to take my son with me - I scheduled an appointment a month ago, and I was not cancelling that appointment. We've been fighting with weight loss and a food allergy, so he needed to be seen.
He was not having that class. He screamed to the point that it was a disruption, and I had to take him out. I didn't get credit for the class, which pissed me off, because I left during the portion that I was told was ok for me to skip (the how to get a birth certificate and SS number part). I went to speak to the person that oversees all of this, and asked why I was required to take this class when I'm not even having this baby in Germany anyway. I'm leaving next month ffs, so it's not like I'd have more than one appointment. I was told "because that's the rule". I was also then informed that there was an issue with my referral (because my insurance requires referrals to be seen off post), and that it'd continuously been kicked back. The referrals office is "backed up" by at least two weeks, according to this person and a guy from the referrals office, so nothing can be done to fix it for at least two weeks.
Once the referral is fixed and resubmitted, it takes another 5-7 business days for it to "go through", and the OB office won't see patients for 10-14 days after receiving the referral for some reason, which I verified with the OB office. Their explanation was "to verify the benefits", but that seems pretty ridiculous. Why does it take two weeks to make a phone call?
The OB office also confirmed that they absolutely will not see me without having this class despite the fact that I am not having this kid in Germany. By the time all of the three ringed circus above figures itself out, I'll be about a week from leaving anyway, and likely will not be able to get my records translated in time to have my appointment in the states. So, I'll be about 14 weeks before I have my first prenatal appointment.
My primary doctor and I have been fighting with medical command and my insurance all fucking day, and I'm over it. It should not be this difficult to have one single appointment.
The last time I posted, I was having an issue finding an OB in the states. I found one, fortunately.
This time, I'm having trouble getting pre-natal care in Germany. Last week, I went in to the clinic on post to do the formalities - POAS and get some vitamins. While there, the nurse told me that even though I'm having this baby in the states, I'm required to go to some class about having a baby in Germany. The class happens once every two weeks, and I was able to get into the one today. I had to take my son with me - I scheduled an appointment a month ago, and I was not cancelling that appointment. We've been fighting with weight loss and a food allergy, so he needed to be seen.
He was not having that class. He screamed to the point that it was a disruption, and I had to take him out. I didn't get credit for the class, which pissed me off, because I left during the portion that I was told was ok for me to skip (the how to get a birth certificate and SS number part). I went to speak to the person that oversees all of this, and asked why I was required to take this class when I'm not even having this baby in Germany anyway. I'm leaving next month ffs, so it's not like I'd have more than one appointment. I was told "because that's the rule". I was also then informed that there was an issue with my referral (because my insurance requires referrals to be seen off post), and that it'd continuously been kicked back. The referrals office is "backed up" by at least two weeks, according to this person and a guy from the referrals office, so nothing can be done to fix it for at least two weeks.
Once the referral is fixed and resubmitted, it takes another 5-7 business days for it to "go through", and the OB office won't see patients for 10-14 days after receiving the referral for some reason, which I verified with the OB office. Their explanation was "to verify the benefits", but that seems pretty ridiculous. Why does it take two weeks to make a phone call?
The OB office also confirmed that they absolutely will not see me without having this class despite the fact that I am not having this kid in Germany. By the time all of the three ringed circus above figures itself out, I'll be about a week from leaving anyway, and likely will not be able to get my records translated in time to have my appointment in the states. So, I'll be about 14 weeks before I have my first prenatal appointment.
My primary doctor and I have been fighting with medical command and my insurance all fucking day, and I'm over it. It should not be this difficult to have one single appointment.
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Re: The OB saga continues - rant
Married 5/2/09 To my best friend
I can do whatever I want if I pay out of pocket, but we can't afford that. On top of doctor's visits being expensive without having insurance coverage, I'd also be paying in Euro which would make it even more expensive.
Yeah, I'm going to wait. It seems so stupid that it's been this difficult just to get an appointment. I mean, how can being pregnant in a foreign country be THAT different? I just don't understand.
I can understand labor and delivery being different (and some of the policies are, which is a part of the reason that I'm choosing to go home to have the baby), but for one appointment, I wouldn't figure that it'd be that big of a deal.
When I lived in Germany, and had to be referred to a German specialist for my Asthma. SCARIEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. I mean, straight out of the Human Centipede, scary.They induced an attack, yelled at me because I had been homeschooled (major no-no to the Germans), and told me I couldn't leave. Needless to say, I booked it out of there. Didn't even have my shoes on. There is probably a warrant out for me in K-town somewhere.
-a heart at peace gives life to the body-
This *may* help you.
I live in a very rural community, and my OBGYN is over an hour away.
My OB did my "first appointment" over the phone, due to the commute. They believed me I correctly POAS, went through the initial consult, and checked my prenatal vitamins, all through the phone. It took about 45 minutes, so it may be a rather expensive phone call, but less of a hassle then what you are doing now?
Maybe see if you can talk to somewhere near where you'll be living and ask if that is something they are willing to do?
That is scary! And that's one of the reasons that I'm NOT having this baby here. I'll row a boat home before I do this here. I have been less than impressed with the German healthcare I've received thus far, and I'm not going to subject myself or a newborn to that nonsense.
@Allisun85
Every phone call I made to the states, I asked if they'd do a consult over the phone. No's abound. Either they see me in person or they don't take me at all.
I'm seriously debating whether or not to just go back to the states earlier than I planned. I planned on leaving mid-February, but things are just kind of aligning in a way that seems like it would be better for me to leave earlier. For example, I have three herniated discs in my neck, and two are pretty bad. I've been going to physical therapy, and my neighbor and I have been exchanging child care. My neighbor is leaving, my back up just had a c-section, I've been asking around for someone to watch him and no one is responding, so it's looking like I'm going to have to give it up for the time being. He was enrolled with the daycare for hourly care, but I could never get a spot when I needed it, so I let his enrollment lapse because it just wasn't worth it. Recently they've had some spots open up, but it seems stupid to go through the enrollment process again when I'm only going to be here for less than a month and a half. That, coupled with all of this nonsense, bad weather, being trapped in the house...
It's a long time to be separated from my husband, but it seems like our time would be better served getting the care he and I both need. It's a tough decision that I'm having a really difficult time making.
No lie, it's not worth it at all. We made the decision today that I'll be leaving in a couple of weeks. I'm over it.
To play devil's advocate though, I can see their side. You should have to take the class. It's the protocol and there's no guarantee you will have your baby in the States. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure you will since that's your plan. But just your word isn't reliable in their eyes (no one's is). Something could go wrong and prevent you from leaving Germany. You know what I mean?
Were you allowed to bring your DS to the class? If not, I can also see why they refused you credit. Overall, it's a really shitty situation and I'm sorry you're dealing with this nightmare.
Like it says in my OP, I HAD to take DS with me, sine he had an appointment immediately after the class. The person giving the class told me that I could skip the last portion about getting a birth certificate and SS number, since I won't be here anyway. So I skipped that part to get him to his appointment (like I was told that I could), and I still did not get credit for the class.
I'm still not sure why I didn't get credit, but I'm leaving in a week and a half anyway, so I'll continue to take it up with MedCom and make sure that this doesn't happen to anyone else.