Happy New Year everyone! First question of the year (for me):
I finally got my act together and submitted all my out of network claims to my health insurance company (BC/BS of MN). They paid 100% of my IGENEX test without a question, but their LLMD appointment "allowable amount" is less than half of what I pay.
Interestingly, my last insurance company (BC/BS of Michigan) did the opposite, gave me trouble with IGENEX, but paid my LLMD bills in full.
I called customer service and got no help, of course. They said they were not allowed to release the list of "allowable amounts", and that all I could do was appeal the decision.
Anyone have experience with this, particularly with BD/BS of MN?
I see the insurance info link at the top of General Support and will investigate more, but I thought I'd get your expert opinions, ideas, and experiences as well.
ARRGH! This healthcare system stinks!
Elizabeth
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
Elizabeth, I have NO MINN. insurance...
I have medicare, IOWA'S BCBS.
Before medicare, I was reimbursed either $43 or $34 for Igenex!
NONE OF MY MINN. LLMD appts. were paid, no labs, nor "exploratory" testings nationwide to the amount of $5,000 plus $1,000 travel last year.
took IOWA BCBS 18 months to finally give me this reply, "OPTED OUT OF MEDICARE" if you are required to sign by your LLMD excluded MEDICARE BUT ALSO YOUR 2ND HEALTH INSURANCE CO., BCBS!!! *********************************************
so 50% of what you spent is a GODsend to me!
I also went thru Iowa's INSURANCE COMMISSIONER FOR 12 months as well. They got a little more info than BCBS would give me, and bcbs's investigator would NOT talk to me or return any phone calls! I pursued bcbs; they did NOT! I wasn't impressed by them and after 1st contact, I worked directly with their attorney! **************************************
good luck, and contact your FEDERAL senators/house reps about this and URGING THEM TO CO-SPONSOR OUR 2 LYME BILLS IN CONGRESS!
S 1708 and HR 741 ***********************
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
Please go to SUPPORT GROUPS, left-hand side column by state. CALL the nearest group leader for advise. Do NOT email; many are too sick to reply; thanks!
People seeking doctors in certain states might be able to get help from their state online information and support group. Over 1200 people belong to these state groups. Many of the groups are small but quite a few have 20 or more people on them.
Type your state name and lyme as one word, e.g. newyorklyme
For SC, SD, ND and WY, put a hyphen between the statename and lyme, e.g. northdakota-lyme
The groups are moderated so you have to apply, and we don't allow doctor names, but once on the group, you can ask for doctors in a certain area and ask people to email you privately.
Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :
They 'probably' only pay for the normal quickie visit we all get going to a duck,,,
the extended visit MOST LLMD's give us isnt covered cause it is too long.. maybe!!
Any more anything they cover is a miracle cause they have found ALL the 'loup holes' in last few years!! since--just don--