Thought I'd share something positive.

My son woke up this morning with a ridiculous rash. We got an appointment immediately with Dr. Villadinega. She was perplexed, so she called in Dr. Foster. They prescribed something to help with itching and then called over to dermatology and got us an appointment this afternoon.

Every doc we've seen there has been wonderful, and the full service right there on the same property is awesome. We've used urgent care, nurse on call, and countless other of their services and never been disappointed.

Our insurance costs are going up and raises are probably not going to happen at all at my place of business, but I'll likely stick with Scott and White because of the people and the service.

This is an example of what health scare should be!

I understand what you are saying, but you can do the exact same thing with BCBS. I go to Scott & White with my BCBS insurance and have the same experience great experience. My child loves Dr. Ransom. I really like Dr. Bonds.

Also on the plus side, if something happens to me, and I want to go to MD Anderson in Houston. I can do that, too, and it costs less. Just another perspective.

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you can do the exact same thing with BCBS. I go to Scott & White with my BCBS insurance and have the same experience

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You do realize the op is talking about the clinic and not the insurance? It amazes me how many people in this community equate the 2.

I can go pretty much where I choose with my insurance, but I too choose Scott & White for many of the same, exact reasons. It seems to reduce redundancy in testing, the docs seem to talk to each other (in our experience at least), and the electronic medical record is very helpful when seeing different docs and/or different specialties.

I was talking about the facility, but I also have S&W insurance. I think the co-pays are lower for me than with BC/BS, but I always verify what's the best deal for us during open enrollment.

My post was really just about what great care they provide.

A luxury with BCBS is that I don't have to get a referral to go see a specialist. I can simply call and make an appointment instead of letting my GP treat me, fail and then give and refer me.

I had a ruptured disc in my back while on S&W insurance and it's the 4th time I've had one, so I knew what was wrong. However, I had to go see my GP, he wanted to give me pain meds and muscle relaxers and wait it out. I asked him for a referral and he said let's just wait and see. A month later I finally get the referral and have surgery the following week.

I wanted to go see a dermatologist for my skin and he wouldn't give me the referral. He just looked on his computer for a prescription to help clear up my skin...it did nothing. I'm done with S&W, thank goodness.

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A luxury with BCBS is that I don't have to get a referral to go see a specialist

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Twix, can you not read? WOW, the ignorance is strong in this one!

[This message has been edited by AggieGradStudent09 (edited 7/20/2010 2:45p).]

I can read just fine. In my experience, I had to get a referral to see anyone (ie. specialist) except my GP and an OB/GYN. My primary care physician was located at the Scott and White Clinic here in College Station. Rather than listening to me (I had the same problem 4 times, I knew exactly what was wrong), he insisted on treating it himself. I had even called my nuerosurgeon and told him I had a ruptured disc and he said I needed to get a referral since I had S&W insurance. However, I obviously didn't get the same kind of care and treatment with my situation as the Summer Breeze did. My experience with my doctor at the S&W Clinic was not a favorable one. Overall, I liked my GP, I just wish he would have known his limitations and listened to me more.

Maybe their hands are tied, maybe he thought he was taking a conservative approach, but when you have a ruptured disc in your back, it's is extremely painful and I wanted it fixed ASAP.

[This message has been edited by Twix (edited 7/20/2010 3:07p).]

but wouldn't that be a requirement of the insurance rather than your doctor?

With Tricare, it is completely an insurance requirement that a referral is obtained prior to visiting with a specialist to control costs. The docs could care less, and, in fact, generally hate the fact. Have you ever asked your doctor why referrals are needed?

exactly. I tell you, being part of Tricare has really opened my eyes to truly managed care, especially if you are treated in an area where you obtain care at a MTF (military treatment facility).

Sorry Summer Breeze, your thread was hijacked, in no small part by me. I apologize. If we have any other discussion about this, lets do it over here...

http://mybcs.com/Content/Forums/Replies.aspx?tid=1659313

AggieGrad09 - This is the part I was referring to:

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Our insurance costs are going up and raises are probably not going to happen at all at my place of business, but I'll likely stick with Scott and White because of the people and the service.

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I am well aware of the difference between the plan and the clinic. I was agreeing with there being great doctors at the clinic. That is why I still go there. I just do not use the insurance any longer.

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With Tricare, it is completely an insurance requirement that a referral is obtained prior to visiting with a specialist to control costs. The docs could care less, and, in fact, generally hate the fact. Have you ever asked your doctor why referrals are needed?

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That's if you have Tricare Prime. Tricare Standard, last time I checked, had no such requirement.

The clinic and physicians in general are great, but the insurance is killing us. It has gotten worse ahead of the new gov. health care bill. The S&W insurance is pitted against the clinic, bad cop, good cop routine. I have had S&W insurance for 20+ years and it is going up, so much so that care is too expensive to receive. They are rationing care at our expense.

[This message has been edited by joe blow (edited 7/25/2010 10:23p).]

[This message has been edited by joe blow (edited 7/25/2010 10:24p).]

I wonder how much cheaper their premiums would be if SWHP cut their advertising by 75%?

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Dr. Foster

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Dr. Ransom

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Whoa... There are two blasts from my past...

Referrals to see a specialist are an insurance requirement. If you dont get one and insist on seeing someone, your insurance wont pay and you will pay for the visit out of pocket.

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The clinic and physicians in general are great, but the insurance is killing us. It has gotten worse ahead of the new gov. health care bill. The S&W insurance is pitted against the clinic, bad cop, good cop routine. They are rationing care at our expense.

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Blame the government for many of these problems, which happen with every insurance.

[This message has been edited by kyledr04 (edited 7/26/2010 5:43p).]

Sadly due to their premiums I switched from SW insurance to BCBS. The ONLY reason I went with BCBS over the 3rd option (can't remember what it was) is because we couldn't see SW dr's on that insurance.

JMac07, I'm doing the same thing. The other option is FirstCare, but S&W doesn't accept them. I've been with my doc long enough that I don't want to move on. BCBS should work just fine though and a bit easier on the budget.

Scott & White is great until their employees start screaming at you on the phone that they are going to deny your emergency room claim.

Even better when you visit your mailbox later that day and the check's sitting in there.

getting a referral to S&W specialist is really easy. I work for a doctor that takes S&W but is not in the S&W system. Referrals happen everyday, it all happens by fax. its not hard at all, they are very fast and accommadating. all you have to do is fill out a short form and fax it to the referral office.They schedule the appt and call the patient to inform them and then fax the PCP the details. If you are having a problem seeing a specialist---it's your doctor or your doctors nurse thats the hold up. Not the referral office!!!!!