Service Unreliable
Three days a week I go to LA Fitness to workout. I've been doing this for over 30 years now. For me, this has facilitated improved balance and strength on my weaker side, which means I don't trip over my own 2 feet as much.
I worked consistently for many years but not in the best jobs that paid high hourly wages or salaries---therefore, what they paid into Social Security was minimal. I didn't have the same opportunities as everyone else in the corporate world.
Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Sections 503 and 504 addressed employment, but they weren't enforceable until the ADA was passed in 1990. When I applied to receive Social Security when they calculated how much was paid in against what I worked over the years and the fact that I have a disability--I qualified for SSI and not Social Security being $3800,00 short to qualify for SSDI,
This meant then I only qualify for Medicaid and not Medicare.
When I turned 65, Medicaid pays into Medicare, therefore, I now get both Medicare and Medicaid and I also have a supplemental Medicare plan. This means that what ever Medicare doesn't pick up, Medicaid does. Under the supplemental plan, I now also have Silver sneakers, which means that they now pay for my gym membership and transportation for me to get there. When your income is below $800 a month, those extra dollars not spent means you can get something you really need and pay a bill.
With Silver sneakers, all I have to do is call logisticare to schedule transportation. The problem is that in Florida the public transportation is so bad that you need medical transport to get to your appointments.
Even though I schedule transportation to get to my appointments earlier than I need to, sometimes they are late in picking me up and getting me to my appointments. At least when I go to the gym it's not a big deal unless I have an appointment afterwards. With one company they use, the person who takes me to my appointment also picks me up to bring me home, therefore, it can work to my advantage. But with a different company they use, it can be one driver picking me up to take me to my appointment, with a different driver picking me up to take me home. Yesterday, the driver that pick me up got there at the time of my appointments at the gym and got me they are in half an hour before I was scheduled to be picked up to be taken home. Therefore, I was not ready when the driver came to pick me up. There is no reason for me to take my phone with me when I'm on the floor exercising, therefore I missed the call from the driver letting me know that he was they are.
While I was getting dressed, Logisticcare called to find out what happened and let me know that my driver had left. When I explained to him what happened, he understood that because I was late in getting to my appointment there was no way for me to be ready when the driver came and he contacted them to return and pick me up.
I understand that this is something that you have to be aware of, but at the same time when I look at my time in dollars and cents, when a driver is late in getting me to a facility on time for my appointment, then it throws off the other drivers for their scheduled pickup times. When they arrive early, and get me to my appointments early at the gym, then am able to be ready early for the return trip.
The dispatchers who schedule the appointments for the drivers don't always consider time and traffic, plus location to where the individual is going, to schedule the drivers day better. There are many factors involved in coordinating transportation, but they really need to do a better job.
Because of what happened yesterday morning, I was very angry about what happened with the return trip and when the driver pick me up he knew I was angry. When you consider your time of sitting and waiting to get to and from an appointment and you consider your time in dollars and cents, then it was lost money to me.
When you work for yourself, that time sitting around waiting for a return ride home is time lost and wasted. I realize that when you have 2 to 3 people to pick up at this around the same time and to get to their appointments, when you factor in all the variables there does have to be some leeway, but I also believe drivers need to be held accountable for getting their patients to and from their appointments in a reasonable amount of time.
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Davida,
I know from personal experience the frustrations on having to rely on other people...especially when you are organized and focused. Do you have a laptop or iPhone that you can bring along to do something positive while waiting. Just focus on the fact that you are getting your exercise in! Good for you.
Debbie
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That's a tough one, and unfortunately there will always be inefficiencies with any system. The more we complain, many times nothing still gets done, and we become even more angry and frustrated. Time is definitely money.
In your situation Davida, I think you should carry your laptop with you, so you can your online marketing business done wherever you go.
There will always be inefficiencies no matter how much you complain, at least this way you can take advantage of the downtime.