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My wife and one daughter have been in treatment for about 9 mos now (and my other daughter was just recently diagnosed). My wife and daughter started with oral antibiotics and were going nowhere, so they were put on intravenous for 3 months. They both seemed to get better. However, after about 2 months of being off the intravenous, my wife is regressing quickly. Throughout all of this, one good thing has been our current insurance carrier - they have covered everything.
Now, my company is switching carriers and the new carrier may cover 4 weeks if we are lucky! I can see the need for at least my wife and daughter recently diagnosed needing intravenous therapy. We will try to get this done before the insurance coverage changes at the end of the year, but if we cannot, I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to how to deal with this issue. If I need to pay out of pocket, any estimates as to what this could cost?
Posts: 19 | From massachusetts | Registered: Nov 2006
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Sorry to hear your family has been laid low by this disease.
We are all a bit in the dark about how insurance companies will cover our treatments, given the new and more restrictive IDSA Guidelines. To pay for IV's out of pocket would be almost prohibitive for all but the well-to-do!
You say your wife and daughter improved on their IV treatment but your wife is regressing again. Apparently they did not make a lot of progress while on the oral antibiotics.
I have never had IV treatment but tolerated the oral antibiotics well. There aren't too many of us who make a lot of progress as fast as we'd like to. It took almost two years before I really began to feel well. I wouldn't necessarily discard the idea of having your wife try the orals again. Hopefully, her months of IV's knocked the germ load down.
My grandson was on oral antibiotics for six years before he got better. He has been off them now for almost two years and seems to be doing well.
One thing is for sure; this disease takes a whole lot of patience and fortitude. I wish you all well.
-------------------- nan Posts: 2135 | From Tick Country | Registered: Oct 2000
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Thanks for the replies. I actually investigated the COBRA option, but unfortunately the way it works (as I was told) is that after Jan 1 the COBRA coverage would be from the new plan.
Posts: 19 | From massachusetts | Registered: Nov 2006
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Nan,Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, for my wife, the antibiotics were causing significant issues with her gall bladder. We are actually looking into natural remedies and the like. There is a family dealing with Lyme as we are and one member has had significant improvement with cat's claw combined with other things. At this point, we will try anything!
Posts: 19 | From massachusetts | Registered: Nov 2006
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