kidsgotlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23691
posted
We have run into a bump in the road. Of course we are fighting with insurance company about paying for my daughter's IV meds. We expected it.
What we didn't except was several major financial issues resulting in us not having the money to buy her meds for a few weeks.
I have an e-mail into her doctor about what we should do, but I wanted to ask if anyone else has ever had this problem.
We literally DO NOT have the money to pay for it at this present time. We didn't except this when we started her on the IV's. Sometimes life throws you a curve ball though.
Has anybody ever switched to orals for a short time and then gone back on the IV's?
-------------------- symptoms since 1993 that I can remember. 9/2018 diagnosed with Borellia, Babesia Duncani, and Bartonella Hensalae thru DNA Connections. Posts: 1470 | From Tennessee | Registered: Dec 2009
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kidsgotlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23691
posted
up
-------------------- symptoms since 1993 that I can remember. 9/2018 diagnosed with Borellia, Babesia Duncani, and Bartonella Hensalae thru DNA Connections. Posts: 1470 | From Tennessee | Registered: Dec 2009
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
It's better to switch over to orals than it is to stop taking antibiotics all together.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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-------------------- LSG Scott Posts: 513 | From Boston, Cape Cod, Mass | Registered: Aug 2009
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tdtid
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10276
posted
I too was on IV for 16 months and insurance was not helping out at all. There does come a time that we need to do what we can to keep treating but at the same time, we have to be able to afford it.
As the others have said, orals will definitely be preferable to no treatment at all.
Did your daughter get in some IV or are you saying they are refusing to pay right out of the gate? In any case....many of us have done a combination of IV and orals and we do what we have to do to get better.
Please keep us posted on how your daughter is doing. Most LLMD's will work with us in what we can and can't afford. They don't like that the insurance companies are telling them how to treat, so you will probably find that they want to help you keep your daughter on a good solid path.
Cathy
-------------------- "To Dream The Impossible Dream" Man of La Mancha Posts: 2638 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Oct 2006
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kidsgotlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23691
posted
Thanks you guys. Sorry I am just now getting back on here to read them. I have been on the phone with everyone for the past two days, and they have approved her until Dec. 8th.
I had to switch infusion companies because we were unknowingly using an out of network company. That's what the problem was.
I was so upset about the possibility of having to stop the IV's so soon. She has only been doing it for two months after being on orals for one year.
-------------------- symptoms since 1993 that I can remember. 9/2018 diagnosed with Borellia, Babesia Duncani, and Bartonella Hensalae thru DNA Connections. Posts: 1470 | From Tennessee | Registered: Dec 2009
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posted
Another option depending on your insurance company -- do not use an infusion company but order the IV meds, tubing, IV bags and other supplies and do the infusions yourself.
Hubby orders his antibiotics from Rite Aid or whichever pharmacy can fill the required scrip. He gets his needles in boxes of 100 from Walgreens. Tubing and IV meds are mailorder from Medhaus. We just use generic bandaids for dressing changes and cloth tape from the drug store. He does not use heparin -- but does take 8 lumbrokinase daily instead.
The IV meds from the drugstore are processed the same as any other prescription and paid at 60/40 until he meets his $5000 annual cap which has already happened for the year. The needles, tubing and IV bags are filed by us as out of network and fall under major medical rules.
It would depend on your insurance company as to whether this would be an option, but it is much cheaper for them if there is no home infusion company involved so they may be agreeable.
I have been trained to administer hubby's IV meds and can look most of them up online or call the pharmacy if I have any questions.
Some docs require that the first dose be done at a hospital or infusion center so reactions can be observed.
There are LLMD's who will write the scrips but some are reluctant to do so because of liability issues. Or a PCP may be agreeable for 6 months or so -- after that they get nervous if the patient is not well.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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kidsgotlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23691
posted
Thank you the info Bea. I appreciate it very much.
-------------------- symptoms since 1993 that I can remember. 9/2018 diagnosed with Borellia, Babesia Duncani, and Bartonella Hensalae thru DNA Connections. Posts: 1470 | From Tennessee | Registered: Dec 2009
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