posted
Im just wondering if most of the people on here have contacting their insurance company to see if and how long they will cover picc line, before getting a picc line. I dont know whether to just go into it not knowing or to call the company first to see what they offer. I have blue care network, by the way. brian
Posts: 217 | From Everywhere | Registered: Nov 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
brian, I assume you mean all aspects of IV treatment, not just the picc line itself (i.e., medicine, supplies, nursing visits).
I'm not sure what most people do, but I think it's probably a good idea to check. Your LLMD's office may be able to do it for you, though I think I'd want to do it myself to make sure I had all my questions answered.
I would also try to get something in writing, or at least have a record of with whom you or your LLMDs office spoke to regarding your coverage.
I think others besides me have been broadsided by being cut off by our insurance companies before our LLMDs thought we should stop IV. It would be good before you start for both you and your LLMD to know what length of treatment you can expect to have covered, and also for you to know where you stand financially. You may, for example, have a larger than expected co-pay for IV therapy even if you otherwise have 'good' coverage.
I wish I had known going in what to expect so that me and my LLMD could have made a more informed choice. I was hesitant to contact my insurance company and potentially draw (negative) attention to myself and my lyme diagnosis, which was probably paranoid.
As it turns out my insurance company won't actually say 'yes' or 'no' or commit to a length of treatment until the treatment has already been given and a claim filed. But even that information might have led me to make a different decision about whether to even start or not.
Hope this helps.
monkeyshines
Posts: 343 | From Northern VA | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hi Brian - in my case my doctor uses a home health care company that takes care of all the arrangements for placing the PICC, the meds, and supplies, etc.
This company has alot of knowledge of it's patients health insurance policies (or lack of policies). They knew that my insurance did not pre-approve this type of treatment, but they could also tell me that this company had no policy on Lyme disease treatment and that they had not rejected any claims in the past for other patients.
With that knowledge, I went ahead with the treatment, but checked back after about 1 month to get reassurance of their knowledge of past claims to my insurance company.
How will you have all of your details of PICC installation, etc., meds, supplies needed, etc. carried out? Who will arrange these details for you?
For me, I did not want to contact my insurance company and draw attention to myself and my case. In my experience, this has only caused trouble.
I got the PICC done in the hospital by a radiologist (I recommend this highly) and it was easy to find out the coverage for this type of procedure (in my case 90% coverage). The other part of meds, etc. is a bit different, but the home health care company had all the answers - and they have been right on so far.
Good luck. listenswithcare
Posts: 276 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2006
| IP: Logged |
MagicAcorn
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8786
posted
My doctor called Aetna for me and did the arguing for me. He won and I got rocephin.
-------------------- Posts: 1279 | From In hiding | Registered: Feb 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
Home health care agency did it for me. That was key, they filled out a lot of paper work to get this approved. In my case it is re-evaluated every month. I'm on my 32nd day approved for another 31.
Posts: 298 | From Maine | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic