Appendix C:
Responses to question Number 75: Are you ever treated differently
because you are on Medicaid

The following are responses to the write-in question: Do you think you have ever been treated differently because you were covered by Medicaid? If yes, please tell us how you were treated differently. The responses are presented as written on the survey except for the correction of some obvious spelling errors to make them easier to read. They are grouped according to the health plan in which they were enrolled.

John Deere Health Care

Do you think you have ever been treated differently because you were covered by Medicaid?

If yes, please tell us how you were treated differently.

Finding a doctor or dentist who will accept Medicaid clients.

Sometimes the staff at the doctor's office act like they don¹t want to help. They act like they have to help, but they don't want to.

I just feel with some clinics you don't receive the same treatment.

Labcorps & John Deere, because I didn't know when the date of service was I could not get a copy of the bill from Labcorps and John Deere. Says my son was not on Medicaid. Conceco said they need a copy of the bill from Labcorps before they could even start looking at it. So now my 2 year old owes a Labcorp $110.00 also, no dentist in Muscatine will take Medicaid, you have to go outside of town. Closest is Iowa City or Davenport.

I was refused to go to a hand specialist for my broken hand because my HMO wouldn't accept them (MAYO). I saw a local doctor in Waterloo, Iowa and he didn't even take the time to evaluate my broken hand. He told me he couldn't do anything for me. 3 months later I found an excellent hand specialist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and he almost completely restored all of my movement with my right hand.

Just their general attitude about you as a family.

I feel that my previous doctor didn't listen to me. I feel that she didn't believe what I said. I believe that she would not look at any other possibilities that could be wrong. I still have the same problem and because of her I no longer feel that I have somewhere to go for my medicine needs.

Medicaid staff have made comments about our family being on Title 19. Staff has announced the fact that our family is on Title 19 to reception area and other staff in the room in a negative way. Doctors have spent less time with family members. Doctor's attitudes are more negative toward family due to being on Title 19.

You are received differently from the start. Some places see you as an insurance card before they see a person. My doctor's office have exceptional doctors and personnel. But I can't get my teeth fixed right and they are deteriorating. I am afraid to try to make a mental health appointment because I owe $55.00. I can¹t pay for being off of Medicaid for a while. But I do need it.

Treated like a low-income freeloader. As if I like to live with state assistance. I am trying very hard to become self-sufficient. The OB I had for my last two pregnancies treated me as trailer trash with out any intelligence. It was degrading.

Sometimes it makes you feel different. They reacted different toward you.

There are a lot of places that don't take Medicaid. When you call and ask some people are kind of rude. I've had some give me disgusted looks.

General atmosphere.

Doctors have the doctor bill as much as possible. Doctors figure that the government will pay for it. I also take prescribed medication that I wouldn't be able to buy without this program. So I would have been dead by now because of no medication.

Dental offices are almost always rude and talking down to you. My previous dentist in Indianola accepted my medical coverage. He did a ton of work, which ended with a complete upper denture and a partial bottom denture. After completed and gums healed, etc. I found my top denture was still loose and teeth so short that it looks as though I have no teeth. They're very obviously incorrect. My bottom has already lost 2-3 fillings and rotted one of my 4 remaining teeth to the point of having to be pulled and denture changed. When I called the dentist's office and told them of my problems, they not only wouldn't take me in again (stating they no longer accepted my type of medical coverage). They were extremely snotty and actually hung up on me and not due to my being rude or mouthy. My new dentist repaired the bottom and the top remains ugly and incorrect. If a dentist can be turned in for not giving a Medicaid patient the same service as other patients and for being rude and disrespectful to Medicaid patients, clearly providing poorer and uncaring service.

Or the dentists will not even accept me as a patient.

They don't take the time to talk to you. They act like you are bringing your kid in for nothing. Just to bring them in. They are nice to you until they see you have Medicaid.

Different prescriptions. Would not call in prescription. Hard to be seen that is different than regular insurance.

