Got myself two health-related appointments: one to get my insurance (which is basically just Medicaid, and is a free for low-income people type deal) renewed, one for an actual checkup. Nothing's wrong with me to my immediate knowledge, but since it's been years since I've seen a doctor, I figured a checkup/physical/etc. couldn't hurt just to make sure I'm still healthy, especially because God only knows what I may or may not be overdue for as far as immunizations and such.

There was an unholy labyrinthine phone system to get both of those, thanks to the fact that literally none of the numbers I had actually went to where they were supposed to go (what it claims is the number for my primary care physician right on my insurance card? Yeah, that goes to the accounting department of a different clinic,) I got ping-ponged back and forth when department A wanted to transfer me to department B, even though that's where I just came from, and absolutely no one had useful information. I was told I couldn't get an appointment because the doctor to which I have been assigned isn't accepting new patients, even though I have already been assigned to her, and was told to start calling around for someone to claim again. I actually finally found someone with a brain on my first attempt to do just that, basically saying that what I just said about needing a doctor even though I've already been assigned one is wrong, whoever just told me that is wrong, and screw it, let's get you an appointment right now. :D Though in a final twist, it turns out the doctor to which I have been assigned isn't the one it lists on my card anyway, and neither my pretend nor actual assigned doctors are going to be the one to see me in this upcoming appointment anyway--that's going to be handled by basically some random doctor who was available that day. At that point, I really didn't care anymore--I technically have a doctor assigned to me, and therefore I can technically be seen by someone, and that's good enough for me.

Gigantic clusterfuck aside, I actually still maintain a fairly positive view of government-provided insurance and hope the whole health care reform deal with a public option passes. This is because I have an extremely negative view of private insurance. Could mine be improved? God, yes--just reread that previous paragraph. However, last time I had that TIA/miniature stroke/whatever it was, I got an MRI (among other things) for nothing more than a $25 copay, so I feel like they're pretty much entitled to make a policy of sodomizing me with a red-hot poker in the waiting room from now on and I'll still be coming out ahead. Besides, it's not like private insurers are any better--yiffyraptor still can't get past the "find a doctor who's taking new patients" step to even get as far as I am. (Well, actually, maybe he could if he was willing to take someone way on the other side of town or didn't give up as easily in the red tape maze. Or maybe not. My observations as an outsider, could be wrong. My point is his private insurance deal clearly isn't better off than my Medicaid. Anyway....) And really, I'd rather have a faceless red tape labyrinth that doesn't really care than a faceless red tape labyrinth that is actively against the idea of helping you (paying claims costs them, after all) and has access to tricks like turning down claims and raising your premiums to compensate if you ever actually use them. (Oh, which reminds me, I don't have premiums. Like, at all. That's pretty cool.)

TL;DR: Navigating phone menus and such when it comes to health insurance is harder than Myst, but fuck it, I have a free doctor's appointment in about a month, so public health care is still awesome.