How long does it take to get your kids an appt?

[shinyhappypeople]

For your kids annual checkup, how long does it take to get an appt?  Our crappy ACA/Medi-cal plan only has one reasonable clinic option within 20 miles. We have to wait 2-3 months to see a PA or NP, 4+ months to see an actual doctor.   

[J-rap]

Well if it's someone in particular, it might be a month or two or even more.  But if you're willing to take anyone at all at the clinic, often I can get a preventative type appointment within a day or two!  We've had to do that several times when we suddenly realized someone was leaving for a semester abroad in a week, etc.  The clinic always seems to be able to work them in, often with a nurse practitioner instead of a general practitioner, but that's fine with me.

 

ETA:  If it's for a more pressing issue, then usually in a day or two.  If it's for a more urgent issue, the same day.

Edited January 5, 2017 by J-rap

[myfunnybunch]

Wow. We can usually get in within a day or two.

[hepatica]

For an annual well child exam, 2-6 months is pretty standard. That's the case for an adult physical as well.  For specific problems we are typically in within 1-2 days. 

 

This is a supply and demand issue, and has nothing to do with ACA. The insurance companies set up arrangements with specific doctors. Even if there are plenty of in-network options, the wait is still a few months. But really, it's a well child exam. No biggie. 

[wapiti]

For an annual checkup, I don't think that's super unusual.  It has gotten that way at our regular, large ped practice - I can get in sooner to the PA for an annual checkup but the ped is usually booked out further.  If there's a reason you'd need an annual checkup sooner than what is available, then say so.  For example, if I needed allergy med paperwork, I could probably get worked into the NP schedule within a few weeks if I beg.

 

If there is any additional health concern you want to investigate that goes beyond an annual checkup, you may be charged separately for it, as if you had set up a sick visit.  If that's the case, just set up the sick visit or consult.  Most clinics around here will do same-day sick visits though sometimes there isn't much choice of appt times.  Consults (more extended discussion of a longer-term issue) would be within a few weeks.

[shinyhappypeople]

For an annual well child exam, 2-6 months is pretty standard. That's the case for an adult physical as well.  For specific problems we are typically in within 1-2 days. 

 

This is a supply and demand issue, and has nothing to do with ACA. The insurance companies set up arrangements with specific doctors. Even if there are plenty of in-network options, the wait is still a few months. But really, it's a well child exam. No biggie. 

 

[eta: this came out harsher than necessary.  I'm having a bad day.  Sorry :( ]

 

Your area may be different, but in my town it is absolutely ACA related.  A lot of children who had other types of state health coverage (Healthy Families, for example) were forced onto Medi-cal and are now being funneled into the one or two clinics that accept it.  The clinics are grossly over-impacted.   

 

It is a "biggie" to me.  I have concerns that need to be addressed with a doctor.  When you factor in the time it will take to get into see the specialist she needs, we're talking a minimum of 6 months.   So no, it's not the end of the world, but I do think it's a steaming pile of crap that her access to doctors is now WORSE than it was just a few years ago.

Edited January 5, 2017 by shinyhappypeople

[Sarah CB]

We can get in to see our doctor within a day or two. 

 

Depending on the issue, it can take a while to get in with a specialist, but one ds just had a referral to a paediatrician and the appointment is only one week away. 

 

We're in Canada so that may make a difference.

[shinyhappypeople]

For an annual checkup, I don't think that's super unusual.  It has gotten that way at our regular, large ped practice - I can get in sooner to the PA for an annual checkup but the ped is usually booked out further.  If there's a reason you'd need an annual checkup sooner than what is available, then say so.  For example, if I needed allergy med paperwork, I could probably get worked into the NP schedule within a few weeks if I beg.

 

If there is any additional health concern you want to investigate that goes beyond an annual checkup, you may be charged separately for it, as if you had set up a sick visit.  If that's the case, just set up the sick visit or consult.  Most clinics around here will do same-day sick visits though sometimes there isn't much choice of appt times.  Consults (more extended discussion of a longer-term issue) would be within a few weeks.

I'm going to see if I can use that as a workaround.   She needs an NP referral (ADHD screening among other things) and speech therapy referral.