The lady that helped me snatched the card out of my hand got smart. I was an add on appointment. She treated me so mean. She said since you have Title 19 you will wait for a minute to see if your card will be approved.

I feel treatment some physicians, nurses or others in the dr.'s office sometimes don't treat you same. My last experience the receptionist was short and the doctor helped someone else before me. The nurse was fine but the doctor hardly spent 10 minutes let alone listen to my symptoms. I was disappointed. My regular doctor is usually good.

Sometimes the staff at the doctor's office are very rude when they see you have Medicaid. I've noticed this mostly at the new clinic I go to at Mercy South. My dentist office is very good about Medicaid.

At a doctors office a while ago a receptionist said "do you have your Medicaid card" really loud so everyone could hear. It was so embarrassing.

Appears to be greater scrutiny of those with Title 19 cards. It would be nice if the office staff could be a little more discreet about the type of insurance instead of shouting it out loud enough for the entire waiting room to hear.

May have been my own perception. Used Medicaid through medical school for my son and I. So I am aware of what is said about Medicaid patients behind shut doors. Not usually appropriate. I therefore tend to be a little defensive. Medicaid has been such a lifesaver in a time that I was in great need. Thank you.

When I gave birth to my daughter, the nurses were so rude to me. The doctor was only with me for about 1/2 hour, when I actually delivered, that was it. I had to have whatever doctor was on call. Never got to meet him until I actually delivered. I was treated very poorly and I think the reason was because I was young, unmarried, and on Medicaid.

Both my dentist and my daughter's dentist offices (not the dentist, but the other workers in the office) treat us pretty crappy.

Could not get a cervical treatment medication because they would not pay for it so I never got it. It still has not been treated so chances are when I go back they will find the same problem. I know for a fact private payers and other insurance get in earlier.

When I was referred to a specialist the first thing he said to me when he saw what my insurance was, you don't want me.

Some meds are not prescribed because they do not come in generic form. Dental is hard to find on Medicaid.

Before I was going to my own personal doctor it seemed like no one wanted to help me out especially while I was pregnant because I had a Title 19 card but I found a way to over come.

I am one semester away from getting my BA and I have been treated like I am stupid, mainly by the receptionists. Many are rude and think just because I have Medicaid insurance, I am less of a person and can be treated like trash. This is not only frustrating but emotionally disturbing. I would not even use Medicaid if I didn't want my 18-month-old son to also receive benefits.

Asked to reschedule an appointment because we were 5 minutes late. The doctor saw someone else.

Maybe it's my imagination but I think certain individuals have treated me 2^nd class. Not a doctor but several pharmacists.

While I was pregnant last year, dentist acted like I was stupid and didn't respect me as a person.

A lot of doctors won't take people on Medicaid and they are rude about it. The list of doctors was given, 80% of them do not take Medicaid anymore.

My daughter has a seizure disorder. I don't think she's received the treatment that she would get from private insurance plans.

Shorter visits, put on generic medication.

The people at the front desk treat you rude.

I sometimes have to wait a little longer. I have been given dirty looks and some rude comments as well. I do appreciate the coverage I have if I'm not healthy. I can't care for my kids as well. I sure can't afford private health insurance. I bite my tongue when I get the looks and remarks.

At the eye doctor they said because I wasn't paying I had no right to complain or be dissatisfied with their services.

They don't spend as much time on me and they act as if they don't make generic medicines that my insurance will cover.

In my experience, the attitude of the staff at the reception desk changes when they find out you are covered under Title 19. Perhaps it's my perception but they seem to act disapproving. However my health care providers have never treated me differently.

That is why I switched doctors. I told him I was on Title 19 when I was pregnant and he said fine. I just want to get paid. Sometime I didn't like his behavior so I switched.

I just felt that me and my son were frowned upon, not by anyone at Iowa City but in Cedar Falls and Waterloo.

