Finding a good doctor that you get along with is an absolute must. After all, you are going to meet with this individual time and time again and discuss very personal items. With that said, I also like to find a doctor who is inexpensive. For you, that may mean someone who accepts your health insurance, or accepts Medi-Cal or Medi-Care if you are in one of those programs.
What if you don't have health insurance? Well, I am in that very situation. I am Medi-Cal eligible but for some reason the payment I would have to make out of pocket with Medi-Cal would be higher than my doctor's sliding scale. I recommend going to a County psychiatrist. In my experience they are good doctors, and if you don't get along with one there are usually more than one in an office.
For medications and pyschiatrist visits (and therapist visits if I chose to have them) I pay a little over $200 a year based on my only income being SSDI currently. I don't know what will happen when I automatically get Medi-Care after being on SSDI for two years, I will look into it and post when I know. I see my psychiatrist next Tuesday so I will ask him then.
Other than going to county, I think the best way to find a good doctor is to ask other individuals with bipolar disorder. Doing this is easy, you just go to a DBSA meeting, www.dbsalliance.org ! Chances are, if a doctor is well-liked by a few individuals you have a better chance of getting along with them too.
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