Edited January 5, 2017 by shinyhappypeople

[Wheres Toto]

We have decent insurance through Dh's work, and I've had the same pediatrician since my oldest was born (22 years!).  For our annual physicals, it's usually a couple of months ahead. I do request a specific doctor.  I think we could get in quicker if we just took whoever was available.

 

For sick visits or any concerns, we can get in same day or the next day.

[Tess in the Burbs]

for a well check?  Within a week unless I need a specific day and then it might be within in the month.  

 

For a sick visit?  I call and can usually get something the same day with 1 dr.  But they offer urgent care upstairs and we have had some amazing experiences there for the same co-pay.  If I knew the schedule I would go to one of those urgent care Drs on purpose when sick.  

 

Specialty visit?  Within a month.  As a new patient it can be much longer for any specialist.  In fact, my Dh needed a dermatology appointment.  My dd is taking a medicine we go monthly to this Dr and never have issues setting up Appt's.  But Dh to get in as a new patient was 8 weeks!

[hepatica]

You asked about an annual appointment. That is why I said "no biggie." If you have an immediate issue, then that is another question entirely, and I would say that you should not have to wait quite as long.

 

 

[Arcadia]

The clinic my kids go to is fully booked three months out. Their pediatrician is relatively new to that group and does not have a fulll caseload yet so we can squeeze in usually a month in advance.

 

ETA:

Anything urgent we get redirected to the urgent care unit which charge the same as the general practitioner and they will refer if necessary.

Edited January 5, 2017 by Arcadia

[wapiti]

I'm going to see if I can use that as a workaround.   She needs an NP referral (ADHD screening among other things) and speech therapy referral.

 

In our ped's practice, that would be a consult.  It would also carry a price tag somewhere in the neighborhood of $200, give or take (that would get applied toward deductible).  Don't forget to ask about price so there are no surprises.  In our practice, it would probably take 2-3 weeks to get that appt.

 

...and don't hold your breath on the appt times for seeing a neuropsych or other type of psych who might do.

Edited January 5, 2017 by wapiti

[shinyhappypeople]

You asked about an annual appointment. That is why I said "no biggie." If you have an immediate issue, then that is another question entirely, and I would say that you should not have to wait quite as long.

I'm sorry I jumped all over you.  I'm a really bad mood right now.  We waited two months for today's appt only to have the clinic cancel it this morning and schedule the next one for 6 weeks out.  I'm totally fed up.  There are other clinic locations that have more staff in our town, but because of our address we're pretty much stuck.  I hate feeling powerless to help my kids.

[Loowit]

For a well check/annual exam with their old pediatrician we had to book a couple months out.  She was getting close to retirement age and had gone to part time.  But it was still at least a month even before that.  We recently switched insurance and the new doctor can get them in in a couple weeks to a month out.  However, for a specialist appointment it can take months depending on the urgency.

[Butter]

A week or two, but I make sure to schedule just after school starts in the fall so they are pretty open.  More desirable times for school age kids, they need to be scheduled 3-4 months out.  Baby well visits, the next one is scheduled as they leave so 2-3 months.

 

(ETA: Sick visits are different.  I've never had to even wait until the next day.  They may not see their "regular" doctor in that case, but they'll get in same day with someone.  There are tons of peds at the place we go to.)

 

ADHD check-ups generally need to be scheduled WAY out in advance.  They only do them two specific times a day, one during school and one after school.

Edited January 5, 2017 by Butter

[Rachel]

I schedule a month or so in advance to get all three kids onto my preferred pediatrician. For sick visits they will get us on the same day.

[AmandaVT]

Well child check ups, I usually call a month or so ahead. When he's sick, I can usually get him in on the same day or the day after. We have insurance through the ACA.

[Closeacademy]

New patient--it took about 6-9 months for first appointment (other Ped. office wasn't taking anyone)

Well-check/annual physical--about 3 months and then usually on call for the first available (this past time it took about a month or so)

Sick appointment in a day or two (as current patients), if we get up early enough and they are really sick we can come in for walk-in hours.