Sometimes the receptionists seemed to look differently at me after they asked to see my insurance card. A few of them would sound stern when speaking back to me.

By a chiropractor he was snotty towards me a little.

I feel as though I'm treated as someone who is less of a person when I use my Medicaid. Treated like I'm a lower class than when I had my own insurance. It's hard to deal with. I wouldn't be on this Medicaid if I didn't have to be.

At the eye doctor at Whylie's Eye Care I overheard the receptionist say to another employee that "oh she's a 19 patient" and she rolled her eyes. I will never go back there. I personally believe you guys shouldn't go through them.

Nothing specific, there just seems to be an occasional attitude from certain nurses and/or doctors which makes you feel inferior.

At times it seemed like people could be rude because of the Medicaid. It seemed especially true with receptionist when they took your card to make a copy.

I feel like doctors like to do more tests then necessary.

They were rude as if I wasn't worth their time because I was getting state assistance.

Iowa Health Solutions

Do you think you have ever been treated differently because you were covered by Medicaid?

If yes, please tell us how you were treated differently.

Pharmacists would leave me sitting for almost an hour and filling people's prescriptions that came after I did, long after. This happened too many times to be a coincidence.

I've had doctors tell me to get off public assistance and that taxpayers are tired of paying for my kids. Most people, including my family work for a living and receive only a little help but doctors have assumed we're lazy.

The stomach pill I use, it takes too much to get okayed for certain medicines.

#1 most seem to want to choose your care options for you rather than get you to help decide. Example I had a badly decayed tooth went to the dentist, we discussed options. I told him I did not want a root canal. Due to past complications and condition of tooth. But I'd rather have it pulled. So he meanders around in my mouth anyways and started a root canal. Till I realized he was and stopped him. I left his office and later had another pull it. I heard of testing that could determine if a medication would solve condition. Dr refused to order test stated too expensive instead did a more invasive rectal exam which I later found out is less reliable for prostate!

At times I felt looked down upon as if it was a travesty to accept financial help from the state.

When we were referred to an ear doctor. When he explained something to you, he treated you like he was explaining things to a moron. You would ask him to explain it and he would tell you he has other patients to see.

I was at a chiropractor that couldn't treat my condition because of my insurance. There was a doctor in the office that could, but was on vacation. The office never cancelled the first half of my appointment which was with the doctor on vacation and the receptionist let me sit for 45 minutes. When I asked why, she said it was because of my insurance with no other explanation. I walked out. The other doctor called later. The receptionist was reprimanded.

It seems like some doctors are in a hurry with Medicaid patients and some are very rude.

Dentist was hard to find for an extraction of a tooth. Long story, bad experience.

I wasn't treated differently.

At a doctor visit the doctor offered me free samples of a medicine, and the nurse told him to write a script because I have a Medicaid card.

Seems some health care staff have an attitude about people on Medicaid. Low class people.

Simply by rudeness. Also, unable to receive dental care for my daughter.

Received some looks that med me feel like I was being looked down on.

When seeing a specialist the lady whom does billing is never nice, about having to get a referral number. She would make me call it in.

I got the impression I was less important as a patient and would wait longer or was asked personal questions in regard to my health plan.

I get looks by the doctors. Some act differently when they hear I have Title 19.

I just felt like I wasn't treated as well for some reason, that has only happened once or twice. Usually I feel like I'm treated pretty fairly.

The dentist I was seeing at the time, I was first under another insurance and then was switched to Medicaid when I no longer was at my job. While currently under their care and after a cleaning they refused their services to me saying they could not accept my money except for that days service of course and told me if my tooth was not hurting try not to bite on that side until I was off Medicaid and then come back to them. I then had to find another dentist who accepts Medicaid with a tooth not filled.

When I went to the pharmacy to get a prescription for myself after I handed the pharmacist my card, she looked down upon me, was rude and short with me.

A rush job or slow care.

