This is topic does anybody know of a Medicare advantage plan that covers ALCAT testing? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.


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Posted by GVS (Member # 48913) on :
 
I live in NC. My wife's health plan is giving me a choice of six Medicare advantage plans for the upcoming year. I have really bad food allergies and have to do ALCAT allergy testing for delayed reactions to food and chemicals frequently. Because ALCAT testing is expensive, I need a plan that will cover it.

In 2012 a medical study was done on the ALCAT that said found it didn't significantly help the people who did it. Since then, most, but not all, insurance companies won't pay for it. The test is valid. It makes my life possible, but I can't afford it without at least some insurance reimbursement.
 
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
I don't think it's all that definitive either. I have major issues with foods and basically nothing shows up on testing. NO, I have not had the ALCAT. I've heard it bantered around and have decided it's too much money for possibly no HELP.

Have you considered Mast Cell Activation Disorder? Considered Salicylate Sensitivity?

Info on MCAS:

http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=133927;p=0#000000
 
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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This woman had a delayed reaction to food, too:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/pain-kept-this-young-woman-from-eating-for-5-years-and-doctors-didnt-know-why/2016/09/26/399211a6-6df9-11e6-9705-23e51a2f424d _story.html?hpid=hp_hp-more-top-stories-2_medmystery-1235pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

Medical Mysteries

Pain kept this young woman from eating for 5 years, and doctors didn’t know why

By Sandra G. Boodman - Medical Reporter
The Washington Post - September 26, 2016

Excerpts:

. . . “We’ve done all these tests, and they’re all normal,” . . . .

1/3 way down:

. . . Extraordinary coincidence [section heading]

. . . A condition called MALS — median arcuate ligament syndrome . . . .

----
A four-minute VIDEO accompanies the article above.

This is an extraordinary account of events. And it resonates for anyone with any medical complexity or anyone who might every be faced with such.
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Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=119808;p=0

Topic: Treatment / Support for Gastroparesis

Many great links here for various gut / food tolerance matters
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Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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Some tick bites can cause allergy - and delayed bad reactions - to muscle meats, too.
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Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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t9im just posted this yesterday, note the delayed reaction:

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/07/tick-bites-that-trigger-severe-meat-allergy-on-rise-around-the-world

Tick Bites That Trigger Severe Meat Allergy On Ride Around the World

http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/126205

Topic: tick bites and meat allergy: successful remedies?

LINKS, testing, discussion
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[ 10-08-2016, 04:41 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
 
Posted by tulips (Member # 44773) on :
 
Regarding whether or not any of the Medicare plans cover ALCAT testing, I think you would have to phone them. I think that for the Medicare-eligible person, Medicare is always

Primary. In that case, for you, your wife's plan would be Secondary. But to be sure, you'd need to call them. 1(800)Medicare might be able to help.
 
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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You might call the labs where the best testing is for yourself and ask their office manager to help you. Most likely, they will know which insurance plans they have contracts with and also the ones that actually cover & pay as they should.
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