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$$$$$$$ RT
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09/28/2009 20:21
cindy850 
09/28/2009 20:21
cindy850 
$$$$$$$ RT

I have been on here reading about everyone that has been doing RT. And i am shocked of how many are doing this. I live in Independence Missouri and to start with i would have to travel because there is no one close and the second thing is - i called some of the clinics in other states and was blown away of the prices they gave me. My insurance will not pay a dime because it is not cancer so i will be paying out of my own pocket. I am not bad mouthing anyone but how can you afford it? I would love to have this done but just can't. And then some of you go out of the country which means hotels etc. and more money. Just very confused thats all. I guess i'm upset or venting. Oh well good luck everybody.

09/29/2009 00:25
Diana 
09/29/2009 00:25
Diana 
Re: $$$$$$$ RT

Hi Cindy. What insurance do you have? My gatekeepers, Santa Cruz Medical Foundation, initially denied my radiation treatment and I had to jump through several hoops before they finally ok'd the procedure. My insurance is Health Net but it never got to that stage, it was the Medical Clinic that was deciding.

I know that Health Net covers it and also Medicare. I believe from reading this forum that Blue Cross covers radiation as well.

If I was unable to get treatment in the US I was strongly considering going to Germany as it is much cheaper there, even with the flights etc.

The other thing I was considering is that if I paid out of pocket asking the clinics to lower the price - e.g. not pay retail since insurance companies don't.

Diana

09/29/2009 11:56
lori 
09/29/2009 11:56
lori 
Re: $$$$$$$ RT

Hi,

I know Blue Cross pays for it because I just finished RT. I believe that in my case it was approved because I went to a radiation/oncologist for evaluation. The oncologist never doubted for a minute that it would not be covered. It is considered standard treatment. As an example, insurance pays for low dose radiation for keloid's. If I had not had the MRI I only would have paid co-pays. Based on that I have only really paid around $100.00-200.00 for the treatment.

What kind of insurance do you have and are you employed? I ask because your HR person can possibly help. Give us a little more detailed information and maybe we can help you through the process.

I thought I was going to have to travel to Germany or go to Virginia for treatment until I found Southeast in Charlotte. It took between 50-75 phone calls before I found someone to treat it. It seemed over whelming trying to figure out how to work and get this accomplished. If an oncologist/radiation group is treating keloids they should be able to treat DD. Diana took information from this site with her to show them how to treat DD. It took hard work on both our parts to get this accomplished. I was not going to give up.

Keep us posted.

Lori

09/29/2009 14:15
cindy850 
09/29/2009 14:15
cindy850 
Re: $$$$$$$ RT

Thank you for posting so soon. My insurance is coventry ppo and i have a $1000 deduct. I am very close to Kansas City Missouri and Overland Park Kansas. I am hoping that the insurance will change soon but that is wishful thinking. Any information that you can give me i would appreciate. No i am not working at this time. Thank you both for replying so soon. Take care

09/29/2009 16:45
Gweneth 
09/29/2009 16:45
Gweneth 
Re: $$$$$$$ RT

My insurance also covered my RT. My company self-insures, and uses United Healthcare to manage. I was fully expecting to have to appeal, based upon other health coverage issues in the past. However, my treatment was approved within a week.
I am in agreement with Lori, that going to a radiation/oncologist for evaluation is the key to getting RT approved by an insurance company. And again like Lori, my oncologist never seemed concerned about it not being approved.

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