I think people are just nastier to people on Medicaid. They look down on them and assume they are all welfare cases.

I have gone to the dentist office and when I was going to get an x-ray done, the assistant yelled out that I was probably pregnant because I had Medicaid.

Have only used dental and had pleasant treatment by staff.

Well, I went to a dentist appointment and the nurses there were pretty snotty with me. A few days later my boyfriend went in (who is covered by his work) and they were extremely nice to him. So if felt pretty crummy knowing that people with certain insurance get treated differently.

Local dentist offices I contacted in regards to Medicaid coverage were for the most part extremely unwilling to accept Title 19. Receptionists were rude and abrupt when asked if their offices accepted Title 19. To my knowledge only 2 or 3 dentists in town accept Title 19 and all are at quota.

I have medical and dental through my work, also this is my primary insurance. Now the last couple times I had to go to the dentist to get work done (root canal) Consultec (Medicaid ins) did not pay one bill. So my dentist had to pretty much eat what they needed to pay. The second time I went, sending statement after statement and me having to call Consultec, 6-7 months later they finally paid the balance on that. When I¹ve called my dentist since I can sense a difference. Therefore, I am not too happy with my dental coverage. Usually, me and my son are sent reminders from my dentist of our yearly check ups. It has been over a year and we have not heard from them. I feel maybe because of our dental coverage and the problems and hassles they¹ve had with Consultec.

Dental people don't allow many Medicaid people in their office therefore I have to go to one that is rude and causes me pain.

When I called to find a doctor the assistant would nice and immediately helpful, but as soon as I mentioned Title 19 they would change. They suddenly acted like I was trash and unimportant. My current facility is very good to my daughter and I. They treat us with respect, but the facility is meant for Title 19 people.

At the emergency room they place a large bright pink XIX sticker on the file. People at certain pharmacies are very rude when given the card to look at.

My family dentist refused to see me when I didn't have private insurance anymore.

When a doctor ask you are you on a Medicaid card and your answer is yes they seem to get upset and look at you different because you don't have the money to pay for it.

There are certain things you can buy with Medicaid, like certain glasses and with Medicaid you only get generic medicine.

I think doctors are a little shorter and not as thorough when you have Medicaid and you have to wait longer to be treated.

I think some doctors try and make things out of nothing so they can get more money.

Like I didn't feel by my doctor's nurse that I was good enough or whatever and my son too. My whole family feels that way by his nurses.

There are certain doctors I have run across that do a poor job of treating illness due to the fact of Title 19 insurance.

I went to medical association in Clinton Iowa and was having neurological problems. I wanted to go to IA City and see a neurologist. He finally did an MRI and then laughed when he told me it wasn't a tumor. He disenrolled as a MediPASS due to my uncooperativeness because I wanted a 2^nd opinion and he told me I did not need to see another doctor. I ended up in IA City after calling MediPASS and got a direct referral from them.

I don't feel that I get as much respect as the paying customer do. Some times I have been made to feel like a low class citizen.

Refusal of service because of past due bill.

The doctors make people wait longer, try to get through with you faster and just don't care. The doctors I've been to are jerks to me because of my insurance. The nurses are mean and treat me like a baby. I avoid going to the doctor even when I need to go because of this treatment. My mother signed me up, but I will be getting a new health care plan in January. Medicaid makes me feel like a dummy and I hate it. I just needed help, so I applied. I wouldn't have done it if I knew how I would be treated.

I was referred to a specialist and I went and waited 1 hour and 55 minutes to see him and he spent 5 minutes with me. He acted as if he didn't care. So I had to go back and ask my primary doctor to refer someone else.

Where I live there are almost no dentists that accept Title 19. The ones that do, do not accept any new patients, but the vast majority does not accept Title 19. Why?

Like I was poor.

The people at the clinic that I go to seem to make a big deal when you show them your card. Every month they have to copy it and they make you wait in line a little longer so they can wait on people who don¹t take so long.

