- New Clinic (aka Innie Clinic as they are In Network as opposed to yesterday which for IVF purposes is mostly Outtie) is about the same distance away than the other office, so there's no real difference there. [0 points]
- They had a lovely fish acquarium with the exact same fish from Finding N.emo! (ha, ha...I know this one is not very important for narrowing down your RE clinics...but I can't help it!) [5 points!]
- Music in the waiting room [2 points!]
- The technition they had who took my blood pressure, weight, other stats was nice but drove me bananas when she took down my allergies. "How do you spell Tetracycline?" "Sulfa is s-u-l-p-h-a right?" No! Then I had to spell everything else! Cipro, C-i-p-r-o. Codeine, C-o-d-e-i-n-e. Darvocet, D-a-r-v... V NOT B! I should have just wrote them down myself. The only one she got right was penicillin. [Negative -2 points!!!!]
- New RE (aka Dr. Blue Eyes) is kinda a young guy, but very nice. I'm sure Dr. Diet Coke probably has a good 16-18 years experience in the field on him. And totally I respect her, but one of the things that drives me crazy is that partway through my questions she thinks she knows what I'm about to ask so she finishes my supposed thought and then answers. I find myself saying, "Yes, I completely understand - but that's not my question." Since this doctor hasn't endured 18 years of the exact same questions over and over again...he still has the patience to listen to my question fully before answering. He was also very thourough in his explainations. [50 points]
- The office adiminstration staff so far has not impressed me. First, it started the day before when I called them to confirm my appointment and give them a heads up that I was faxing over my paperwork...
Dingy Desk clerk: Oh, well you don't have to do that
Me: Yes, but it says right here to send my paperwork in advance. Besides, I think the doctor is going to need my records and test results from the other clinic for our consultation.
Dingy Desk clerk: No, just bring it tomorrow. We can do it when you come in.
Me: Won't you have to verify my insurance?
Dingy Desk clerk: Yes, we did that already...Oh, here it is - you will pay 80% after you meet your $3000 deductible.
Me: Could you call my insurance again? That information is not correct.
Dingy Desk clerk: No, that is correct - I called them myself.
Me: Well, that doesn't make sense - my insurance is either 70% out of network after a $6000 deductible OR 90% in network after a $3000 deductible. So, I have no idea where 80% is coming from. Oh, and by the way I've already met the $3000 deductible.
Dingy Desk clerk: No, it's 80%.
Me: Can you have someone call again?
Dingy Desk clerk: No, but you can call them and ask, but they told me 80% after you meet your $3000 deductible.
Me: But, I've already met my deductible.
Dingy Desk clerk: Okay, well just 80% then!
five minutes later...
Me: Hi, this is Liv. I was speaking to someone a little while ago about my insurance coverage but I didn't catch their name?
Dingy Desk clerk: Yes, that was me.
Me: Okay, I just got off the phone with my insurance and they told me it was 90%. Please update your records.
Dingy Desk clerk: But, they told me 80%.
Me: Yes, I understand. Regardless, they have record of your clinic's tax id calling in today, and they have it recorded that they told you 90%. Not sure what happened there, but if you could just call again if you're uncertain it should be 90% that would be great. Thanks! [-10 points]
The next day (today). I requested to speak to the insurance coordinator to verify some things and ask some additional questions after we completed the consultation. I expected to be taken to someone's desk who would then hand me their business card when he/she was done. Nope! I was taken to...Dingy Desk clerk in vivo!
(Dr. Blue Eyes handed her my folder said, "Could you go over insurance coverage with-")
Dingy Desk clerk in Vivo: (cuts the doctor off) Okay. Sure.
Me: Can you confirm with me my insurance coverage?
Dingy Desk clerk in Vivo: Yes. Well, your insurance doesn't cover any infertility testing or treatments. So, I just need to tell you that you are going to be completely responsible to pay all of the costs.
Me: (who has been shaking my head from the words doesn't cover any and scoffed at "pay all of the costs"...) No, that is not correct.
Dingy Desk clerk in Vivo: (who should have used this opportunity check the FOLDER!) Yes, well BS insurance provider doesn't covery anything.
Me: Who's record are you looking at? Because it's not me. My name is Liv, and I don't have BS insurance provider
Dingy Desk clerk in vivo: Oh, right....Your covered 90% so you will simply pay 10% of the total cost.
Me: Well, I'm only $588 from my total out of pocket maximum, so it will only be 10% up to a total cost of $588 and then 100% right?
Dingy Desk clerk in vivo: Yes.
[So, I'm going to deduct 5 points for not reading my folder and telling me I had 0 coverage...But, I will grant 5 points back for getting it right in the end. Then 100 points for being IN-Network.]
Did you guys catch that? As long as I stay in network, $588 dollars is all I will pay for the rest of the year! That's for up to 3 IUI's, 3 IVF's including ICSI. Who else wants to do a HAPPY DANCE!!! Hot Diggity.
- Their live birth success rates are higher than my beloved Outtie clinic. (Which I don't think is a knock against Outtie, but is favorable for Innie clinic) [10 points]
- Dr. Blue Eyes is less experienced, does have pretty good credentials and is partnered with a highly experienced tenured RE. [Net 0 points]
- I have no way (unless anybody has any other ideas) of evaluating the BIGGEST part of their IVF services - THE LAB. Well, besides the CDC stats. As Nishkanu expertly pointed out it might not be worth the cost and not to mention emotional savings bank if the RE is good but the Lab not being so great. Anything else I can use to evaulate besides the CDC stats?
Okay, so I'll leave you guys with that information for now. I'll come back and give you my final verdict. For now I must go to bed!
