posted
If I find the pharmacy with the cheapest generic IV antibiotics, will I be more likely to fly under the radar with my insurance company? I really think that their cost of certain IV drugs would be a lot less than what my husband is currently taking for other non-Lyme drugs.
Thier official position (Cigna) is that they only pay for 28 days of IV antibiotics for Lyme. I know this because it is on their website.
But maybe I can work things so they just don't notice?
Posts: 311 | From CA | Registered: Jul 2008
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tdtid
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10276
posted
Janice,
Please let me know if you find a way to get past the 28 day rule with insurance companies.
We too found the cheapest infusion company for our meds that we could, since it looked like it was going to be out of pocket.
So far, we have had three denials and now we are hitting up politicians, etc to see if we can find a way to get some of these insurance issues fixed.
For us, we still are striking out, but I know others have scored, so give it your best shot, GOOD LUCK and don't forget to report back on how it goes.
Cathy
-------------------- "To Dream The Impossible Dream" Man of La Mancha Posts: 2638 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Oct 2006
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just don
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1129
posted
Cheap and IV dont belong in the same sentence.
NOTHING cheap about IV's
Here is what happened to ME!!
all was well and nothing said,insurance paid ,no prob
TILL,,I got a port installed.
Got put into "managed" care. Some will tell you that is a good thing. NOT in MY case.
It means cut all corners at all costs for them. I understand its expensive.
First case manager,,,all sugar and honey,,,sign him up,no matter what you have to promise.
Second manager- give him bare miniumum,,hard to reach,cant hardly talk to.
Third manager(I call it the hachet person) sole job is to cut me off,cancel any plans,never call back,never knew they took over case, never talked or was able to contact person ,,ever
End of IV's,,period,,,supply company wont even ship any unless you are covered by insurance,private pay was not even an option. maybe they already knew I couldnt afford,who knows.
ANyway what i wanted to say,,,it also put me on the 'blackball' list. They raised the premium the max allowd by law,,,huge percentage wise.
EVERY year had this huge increase. This insurance was private pay so was quite affordable when I took it out years ago,,,quickly turned into a HUGE expense I could NOT afford,no matter what.
Even IF I kept it up,,they would have continued to increase rates till it consumed ALL income and then some,,so aas high as it was,,,it was going higher and more unaffordable.
So I could see writting on the wall and dropped it before it dropped me.(financially)
One time I was in the agents office when the lady called them asking some question. there response was"He shouldnt be mad at US,,,cause its our job to keep claims down so the 'group' he belongs to, is affordable."
well not for me I guess. I am SURE they put you in a high risk group,,,the drum out the door group.
So I dont know anyway you can fly underneath with IV's. But I sure hope your insurance company treats you better than mine did.
Now I wish I could find a source of IV vanco to try for a bit,,,that I could afford to pay out of pocket.
It would be about my only chance, at this point. Nothing else works on me. And I am not real sure that would either.
Anybody have half an idea on what IV vanco costs these days??
-------------------- just don Posts: 4548 | From Middle of midwest | Registered: May 2001
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tdtid
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10276
posted
Don,
Although my story isn't exact, it sure is close enough that I can definitely relate. I'm not sure what we are suppose to be doing.
You are right...there isn't such thing as "cheap" IV's. It's still thousands a month, even when you find a place less expensive than others.
Basically the company I'm using makes you pay for the meds first before they mail it. Sadly, that means racking up all the credit cards we can get our hands on.
I know....not a good thing, but what choices are they leaving us. I'll keep going until I get shut down, but I see that just around the corner.
Not familar with vanco yet. I've only been on the path of Rocephin, Flagyl and now Zithromax by way of IV. Not fun.
What are you doing in the mean time?
Cathy
-------------------- "To Dream The Impossible Dream" Man of La Mancha Posts: 2638 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Oct 2006
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Try to pay out of pocket for IV's (hoping it doesn't last too long), and then when put back on oral abx afterward, use the insurance coverage?
That doesn't sound like a solution, though.
It sounds like finances might dictate the length of IV treatment.
I know I sound naive, but this is terrible! How are people supposed to get well when they can't treat properly and they have all this added stress?
Posts: 797 | From New York | Registered: Feb 2008
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OptiMisTick
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 399
posted
[ 13. January 2009, 04:08 AM: Message edited by: OptiMisTick ]
Posts: 1338 | From Above the Clouds | Registered: Nov 2000
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