The doctors don't really care about your health and they don¹t bother to listen to anything you tell them. I had a big problem with my last doctor. I would tell him my symptoms but he would just blow off everything I told him. He more or less told me it was all in my head and I was fine.

Tests can only be run a few times a year so doctors cannot always run them because of this.

They feel like they are doing you a favor by even seeing you. And some of the personnel think they are paying my bill out of their own pockets.

The only dentist that accepts Title 19 is a 100 miles round trip from home. I've told the 800# that the doctor they have on my card will not see me but they won't change it.

I felt like they didn't care for me because I was on Medicaid.

They looked at me differently. When the words Title 19 are used, they seem to kind of frown down on it. They still treated me equally and with respect. I kept my same doctors and dentist. They were willing to let me stay since we know each other and I have gone there for years. I'm lucky to have such a great community with wonderful doctors/assistants and dentists.

Coventry Health Care

Do you think you have ever been treated differently because you were covered by Medicaid?

If yes, please tell us how you were treated differently.

That they be more strict on people with the lower or should I say Medicaid. I really can't explain it, you might just have to wear the shoe, but don't get me wrong, your medical is great for my son and myself. At the emergency room you really can tell they take longer to get to you, also they be quick to check and give you what you need and send them on their way.

It was back in 1987 when my daughters were little that a doctor at the Cedar Falls clinic gave us expired antibiotics for my daughter and treated us rudely.

I have had many problems at Covenant Pharmacy get prescriptions. Sometime they say Title 19 real loud so other people can hear and sometime they are rude to me. Also my 8 year old son has a problem wetting at night and they pharmacy said Title 19 would not cover the prescription. I could not afford it and he has yet to get it.

One time I went to the emergency room when I was 8 months pregnant and I had chronic bronchitis. The doctor ordered some tests and an ultrasound but when he found out I had Title 19 he said they couldn¹t do the testing for me.

HMO's have to decide whether tests are important enough. My mother had a HMO and if she was not denied I would still have a mother. She died because a test was not done so now I no longer have a mother.

Dental care, some of the better dentists will not accept my insurance.

You are always looked at as a system sucker when you use Title 19.

Having to pay up front, not being able to get certain types of services done. Wait seems longer for appointments.

I was treated different because I am on Title 19, because I go to the doctor so much. I had to wait 2 hours one day at a clinic, because the receptionist said they thought I had left. All she had to do was call my name. Then my appointment was not in the computer one day. I really need to see the doctor that day. The last time seen at this clinic seems as if I was seen after everyone was waited on, not by appointment.

It seems that there are some hospital staff that are often rude to Medicaid patients. The manor in which they treat patients are short and sometimes talk down. May I please note this has only been my experience on several occasions and at certain facilities? This statement isn't meant to be a generalization.

Staff are rude. I've worked in doctor's offices before and even the people I worked with would talk about the people with Medicaid.

MediPASS

Do you think you have ever been treated differently because you were covered by Medicaid?

If yes, please tell us how you were treated differently.

I feel office personnel rather than the actual doctors or practitioners treat you different. I don't have a big problem with how I am treated at my doctor's office. All humans could use a dose of common courtesy if you ask me.

When trying to find a dentist in my town it was like I had a disease and they were afraid to come near me.

I was rushed out of the room. I was in the hospital after my baby was born. Signed papers at 12:00 wanted me out at 4 pm. I was not ready and felt rushed.

I feel like when I show my card, that I am being down graded because I get help from the state. It makes me feel very poor and ashamed. Just my feelings. I guess I get treated fairly.

Some people treat you as though you're trash. Most think Medicaid is for the lazy and disable. You get frowned on for needing the help.

I feel the doctors make us wait longer in the waiting room and the examination room than people with medical insurance.

I was in need of a specialist for aneurisms on the brain. The Rochester, Mn turned me down, they said they didn't have enough time but my doctor referred some other patients there. Some on Title 19 got turned down. I don't think that's right even when it's a life or death situation. Still it's not taken care of.

