posted
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.
Posts: 242 | From durham, nc | Registered: Oct 2016
| IP: Logged |
posted
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?
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. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
Many great links here for various gut / food tolerance matters -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Some tick bites can cause allergy - and delayed bad reactions - to muscle meats, too. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- t9im just posted this yesterday, note the delayed reaction:
posted
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.
Posts: 653 | From Northern Virginia | Registered: Oct 2014
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- 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. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
| 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