posted
Hi, I am new at this, and new on this site. First off I want to say thanks to everyone who responded to my first post. This is an amazing site and has given me some hope that I may be able to get better!!! I don't know if this is the proper forum to ask this- it is not really a medical question so I put it here.... forgive me if it is in the wrong section!
I have been seeking out a LLMd in my area and have been blown away at the cost. One doctor charges $600-$700 for the initial visit PLUS another $700 or so for lab work. Is this normal???
This whole thing is so scary and I am terrified of not getting well but also terrified of having my $ sucked away from me. I am out of work due to the lyme and have no insurance (though most lyme drs. don't seem to take it- why is that???) I do not qualify for disability as I have only been out of work for 2 months now.
I want nothing more than to get better but I also don't want to be taken advantage of. I don't understand why this disease is so controversal!! People are CLEARLY SICK!! Why can't we get help like anyone else who is sick!!
Any insight about this topic would BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I don't mean to be a skeptic but I AM REALLY SCARED!! Thanks in advance!! Posts: 7 | From Maryland | Registered: Nov 2006
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posted
I'm quite new to this myself, and I'm sure somebody with more knowledge on the subject will come along with some answers for you.
Let me start by saying that I share your fears and concerns. This is a scary enough disease without throwing in the costs and controversies.
The best thing you can do, IMO, is educate yourself as much as possible about all sides of this disease. And rememeber: People DO get better!
From what I have gathered, most LLMD's don't accept insurance outright because many insurance companies won't pay for lyme treatment.
It has to do with the huge controversies surrounding lyme disease (what treatment is 'proper,' what the diagnostic criteria are, whether chronic lyme really exists, etc.).
LLMD's are at a high risk of encountering legal problems because they are willing to go against guidelines (which, from what I can gather, are largely inappropriate in the first place).
This probably contributes to why they charge so much. Also, they are highly knowledgable about and experienced with a disease the vast majority of doctors won't touch.
$700 for lab work is normal, if you send your lab work to Igenex. This is the most reliable lab, according to many, to test for LD.
Why can't we just get help like anyone else who is sick?
IMO, all of this stems from a serious lack of knowledge about LD, helped along by the financial interests involved on all sides of the controversy.
There are a lot of questions out there, a lot of theories, and it's hard to know who to trust or what to believe.
You've found a great forum with many very knowledgable people. Keep reading and asking questions! Good luck!
Posts: 106 | From Michigan | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
I would definitely ask around on this board to make sure that the dr in question is a good one, so you won't be wasting time and $$$$$.
Other than that, it IS expensive...or CAN be. Remember, insurance companies won't allow these drs to practice as they need too...so they work without ties to insurance. This drives up the cost to the patient.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Our daughter, Nicole, has been extremely ill since the early part of 2002. We've gone through the typical run-around with every specialist known to man as well as three different Family Doctors.
She's been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Chronic Fatigue, Hyprocondria (sp), possible MS, etc, etc, etc.
In October 2005 we found an outstanding LLMD. He had her tested through IGenex and her results came back positive for Lyme, Bartonella and Babesia.
He charged $400 for the initial consultation and the IGenex lab charged $800. Our follow-up appointments (about every 60 days) cost $190.
During the initial consultation he spent about 3 hours with our daughter.
He did a thorough clinical/symptom examination and a short physical exam (total, about an hour).
He then spent the next two hours answering all of our questions and providing all the information we needed to try and understand the disease itself.
During the past 14 months we've seen our LLMD about 8 times, each appointment is relaxed and unhurried.
Compare this type of medical care with an HMO driven family doctor or even worse, one of the so-called specialists we've seen - there is no comparison.
The three so-called family doctors probably saw our daughter a total of 5 hours between them over a 6 year period. They don't even know her name without consulting her medical records.
I personally don't want our LLMD to start taking health insurance.
I want my daughter's health to be his motivation for being an LLMD - not one of the health insurance companies.