You wait a long time in the emergency room, over 1 hour.

I want more tests ran to find out why I am having headaches and see a different doctor and the one I am seeing now won't allow it.

I sometimes think when you call for an appointment you may get in sooner if you have better insurance. Also, my regular doctor is wonderful, but when I have had to see other doctors they have often treated me disrespectfully and like an idiot because of my insurance type.

Treated not as friendly by the staff, just told to fill out any forms needed, take a seat. Someone will call you soon/which usually means 30-60 minutes later. And they always have the same look of disgust and distrust as they are telling you this.

I have had receptionists ignore me over someone who has private insurance. I have also got the feeling that receptionists (some) look down on this insurance. My coverage may be the same but the reaction is not.

By the pharmacy at HyVee it's not very good. And at the Horizon Dental office in Des Moines they are pretty unfriendly and not easy to work with.

They rush you in & out and don't take the time needed. But anymore most doctors (of any kind) don't take the time with you that they should.

Because dentist refuse to take Medicaid which I don't think is fair at all.

I feel my appointments were not made quickly enough. If I called and had a question for the nurse, one receptionist would be very rude. She also was very rude and was obviously looking down on me when I would come to the clinic.

I just believe you're treated better period.

I was very unhappy with my OB doctor. Many situations occurred that I feel wouldn't have happened in other circumstances.

A doctor who I had been seeing refused to see me because of my Medicaid. They act like you are more underneath the rest of the patients. Almost like they don't care as much for your health than a patient with regular insurance.

If you need a service they will say well if you had regular insurance and not Title 19, we could do the procedure. But you can't have it.

My son was refused an immunization because we received state aid.

Sometimes you feel like they are looking down at you. I have a job, I just don't make that much. It's really small when you think about the help you're receiving you can deal with how you feel.

When I went to the eye doctor the same time my husband did, they made me wait 2 weeks to get in yet he was able to make 2 different appointments the same week he called in and we wanted the same thing done. The lady told him they had any time that week open but yet I couldn't be seen for 2 weeks and now my Medicaid runs out November 1 and they can see me November 5. A lot of good that does me.

About the second check up I had with my 1^st healthcare provider, there was a misunderstanding and they told me they wouldn't help me. I was 2-3 months pregnant so I was mad. I had to explain to them that I got a referral from the doctor I was assigned. When I already told them once on the phone 1 week before this. Then my baby had thrush and I wanted a nurse to call me back and the receptionist said she didn't have to. That is when I switched doctors. They were terrible.

DR. doesn't exam me for my problems, just gives me meds for what she thinks is wrong. Doesn't listen to me about anything I say.

When getting meds it has to be called in to see if they can refill some of my meds. I had to wait till my doctor got back from vacation to have him change the dosage to as I needed, and it was 2 weeks I think I went through withdrawals from not having them and that can be dangerous.

Not the doctor but some nurses.

A specialist refused to run an important test on me (that I needed) because I am on Title 19. He basically said I wasn't worth it, because taxpayers would pay for it. It was a life and death situation and he didn't care. So I saw a different specialist who did do it.

A time or two in the past it seemed that there was a slight negative reaction, but it may have been my own misinterpretation/preconceived expectation. I've had no problems in the last couple of years whatsoever.

I think I was treated differently because I was not giving them money for my payment of the visit. And the way they look at me, like, oh this person is a Medicaid one. In another words, you're a welfare patient, and not a regular paying person.

On the Medicaid I have to wait long to get in to the doctor. When I had private health insurance it was much sooner to see the doctor. But I don¹t go to see doctor unless I really have to. It costs too much for just an office call.

Given not as good care or as many services are available to people who have private insurance.

Not all doctors or dentist accept Medicaid, which can be a problem at times.

I've been made to wait longer. I've been talked to in a curt manner by the receptionists at my doctor's office.