 

I'm just happy I don't have to take off an entire afternoon anymore to drive 45 min away to take them to a Dr. that takes our insurance. It's so nice to have in-town doctors in-network again. 

[Guest]

Well child annual physical?   Three or four working days.

Sick child?  An hour or so.  I am not picky about a particular doctor at our clinic, however.  

 

Same is true for adults, not just kids.

 

Also, we never had a pediatrician for the kid; we went with a family doctor / clinic and it has worked out very well for us.  Maybe that is the reason for the accessibility.

 

Dentists are a whole different matter.  

[lynn]

Well child within a week. Within a couple hours for illness.

[frugalmamatx]

I've yet to be able to, to be honest. DD hasn't had a checkup in a few years {which I'm fine with - she is healthy with no current issues}. But Insurance has been trying to schedule her a checkup now for TWO years. Every time I finally get it scheduled the office calls and cancels because the doctor is out or another reason. I do blame the ACA as well - this is a large group practice where 99% of patients are on medicaid. Prior to ACA, we could get in within a month with someone at least. But now it MUST be dd's PCP or her NP - no other physician is allowed to do checkups for insurance reasons {medicaid won't pay unless it is her listed PCP}. 

 

And don't even get me started on sick visits. Last time I called dd had a fever of 104 that wasn't responding to meds. I was offered an appointment for a sick visit - in three weeks! We ended up going to the walk-in clinic at another location which was covered. 

 

I'd change her PCP, but there aren't any other good options around that take her insurance. Our old PCP was great but she retired. 

[bibliophile]

Look up the right to timely care laws in your state. My son had a specialist referral scheduled 9 months out. As soon as I stated my rights, I had an appointment within three days.

[SKL]

I don't know, since we haven't been to an MD since our old insurance went out of business.  :/

 

We don't do annual MD well-checks.  We do wellness at a chiropractor.  The chiro's availability depends on the day.  Often I can make a same-day appointment, but sometimes it's a week or so out - more due to my schedule than theirs.

[scholastica]

Sick visit - within the day. I called at 8 on Tuesday and we had a 9:15 appointment. For well checks, about 2 months since they only have a couple of those available each day. They spend most of their time on sick visits and we only see our pediatrician unless it's her day off, then we see a covering doc. We are blessed to live in a city with multiple hospitals, two medical schools and two children's hospitals, so we have many options. I really don't want to live anywhere else until my kids are grown.

[Mom23Boys]

For a well-check, within a week. I'm picky about time, so I'll usually go an extra day or two longer than I have to. I like around 1:00, which is right after their lunch and a good time traffic wise for me.

 

We'd probably have to wait a little longer if we wanted after school.

 

For sick visits, same day. Usually with our Doctor, but occasionally with another doctor in the group.

 

This is with one of the most popular pediatricians in our area. I think the group he is with allows them to put reasonable restrictions on the number of new patients they take. I got lucky when my oldest was born and he was accepting new patients.

[Pippen]

For an annual well child exam, 2-6 months is pretty standard. That's the case for an adult physical as well.  For specific problems we are typically in within 1-2 days. 

 

This is a supply and demand issue, and has nothing to do with ACA. The insurance companies set up arrangements with specific doctors. Even if there are plenty of in-network options, the wait is still a few months. But really, it's a well child exam. No biggie. 

 

If we want a specific time with our pediatrician, then I'd schedule well child appointments at least three months out. Less if I'm willing to be flexible. 

 

Sick child appointments are same day, plus they have a morning walk-in option. No guarantee on which pediatrician you'll see with those.

[maize]

Lots of medical practitioners in our area, there are a few pediatricians who are hard to get appointments with but we mostly go to nurse practitioners and I can get an appointment for an annual checkup within a week or so.

[Ailaena]

I just made one yesterday but doc is on vacay next week, so we went with the 20th. Had I been willing to see anybody, I could have done it as early as this Friday. We have Medicaid.

 

The trade off is that every. Single. Time I call, I'm on hold for 10-15 minutes 🙄

[SparklyUnicorn]

I do the physicals at super odd times of the year so I think that helps.  I can get in within a month or so.  When I had to take one of mine to an ENT we waited oh gee 2 months.  And I don't live in the middle of nowhere.  There are tons of doctors around.

