New Insurance Blues and Other Gripes

Our employers got new health insurance at the beginning of this month. Seemed like a good thing. After all, our old insurance sucked ass. It was taking them months to pay a claim, and every now and then I would get these like $600 medical bills for something they hadn't paid for yet, and yeah, it threw me into a panic at times (needless to say!). So, I was all fine and happy about getting new insurance. BUT, we still have to get referrals to see specialists. I was under the impression that all the info on our previous doctors would be sent to the insurance company, and that there would be no problem with continuing services. WRONG! I was scheduled to go to the opthamologist on June 15th. The doctor's office called me, the day before my appointment mind you, to tell me that I needed a referral from my doctor in order for me to be seen. Ok...no problem. I didn't want to go to the doctor that day anyhow (hehe). I was a little peeved that the doctor's office didn't call me til the day before my appointment to tell me this though, but no harm, no foul. I was rescheduled to go on June 20th. They again called me, this time on the 17th (a Friday of course), to tell me they still hadn't gotten my referral. UGH! So, I had to reschedule again, this time for July 6th. They called me yesterday AGAIN to tell me they still hadn't gotten the referral. This time, I called my PCP and told them I needed the referral (last time I called the rheumatologist's office), and the lady told me they'd call me back on my cell phone today to let me know something. This was at 1:45 pm. It is now 4:15. I guess they are busy or something. I don't want to have to reschedule again. This is starting to get ridiculous. Last time, with my other, not as good (or so they say) insurance, I had NO problem whatsoever getting a referral. What is so different about it now? Good lord. I am going to go nuts if they call me again and tell me that they still don't have my referral. It is not like I WANT to go get my eyes dilated, lights shined in them, photographed, and whatever the heck else they are going to do to them. I hope that I don't have to go through this when I have my rheumatologist's appointment next month! So, now I am sitting here, waiting for the doctor's office to call me, and I really have to pee, but I don't want to miss their call. I guess I will have to take my cell phone with me to the bathroom - lol. Oh well. When you gotta go, you gotta go!