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Comment by robmccoll | Hacker News Reader

I have terrible news about systems built on private health insurance (USA): it will still take 666 days to see a specialist, and you will need a referral from your PCP who may also decide they want to see you in person first. This may be its own scheduling nightmare. Then you may find out that your preferred specialist is out of network for your private insurance. The waits are a generally a supply and demand issue more than a beurocracies issue, but I can assure you that multiplying the number of beurocracies involved in getting healthcare doesn't speed anything up.

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I've never had to wait more than a month to see a specialist in the US

LOLOLOL

that is not typical

LOLOLOL depends on the area.

That’ll depend heavily on location and specialty. Neurology and dermatology book 3-5 months out for new patient visits in my area, from personal experience.

This is my experience as well.

I don't know about 666 days but my senior citizen parents complain about specialists where the earliest (non-emergency) appointment is 6+ months out.

They have figured out the right time in the morning to call every day to try to grab a canceled appointment slot but it takes dedication.

I think it heavily depends. I know a friend who can only see her neurologist with a 3 month wait. Rheumatologists and specialized cardiologists are about the same issues. As an adult, trying to speak to a neurologist for an autism, ADHD, or learning disability evaluation is also a nightmare time-wise.

Last month, I tried to make an appointment with an endocrinologist. The first one I called had the earliest availability in July. The earliest one I could schedule was in March. and it's an hour and 15 minutes away from my home.

I couldn't find a single specialist who were taking new patients within 100 miles for my chronic condition when it was first diagnosed.

This sort of thing depends heavily on where you live, what your insurance coverage is, and the specific condition you're seeking care for.

In the Pacific NW for me:

- Dermatologist: 5 months

- Cardiologist: 3 months

- ENT: 8 months (turned out to be a useless appointment too sadly)

According to my PCP last week, endocrinologists have stopped taking in patients that do not have urgent issues and even then it's a 6+ month wait. He said 9/10 of his referrals to endocrinologists in the last year have been denied.

When was the last time you went? Nearly everything, even non-specialist, are booked out a month or more.

Mine are booked out forever because usable health insurance is far out of reach.

Car accident, holding steering wheel, airbag goes off and hyperextends my wrist way back. Thankfully, no tears. But ER does their thing, and I follow up with PCP the next morning, both recommending, and PCP referring me to PT "to start immediately", because I have barely any grip strength in what was my dominant hand.

I couldn't find a PT within 30 miles that could see me within "12-14 weeks".

I have several different specialists I've had to see and the minimum wait is 3 months, usually 4 to 6.

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