 

 

[Pawz4me]

For an annual check-up with their regular pediatrician I always called at least two months in advance. He's a very popular doc! If we'd been willing to see anyone in the practice we could've gotten well visit appointments faster than that (or we could have gone to a less popular practice). They had an early morning walk-in clinic for sick visits or if I wanted to make an appointment I could almost always get one that same day. We've always had really good insurance so wait times have been much more due to the providers we wanted than to insurance coverage. At least for primary care. Specialists are a different ball game, of course.

[happypamama]

Checkup with our doc -- a few days or a week. Generally not an issue.

 

Sick or other urgent visit -- usually same or next day, but that might be with the PA instead of our usual doc. We also have urgent care centers that take our insurance.

 

During one of my pregnancies, I needed to see my doc for asthma flareups. She had already been treating my asthma so I made noise about wanting to see her specifically, and they made it happen.

 

We can generally get in to see specialists pretty quickly too, often even sooner than we need. And we have many options for healthcare. All of the main hospitals, including the most top notch one, take state insurance. I think it's pretty awesome that even lower income people can get super top notch healthcare without stigma or worry. I can live with bad turnpike patches if it means my tax dollars go toward better healthcare.

Edited January 5, 2017 by happypamama

[redsquirrel]

for a check up? within the week, or the next week if I call late in the week. Sick child might be that day or the next. If I really need them seen ASAP, I can go to the walk in clinic 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

It sounds like more doctors in the area need to take your insurance or that you need more doctors in the area. I'm sorry, that must be stressful.  For a while DH had insurance that no one in the area would take. We had to pay out of pocket and get reimbursed a pittance. That was stressful.

[Janeway]

For a well check up, it takes about a month. For a sick visit, no more than a day. But, for a specialist, it is so complicated and long to get an appointment that the kids generally go without. It is so complicated, it involves waiting lists that last more than a year, but you have to call on a regular basis to keep the kids on the waiting lists.

[LucyStoner]

Our pediatrician is wildly popular.  Well child visits must be scheduled months out.  I usually make my son's appointments around their 1/2 birthdays so I can get a spot around the time of their actual birthday, lol.  He's readily available for sick and emergent issue visits same or next day though and we can often see one of the other pediatricians in his practice if we need to see someone when he is not available.  We have private insurance which is very good and Medicaid as secondary for the kids via SCHIP funding. The medicaid here is very good and covered a lot of the ASD related stuff before our primary insurance started to. Our pediatrician takes patients with just medicaid though.  Most of the pediatricians around here seem to.  It sucks that you have to go 20 miles.  Are your kids already patient of record with the clinic or are they new patients?  Sometimes that makes a difference, as does letting them know that you can take cancellations.  

Edited January 5, 2017 by LucyStoner

[Janeway]

I will say though, right now, there is no one within miles that takes medicaid, which we just had to switch to. However, specialists more than an hour away take medicaid so I thought of getting on their waiting lists. But, fact is, if we are still on medicaid by the time it got to our turn, I will have a nervous breakdown. In fact, now that I think about it, one of the kids has been on the waiting list for 2 or 3 years for ASD services at both children's hospitals. When they say "early childhood intervention" I laugh. But it is an angry frustrated laugh. Who the heck gets in for services within enough time to get any sort of early intervention? With 3+ yrs on the waiting lists, there is no way anyone under 6 or 7 yrs old could get services.

[whitestavern]

We have to schedule our annuals far in advance; usually 3 months or so. We do prefer a particular doctor, so maybe if we were to take anyone we could get in earlier, but even then I'm not sure.

[mamakelly]

For a well check, it's about a month wait. For a sick visit I can get an appointment that day. One of my kids just had an x-ray on Monday for an issue that needed to be addressed (not an injury like a break). The doctor called me back on Tuesday with the results and we have an appointment with an orthopedic specialist next Thursday.

