My doctor is refusing to see me—what are my options?

I’ve been seeing the same primary care doctor through Medicare for about ten years now. I end up paying out of pocket for every single test and prescription because she refuses to write me a single script or referral, even though I have a mountain of specialist reports proving I’m actually sick. I’ve never taken a sick day before, but my health has tanked over the last year. Some days, I barely have the strength to show up to work, let alone actually do it. Yesterday, I actually collapsed at my job. A customer had to drive me to my doctor, but she flat-out refused to give me medical leave just because my temperature was only 99.5 and my blood pressure was 130/80. She acted like it was nothing.

Is it true that you can't get a doctor's note if your temp and blood pressure look normal? What if you actually broke your leg?

I dragged myself into work today because I couldn't just stay home, and now I have to head out for site visits. I'm terrified I'll pass out behind the wheel and plow into someone who didn't do anything wrong.

Can I go seek a second opinion from a different doctor, and how exactly do I go about doing that?

Kimberly White63 said:I’ve been a patient under my primary care doctor through Medicare for about 10 years now. I end up paying out of pocket for every single test and medication because she refuses to issue anything—no prescriptions, no referrals—even though I have a mountain of specialist reports clearly proving I’m sick. I’ve never taken a sick day before, but my health has taken such a massive hit over the last year that sometimes I barely have the strength to make it to work, let alone actually perform. Yesterday, I actually collapsed at work. A customer had to drive me straight to my doctor, but she flat-out refused to sign off on a sick leave, acting like it was nothing just because my temperature was only 103°F and my blood pressure was 130/80.

Is it actually true that you can't get medical leave if your temp and blood pressure are within "normal" ranges? What happens if, say, you break your leg?

I forced myself into work today because I couldn't just stay home, and now I have to head out to inspect some construction sites. I'm terrified I'll pass out behind the wheel and plow into someone who didn't do anything wrong.

Can I go seek a second opinion from a different doctor, and if so, how do I go about doing that?

It’s pretty straightforward. Grab your medical records and head straight to a doctor working a different shift, or find one closer to you if needed. If they give you any trouble, file a formal complaint against the physician with Medicare.

Well, just switch doctors. I don't quite see why you feel obligated to stay with her...

You have the option to change your primary physician any time throughout the year now.

Thanks, I had no idea you could switch doctors mid-year like that.

You can switch once a year just because you feel like it! If you’re looking to change before that year is up, you'll just need to submit a formal request explaining your reasons.

Otherwise, if you're dealing with those "miracle worker" doctors, having a quick chat with the hospital director usually does the trick. 😬
And honestly, why have you been struggling with this for ten years now?

Honestly, I think we’ve covered pretty much everything already...

That’s just a private clinic with a Medicare contract. I doubt they even have a director. My last doctor wouldn't even see me if I asked.

Here’s what I dug up online:

You can switch your primary care physician once a year after your last selection period expires. During the rest of the year, you can only change doctors for specific reasons:

if you move to a new residence
if you plan on being away from home for more than three months
if your doctor retires, moves their office, or loses their contract with Medicare
if your doctor is over their maximum patient limit
if there is a breakdown in the doctor-patient relationship that makes continued treatment impossible.

If you cite a breakdown in the relationship as your reason, a special committee will review your request. In these cases, the committee members are appointed by the head of your local Medicare regional office.

I don't think that process is going to be fast...