Christopher A. Wheeler

So I am pretty sure I have strep throat. Audrey had a positive test earlier this week, and yesterday (Saturday) I started to get some of the symptoms.

Well of course, being Saturday, my normal doctor’s office wasn’t open. There would have been a time in my life I would have gone to the ER but really, this isn’t an emergency so I wouldn’t feel right going there.

Luckily I remembered that in the Old Capitol Mall there is a UI QuickCare clinic, and they are open 8am-5pm on Sundays.

So I went today and filled out all of their paperwork, and then the lady asked me if I was an established patient at any of the UI clinics. I said I was, since I had already marked it on the paperwork. Apparently, if the doctor listed on my insurance card is part of UIHC, they CANNOT accept my insurance to be seen in the QuickCare clinic. One of the PAs or NPs or whoever was there thought that was ridiculous. I did too. Apparently if you have a UI doctor, they can’t take your insurance because there is some sort of non-compete thing so you have to go to your regular doctor. Except, it is Sunday and my regular doctor is not available. They suggested I could go to the ER…

The thing that makes me the most mad about this whole thing is that NOWHERE on the UI QuickCare website does it mention anything about this insurance deal. It does say:

UI QuickCare is open to anyone older than six months of age and is a service offered through UI Family Care. You do not have to be a UI Family Care patient to be seen at a UI QuickCare clinic. (emphasis mine)

Apparently they should append the following:

In fact, you’d have better luck using your insurance here if you WEREN’T a UI Family Care patient.

Anyways, that is my annoying story of the day.