2 ms·

Related, is it difficult all over the US to find mental health resources? Wait times for counselors and therapists are months+. Additionally, insurance seems

Related, is it difficult all over the US to find mental health resources? Wait times for counselors and therapists are months+. Additionally, insurance seems to not cover mental health stuff well if at all, if you're lucky to get an appointment it seems you're paying out of pocket.

kayodelycaon 3y ago
Yes. Last time, it took me 5 months to replace a psychiatrist. I had to wait almost a month to get on waiting list. There is no online sign up. It’s all by phone. Most of the time , you call and it goes to voice mail. You leave a message and never get called back. The few times I have gotten a person, most of them said they weren’t taking new patients. If you miss more than one appointment without calling the day before, some places drop you. Living in the US, sometimes it feels like I’m not worth keeping around unless someone else can profit from my existence.
- ChuckNorris89 3y ago
  I mean, your experience in the US is exactly like mine in European public care system looking for a psychiatrist or other more niche doctor: Multi month long waiting lists, doctors who are full and don't take any new patients, needing to go private out of pocket. Even the good private ones are booked weeks into the future.
  - vaidhy 3y ago
    But it is the private health care in US. There is no other option unlike you who can choose to go private. And I would guess that your out of pocket payment will not cause you to go to bankruptcy.
fancyfish 3y ago
Yes, many (if not most?) providers stopped taking insurance for various reasons. The rates provided by insurers are a fraction of the rates they can get charging out of pocket. And insurers try to shorten therapy sessions, or ask why a patient still needs therapy, etc. I don’t know why mental health specifically has these issues out of all the medical professions though.

kayodelycaon 3y ago

Yes. Last time, it took me 5 months to replace a psychiatrist. I had to wait almost a month to get on waiting list. There is no online sign up. It’s all by phone. Most of the time , you call and it goes to voice mail. You leave a message and never get called back. The few times I have gotten a person, most of them said they weren’t taking new patients. If you miss more than one appointment without calling the day before, some places drop you. Living in the US, sometimes it feels like I’m not worth keeping around unless someone else can profit from my existence.

ChuckNorris89 3y ago
I mean, your experience in the US is exactly like mine in European public care system looking for a psychiatrist or other more niche doctor: Multi month long waiting lists, doctors who are full and don't take any new patients, needing to go private out of pocket. Even the good private ones are booked weeks into the future.
- vaidhy 3y ago
  But it is the private health care in US. There is no other option unlike you who can choose to go private. And I would guess that your out of pocket payment will not cause you to go to bankruptcy.

fancyfish 3y ago

Yes, many (if not most?) providers stopped taking insurance for various reasons. The rates provided by insurers are a fraction of the rates they can get charging out of pocket. And insurers try to shorten therapy sessions, or ask why a patient still needs therapy, etc. I don’t know why mental health specifically has these issues out of all the medical professions though.