If feel that we have limited dental treatment. I had a root canal done a year or so ago. I wasn't allowed to have a cap at that time. I have since lost parts of the tooth. I saw my dentist a few months ago and he said now they will allow it. I haven't gone back to get one. I have brown spots on my teeth, that look awful but aren't cavities. I would like them removed and some of my teeth filed down but am afraid to ask if it is covered. The problem may be with my dentist. I tried to change dentist and could only find one who would accept MediPASS. I didn't like the area of town it was in so I stayed with the one I've been with for probably 20 years. Thank you.

When certain meds or procedures need to be done they don't do them if at all possible.

The dentist my boyfriend goes to tried to get away with using less Novocain. The dentists want very little to do with us.

I was bumped out of the computer system a few times until I finally caught on. I had a lump in left breast and had it surgically removed. This was not covered by MediPASS. The lump on my right was not considered malignant after a mammogram and visit to specialist but resulted in mastectomy. I was also knocked out of the system (said not covered by MediPASS) when my daughter was tested for HAD but it was caught by the clerk.

I had private insurance and Medicaid at the same time. When one wouldn't pay the other was supposed to. Neither would pay for some care I had and since I can't pay for it I have been treated as if they do not have time for me. The problem is still being argued over for the last 2 years. Wal-Mart insurance won't cover it and Medicaid says that they should and now no one is paying for it and they are talking about turning it to credit bureau.

Because they treat anyone on Medicaid or low income differently cause they think you are lazy and will not work. I will work if I get a job.

Not necessarily by doctors or staff, but by people in general. Give you looks when paying for prescription or not having to pay at doctors office.

An appointment with an eye doctor's office in Albia The nurse was rude after the eye exam. Told my mother and I we could always take the results to the other eye doctor in town to get the glasses made. Acted like we were wasting her time. My mother wrote the doctor a letter telling him us girls were on MediPASS because she was a disable veteran and didn't appreciate the way his nurse talked down to her like she was just another welfare mom. Us girls chose frames which were not covered by MediPASS so all together with what MediPASS paid for the exam and lenses and mom paid for the frames we had spent more then $500.00 in his office, and there was not fine line between professionalism and just plain rudeness. Regardless of who was paying the bill, mom wrote the letter to him as soon as we got home. A week later when we picked up the glasses she felt as strongly about it as when she wrote the letter so she gave it to the doctor. He asked mom to wait around to talk about it, but he was pretty busy so mom told him her phone number was on the bottom of the letter if he had any questions. He never called. We also changed dentist because he also acted as if we were wasting his time. As for medical care we get absolutely the best care possible from our family doctor. Great lady, great doctor.

All doctors do not take the type of coverage I have. It is very hard to get a specialist or a dentist. It is a horrible thing to turn someone down for any kind of treatment because of insurance or any other reason.

I think that because people who have Medicaid you get the cheaper things the short end of the stick. For example, when my child went to get eye glasses the Title 19 glasses didn't look as good as the John Deere insurance glasses. I think it should be the same.

Because if you're on Medicaid people know you're on state assistance and I work at a fast food restaurant and those kind of jobs don't offer insurance unless in management positions. I also work part time for the county and they don't offer insurance at all. It is just embarrassing and then your medical cards are paper and not plastic that can't be updated monthly.

When I was at the dentist she kept bringing up my age. The fact that I had a child and was on Medicaid.

I am to go straight back to sign in, instead of at the entrance of the clinic like others. Then from there I have to tell the receptionist I have Title 19. She takes copy of the card and gives me the slip to give to the doctor. If I had regular insurance all that procedure wouldn't be necessary. The employees would take care of it.

I think it is different because dentists wont take Title 19 most of the time but they will take other insurance.

Some places look at you as if you¹re not good enough and they don't know what kind of situation you¹re in and I don't think they should do that. If they can't help themselves, maybe they shouldn't be in the field they are in.