[LucyStoner]

I will say though, right now, there is no one within miles that takes medicaid, which we just had to switch to. However, specialists more than an hour away take medicaid so I thought of getting on their waiting lists. But, fact is, if we are still on medicaid by the time it got to our turn, I will have a nervous breakdown. In fact, now that I think about it, one of the kids has been on the waiting list for 2 or 3 years for ASD services at both children's hospitals. When they say "early childhood intervention" I laugh. But it is an angry frustrated laugh. Who the heck gets in for services within enough time to get any sort of early intervention? With 3+ yrs on the waiting lists, there is no way anyone under 6 or 7 yrs old could get services.

 

People who live in states with reasonable and proactive approaches to helping kids with autism and other diagnoses and choose to fund those services at a level that keeps up (or mostly keeps up) with the need.  

 

IIRC, your state is my birth state and they don't have ABA on their Medicaid program at all and I read that they are making deep cuts to funding for kids with developmental disabilities just these last few weeks.  

 

We have had to do the waitlist jive and fiddle around a lot to get exactly what we wanted but we were actually able to start some services faster via SCHIP/medicaid than through the generally regarded as fantastic private insurance we have.  

 

Here is an article indicating which states are best for kids with ASD in terms of access to care via types of insurance:

 

http://www.autismhealthinsurance.org/the-best-worst-states-to-live-in-if-you-have-a-child-with-autism

Edited January 5, 2017 by LucyStoner

[Bootsie]

Not an annual exam--but we are traveling internationally and DS had a terrible earache yesterday.  We went to the local clinic, and we told that there were not sure how quickly they could see him--many of the staff were on holiday so there was somewhat of a wait.  We were able to find our way through the clinic (which spans several city blocks), go through the registration process for foreigners, see a specialist, have a thorough evaluation done, get to the pharmacy and get three prescriptions filled in 63 minutes!  Just getting the prescriptions filled would have probably taken that long where we live in the US.

[luuknam]

When they say "early childhood intervention" I laugh. But it is an angry frustrated laugh. Who the heck gets in for services within enough time to get any sort of early intervention? With 3+ yrs on the waiting lists, there is no way anyone under 6 or 7 yrs old could get services.

 

In Texas, ECI is a program run by the state or local MHMR (not sure) - they don't bill to medicaid or anything as far as I remember. You get in pretty quickly. I had Celery assessed when he was 14.5mo, and again at 2.5yo, and he got speech therapy very soon after that second eval (he just missed the cut-off to qualify for speech therapy on the first eval) - maybe one or two weeks later. They don't diagnose autism or anything though.

 

Anyhow, as far as well checks are concerned, about 2-3 months here, iirc. I need to make an appointment - they mail you cards to remind you to make an appointment, and they mail them about 2-3 months in advance. Sick child is same or next day (also depends on how urgent it sounds). I could probably call them and get a recommendation for an ADHD specialist or a speech therapist over the phone (my insurance doesn't require a referral before seeing a specialist).

Edited January 5, 2017 by luuknam

[AimeeM]

Depends on the urgency and whether we're established there.

 

If I need to get my middle son in to one of his specialists (cardio, pulmonary, endocrinology, etc.) and it's fairly urgent, they can get me in that day or the next. 

If it's less urgent, but a concern (like, I have a concern I want to discuss, but feel no real urgency about it), a week or two or three.

If it's just a regular check-up, a month or so.

 

We have a regular pediatrician, so for well-child check-ups we schedule ahead of time. If we forget, it does take time to get them in because well-child check-ups take much longer than regular appointments.

For sick visits with the regular pediatrician, same day appointments are typically available--if not with the pediatrician, with the NP or PA.

 

Labs and x-rays are sent immediately to the radiology department and we can go whatever day we want. Since they aren't scheduled, however, we usually wait for an hour or two before we're called back.

For other radiology, like MRIs, it just depends on the urgency. I am supposed to call and schedule one for DS7, and his endocrinologist sent the order, so we'll find out how long the wait is, lol.

 

[Tap]

Usually within a week or two, but quite often within a few days.....but that is because we specifically choose a small, doctor-owned clinic.

 

One of my daughters sees 2 primary care doctors (long story), and her 2nd doctor is part of a major hospital practice.  For her, it takes about a month to get in for non-urgent needs.  

