Once again this site has helped with invaluable information to at least have some faith to continue the fight and again appeal the decision handed down to me from my provider the infamous BLUE CROSS not to ever be mistaken for the Iron Cross of (stupidity)!

I also have used the same valid excuse from my research and the other posts of comparison (Along with the obvious educated surgeons who practice N/A), I have seen here the following cost,length/duration of surgery," " of re-hab. time, re-occurance time frames, etc. etc.) it just does not seem to be of any use (TO THEM) doing something that allows US any less suffering (TO US) the patients.Why do they all insist on using turn of the century meical butchery on us?No Dark Ages! Why? Like mentioned here, it will be quite a few years before the "Viking Community" has any advancement in treating this mutating disease with a touch of 21st century medical technique like N/A.
(I smell a new movie here Michael Moore?)

I have (Was-past tense) been diagnosed with MS when I was 23 and am now 41. Throughout this hellish nighmare we call life, I have been on an assortment of wonderful anti-seizure meds which I think we all know only progress the illness of good ol' "Dupy" as I now affectionatly call it! The long thick (painful) cord in my rt. hand has doubled in length and width in my hand since diagnosis in Jauary of 2006. I have devoted the past 8 months to researh and investigating along with people like the ones here
and we are not alone. I find this site to be an ispiration
to continue to find ways to further the struggle to appeal.
Unfortunately I believe I will also in time have to "bite the bullet" so to speak and foot the bill on my own.

It is so nice to be an American (Citizen) who's family has been here fighting (literally) for freedom for generations and be denied for so many things. I had to shell out over $2,000 dollars for a lawyer to fight for my MS =Disability Social Security which I have had since "89" oh what a wonderful world! Any publishers wish to pursue story & book rights, along with the boxes of medical evidence for my condition along with the way corporate America treats you/me/us when you become diagnosed with a chronic illness in America?
Any further advice on cost would be appreciated for the N/A
I have tried phoning Dr. Prosper Benhaim here in CA. and no one will even talk to me? Even though I have informed them of my current medical insurance and the current denial/appeal status limbo I find myself in.I stated clearly I would pay anything that was required in cash if need be. They still will not even converse with me on topic of price?? Any further info. to help on the above matters would be greatly appreciated.

California "K" the Viking



Unfortunately

Luba

FYI, it took Blue Cross about 2 months to reimburse us for the NA proedure. The first thing they did was write and ask me if this was a result of some sort of accident or injury so they could go after someone else. DUH, if they knew what this disease is they would know that was a waste of time. I used the procedure codes off Denkler's website which I think Randy posted recently.

Our policy has a small deductable for in network services but a higher one for out of network. So with all that they paid only about $127. But the procedure was worth what i had to pay and way cheaper than the traditional surgery 2 years ago from an in-network doctor.

Hope this helps. email me at dsonder@cox.net if you need more info.

Hi all,

My last packet of info arrived today from BCBS (or is it BSBS?). In the last phone call my case manager told me I can appeal the outside review decision.

Today's packet had a letter saying I have exhausted all appeals. So they lied. What's new?

It cost me $1500 out of pocket, but my hand is great...fully open and functional. My primary care physician tells me that this will make a great case for the managed care debate.

I made the case for a simple solution to a real medical problem and the insurance won't pay because I was out of network.

I told them of my attempts to have this procedure done in-plan, but no doctors in the plan would discuss it. Only after submitting the case to an outside 'independent' arbitrator, they said I should have provided the medical records of those visits. Since all the surgeons recommended surgery (duh!) they firmly believe it is the "standard". All they will pay for is the major surgery.

The only analogy I can think of is how they will pay for surgery for the feet, but not $300 orthodics to help your pain.
They pay for the crutches if you have surgery, but not orthodics.
They pay for potent drugs to ease the pain, but not for the orthodics.

Any other analogies come to mind? I'm thinking of going to the local press with the whole case and trying it in front of "really independent" reviewers...

Thanks for listening and keep up the good fight!


Bob