Doctors or nurses seem more rude either because I have it or because to them I'm just another statistic because of the reason people think you have this kind of insurance.

Attitude of office personnel snobbish, short, somber expression, and rude. I¹ve had excellent health coverage from employment to no coverage at all and there is a tremendous difference in the way you are treated. Not for all but the few who do, do it very well, to belittle or make you feel worthless for using Medicaid.

They treated us like we were not as good as someone with private insurance.

No dentist takes it in town. Have to call doctor to get permission to go to ER for injured leg or arm. Have to force billing department to write in file that I'm on it. Have to provide complete pay information each month or else lose it along with FIP (if you have it). Have to go through too much red tape to change doctors if you don¹t like him or her. Have to re apply for it if you get married or add a child. Must pay minimum for things like chiropractic if over 18. Thank you for your concern and sending this questionnaire. I am no longer in need of your service. I have other insurance.

Finding a dentist was difficult. My chiropractor is having difficulties because of too many appointments due to calendar year which he figured to be ok, but Consultec said it wasn't.

We only get amount of care and Medicare.

I went to see a surgeon he asked me what kind of insurance I had. I told him that it was Title 19, he said oh, asked a few more questions, then left the room. I heard him tell the nurse that I was on Title 19, and said that I shouldn't be there and that I was taking up too much of this time. Then said that my problem was so small that it was a shame that people like me used the insurance for just anything, then laughed at me.

I felt I didn't receive all the treatment I needed and felt like I was just another number in a long line of others who can't afford health coverage.

I felt I was treated differently when giving birth to my daughter, just because I was on Medicaid, the nurses were telling me about all these programs that I could be on. I was married and wouldn¹t have qualified and felt they just assumed that because of my insurance I was poor and needed all this assistance. I was very upset by this.

Discriminated against I felt because I have this insurance.

Dentist referred my son to an orthodontist but not one in town will accept any Medicaid patients.

My son acquired a disease called PTI and I feel that if my family would have had private insurance they would have taken his case which could have led to death a little more seriously.

Some doctors look down on you because you're on Medicaid. The doctors think that we don't make a lot of money so we don't have to be treated as well as the people that have a private insurance plan.

Doctors tend to not want patients whom are on Title 19. Also, they seem to put people on the slow side of the appointments meaning we end up waiting longer and waiting days longer I believe for appointments.

I had a broken arm and the doctor I was referred to was upset that he had to accept my Title 19 card.

There's an attitude doctors have about people on welfare. Most of the time all of the doctors I have seen have been very nice and helpful. But there have been those that have treated me poorly due to the fact that I'm on Medicaid/MediPASS.

The receptionists at the doctor's office were rude when I lost my other insurance and got my current health plan. I sit and wait forever while people who got there after me went in and came out. When I complained I was then taken in and treated.

Dentist office refuses to accept Medicaid for braces for my son. Only problem I have. They say they lost too much by accepting it.

I think I was judged by it. I think that is why I have been switched from doctor to doctor without my consent. Sometimes I don't know who I am going to see when I make my appointments.

Sometimes you don't get the medical attention you need. It's like sometimes they think it is all in your head.

Health care providers have a tendency to rush you in and out of their office when you are on Medicaid.

Denied certain test due to Medicaid refusing to pay for them.

Not so much the doctors but by the office staff in general. My pediatrician is excellent with my kids. My doctor is okay.

Not being able to get treatment here in Fort Dodge, we had to go to Des Moines.

Most doctors are locked in on the amount of Medicaid patients they want so I have been declined several times. I would like to change peds doctor, but since my other choices from Medicaid are all full I am not able to do so at this time.

Part of being a Medicaid recipient is being looked down on by staff, except doctors. We all know this and accept it as being part of the price of health care. It¹s really not a big deal.

The doctors sometimes will tell me there is nothing they can do because of Medicaid. If I were on private health insurance I would be treated better.