 

 

 

 

Edited January 6, 2017 by Tap

[Shellydon]

For well checks- 1-2 months as they only see a few well checks each day.  For illness, same day.

[CadenceSophia]

Well child, regular annual or "by age" sorts of check ups before they go to the one/year schedule are 1-2 months out if I want to see our own Dr.  Sick visits, they usually offer us a time slot sooner than I can actually drive to the office and I need to turn down their first offer and ask for something a *little* further out. We definitely won't see our own Dr. since he spends more of his time on the hospital side, but I don't care since it is a nice practice. If we have a somewhat serious concern that I want to see our own Dr. for, it can be 1-2 weeks. 

 

That would totally stink to have an appt. you had been waiting on for months be cancelled if you have something you actually wanted to go for. I really hate annual visits because my kids just get sick every single time we go, so I wouldn't be upset about cancelling :)  We only do them (less than annually) to keep up with the Dr. Otherwise, I just bring them when we have a problem. 

[MegP]

I can get in for well child visits within a few days.

[heartlikealion]

I don't know if I'm understanding the question. Dd just had a wellness visit for age 2. At the end of the appointment they scheduled her 3yr wellness checkup for next year. Do you mean for a new patient?

 

We have missed an appt. by accident before (we forgot we were leaving town) and I had to wait a little bit to get that one rescheduled. I'm guessing it was between 1-2 months. And I believe that was a longer than usual wait time because her dr had some extra things going on (lots of appointments and some vacation time?)

 

For their initial appointments with their regular doctors, I don't recall the wait time.

Edited January 6, 2017 by heartlikealion

[Janeway]

In Texas, ECI is a program run by the state or local MHMR (not sure) - they don't bill to medicaid or anything as far as I remember. You get in pretty quickly. I had Celery assessed when he was 14.5mo, and again at 2.5yo, and he got speech therapy very soon after that second eval (he just missed the cut-off to qualify for speech therapy on the first eval) - maybe one or two weeks later. They don't diagnose autism or anything though.

 

Anyhow, as far as well checks are concerned, about 2-3 months here, iirc. I need to make an appointment - they mail you cards to remind you to make an appointment, and they mail them about 2-3 months in advance. Sick child is same or next day (also depends on how urgent it sounds). I could probably call them and get a recommendation for an ADHD specialist or a speech therapist over the phone (my insurance doesn't require a referral before seeing a specialist).

ECI doesn't do autism evals. We used them for speech in the past though. But they do have a parent share to pay. I would assume they don't on Medicaid though. But ECI ends on third birthday.

[LMV]

For your kids annual checkup, how long does it take to get an appt?  Our crappy ACA/Medi-cal plan only has one reasonable clinic option within 20 miles. We have to wait 2-3 months to see a PA or NP, 4+ months to see an actual doctor.   

 

Our youngest is at the age where they go every few months so the next visit is scheduled at the end of the current visit scenario. We usually schedule at the end of visit for appointments for chronic conditions followed by the pediatrician with our older kids as well (and generally our pediatrician will embed the annual preventive care into one of the chronic visits so I don't have to schedule it separately).

 

I believe their pediatrician's policy is that patients should allow at least two weeks to schedule a non urgent appointment like a well child (and it may take a little longer if you try to schedule at a popular time). Their office does freeze urgent slots and I've never not been able to get a same day appointment if it was really needed providing the office is open. I've also had scenarios where we have gone to the ED either because it was a call EMS now kind of emergency or not quite that urgent but a definitely needs to be seen by a physician before the office will be open next scenario and the kid has been stabilized in the ED and then the pediatrician has come in and done the admission. 

 

Our kids' pediatrician is in a physician only (no PAs or NPs) practice so all appointments are with a pediatrician.

 

Edited January 6, 2017 by LMV

[luuknam]

ECI doesn't do autism evals. We used them for speech in the past though. But they do have a parent share to pay. I would assume they don't on Medicaid though. But ECI ends on third birthday.

 

I agreed they don't do autism evals. We didn't have to pay a parent share - not sure what they wanted - it's been a long time. When ECI ends the local school district takes over (very promptly as well). So, not sure what you're talking about wrt long waits for ECI.