Insurance: it SUCKS and I'm also glad I have it!

Our insurance is giving us the run around.  Our primary care Dr. wrote the referral but mistakingly put Johns Hopkins as the hospital, not Northwestern.  So the referral was incorrect, easy fix, right?  WRONG!!!

Our insurance doesn't cover out of network Dr's.  Dr. Burt is out of state, therefore out of network.  

There is a clause in my handbook that says if no Dr. in your area can offer you this service, then the visit will be covered.

Long story short, after spending several hours on the phone with all Dr's offices and the Insurance company, we have no referral, and it isn't likely we will.

My PCP's office is filling out the necessary paperwork to see about pre-authorization, but that could take up to 30 days. 

Now I'm looking at changing insurance to a PPO so I can go anywhere in the nation.  

Man oh man, why can't this be simple?