Our daughter is a very sick young lady. She's a long way from being cured, and may never be, we just don't know. The one thing we do know is that she's getting the best medical care there is.
I really hope you'll be able to find someone on the east coast who will provide you the same quality care my daughter is receiving.
Posts: 681 | From California | Registered: Oct 2005
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heiwalove
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6467
posted
limeyinmd, i totally hear you and agree with you. the cost of lyme treatment is atrocious, and much of that can indeed be blamed on the ridiculous controversy surrounding the disease and the greedy financial interests of those involved.
lymedad, i'm really happy your daughter is getting the care she needs. unfortunately, there are many, many people who cannot come close to affording that sort of care - you are blessed that you are able to do so.
in my opinion, our health care system is SEVERELY screwed up; the kind of care lymedad's daughter receives from her LLMD should be the standard, and it should NOT cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars.
i wish with all my heart that LLMDs accepted insurance, medicaid, medicare, etc. it's a crime and a travesty that they don't, or that within the current volatile climate in which they practice, they're unable to.
posted
I hope I didn't come across as being flippant about the cost of my daughter's health care.
We can't afford the out-of-pocket expenses either. I've taken a second and now a third job just to be able to pay for her medicines and all of her other expenses.
With the health care system the way it is today and especially with the Lyme controversy, I don't want to have our LLMD beholding to anyone other than his patients.
Holding down three jobs at age 59 is a small price to pay for our girl's health.
Posts: 681 | From California | Registered: Oct 2005
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heiwalove
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6467
posted
i deeply admire your dedication to your daughter. i'm just saying that not everyone is in a position to pay the exorbitant LLMD fees, no matter how many jobs they hold down at once. everyone deserves equal access to adequate healthcare, no matter what their financial status - i see healthcare as a basic human right. i think we have a lot of things wrong in this country and our very faulty healthcare system is just one example of that.
posted
Thank you all for your insight on this topic. As I said before- I had no idea that lyme disease was such a difficult issue. This has been so eye opening (and not in a good way). I agree that the healthcare system in this country is completly backwards. It is crazy how the US is so "advanced" in some ways but completly lacking in this area! My dilema is that I am a single woman who just finished grad school (and am already in major debt) but now I cannot hold down any job at the moment due to this illness. Believe me- I have been trying!! I don't mean to hold a pity party for myself- but it is nice to have a place to vent to others who are in the same situation! Lymedad- your daughter is lucky to have you!
Posts: 7 | From Maryland | Registered: Nov 2006
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
The fees doctors charge for Lyme aren't really that high compared to other doctor fees.
The initial high consult fees are usually because the doctor is spending a longer time with you than traditional doctors spend. A 15 minute appointment with a doctor is usually $150-$200.
Also, if your Lyme doctor isn't on your insurance, then obviously you are paying the full fee. Insurance companies negotiate fees with doctors, so if a doctor is with an insurance plan, that plan pays a discounted fee to that doctor.
There are LLMD's who work with insurance. I'm not sure if there are any in your part of MD or not. But my insurance covers almost all of my costs, besides the supplements and some tests. I also have a very good insurance plan.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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quote:Originally posted by lymedad: He charged $400 for the initial consultation and --------------------During the initial consultation he spent about 3 hours with our daughter.
He did a thorough clinical/symptom examination and a short physical exam (total, about an hour).
He then spent the next two hours answering all of our questions and providing all the information we needed to try and understand the disease itself.
It's true that you get what you pay for. Most ducks charge at least $65 per 10 minutes, or nearly $400 per hour. So, in reality, they are the more expensive drs.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Tincup did a very good breakdown on the LLMD cost vs reg doc cost, but I can't find it.
I DO remember she was very proud she actually did the math ...
If anyone could find it, I thought it was very helpful.
H
-------------------- "Data over dogma, Evidence over egos, Patients over politics" -- one smart dude from Missouri Posts: 112 | From TN USA | Registered: Nov 2005
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