insurance news after a month

Sundanceh

Speechless
Knowing they were going to deny the drug and making you submit info for a "review board" that was already going to deny it, is so infurating, Lisa!

Many of us don't have the time to waste jumping through imaginary hoops. Your frustration, hurt and anger over this past month has been alot for you to have to contend with. With what you are facing, it would be nice if the agencies in questions could at least not waste your time, if they cannot offer you anything.

You've done everything right and are continuing to do - I echo everyone else's sentiments and you know how I feel about you.

I just don't know what to say right now. It's so difficult to see one hurting and not be able to fix the need.

Your story inspires so many people!

-Craig

lisa42

Chris
Thank you so much, Chris, for the # of the Patient Advocate Foundation. I am going to call them today & will let you know what they say and how that comes out.
Everyone on this board is always so helpful!!
Have a good day!

Lisa

lisa42

Sundanceh said:

Speechless
Knowing they were going to deny the drug and making you submit info for a "review board" that was already going to deny it, is so infurating, Lisa!

Many of us don't have the time to waste jumping through imaginary hoops. Your frustration, hurt and anger over this past month has been alot for you to have to contend with. With what you are facing, it would be nice if the agencies in questions could at least not waste your time, if they cannot offer you anything.

You've done everything right and are continuing to do - I echo everyone else's sentiments and you know how I feel about you.

I just don't know what to say right now. It's so difficult to see one hurting and not be able to fix the need.

Your story inspires so many people!

-Craig

Craig
Hi Craig,

Thanks for your kind and supportive words.
I just wrote down the phone # for the Patient Advocate Foundation that Chris gave above. I'm hoping that they'll be able to give me advice or intervene on my behalf. Someone I think even mentioned something about the state insurance commision. I will look into that too if I don't get something going in a couple of days.

I'm doing well "other" than all this major garbage. Trying to still keep in perspective what's important in life. I'm taking my youngest daughter out to lunch today, as she's been having a hard time with being at school lately. She'll appreciate me doing that, i know.

Well, hope you are doing well & that you have a good week (or what's left of it)

Lisa

just4Brooks

lisa42 said:

Craig
Hi Craig,

Thanks for your kind and supportive words.
I just wrote down the phone # for the Patient Advocate Foundation that Chris gave above. I'm hoping that they'll be able to give me advice or intervene on my behalf. Someone I think even mentioned something about the state insurance commision. I will look into that too if I don't get something going in a couple of days.

I'm doing well "other" than all this major garbage. Trying to still keep in perspective what's important in life. I'm taking my youngest daughter out to lunch today, as she's been having a hard time with being at school lately. She'll appreciate me doing that, i know.

Well, hope you are doing well & that you have a good week (or what's left of it)

Lisa

Insurance BS
They sure are fast to collect when we owe them money... But when it comes to paying for something they sure hate it. I think the best idea is the Patient Advocate Foundation that Chris gave above. The bigger the boots the more results you might get and I dont think they want the Patient Advocate Foundation on there backs for long. Keep up the fight and remember if you ever want to go to lunch or anything let me know.


Brooks

Mary5777

lisa42 said:

Chris
Thank you so much, Chris, for the # of the Patient Advocate Foundation. I am going to call them today & will let you know what they say and how that comes out.
Everyone on this board is always so helpful!!
Have a good day!

Lisa

Insurance
Lisa, Sorry for all the problems you are going through, and then with insurance problems too. I am not really good at figuring out insurance forms, altho i go through them throughly every time. To see what they approved ,how much, and what i owe. Anyway, when i started my chemo 3 years ago, we had different insurance and i had a $5000 deductible.. The financial woman came to see me..You could fill out paper work and if qualified, paid nothing. We would have qualified but they took into consideration my hushands retirement plan. Anyway, so they now keep a running tab, and i pay $25. a month, with no interest....I pay more when i can...But they were really nice. Do you have any program like that...or will they not allowed you the medicine? I thought maybe you could start on such a program, till they approve it...I believe if you fight hard enough sometimes good things happen.
Have a good day with your daughter....And keep fighting and smiling....Mary

lisa42

Brooks
Brooks,

Yeah, they sure are quick to collect, aren't they? The same day I got my denial (yesterday), I also got their monthly bill in the mail... a whopping $1,491 for a month of family insurance coverage- all so I can also start paying cash in addition to that for the drug they've denied me!
I just sent an email to Dr. Lenz- he replied literally within minutes of me sending the email. He is going to have his assistant write up a letter and fax it to the appeals dept at Health Net today citing the more specific study data on Gemzar (since one of the studies for Gemzar w/ advanced colorectal patients took place there at USC in 2006). I will be on the phone pretty quick here to the Patient Advocate Foundation.

Hope your day is going well, Brooks!
Lisa

cowman

How Much More?
Lisa,

Have been looking for news from you and this sure wasn't what we were all looking for. I think there is enough collective energy on this board to 'stomp down the doors' of the insurance company and give them a piece of our minds!

You have received several good replies and I pray that something will work out. I wish you could just jump in there and start on the Gemzar and see what happens. Surely it will work out and you don't want to wait and worry. My prayers and positive thought are with you.

Keep up the juicin'!

Diane

imagineit2010

lisa42 said:

Chris
Thank you so much, Chris, for the # of the Patient Advocate Foundation. I am going to call them today & will let you know what they say and how that comes out.
Everyone on this board is always so helpful!!
Have a good day!

Lisa

The circle
Lisa, you have been a great help to many people on here so I hope what comes around goes around. I am a firm believer in the idea that everything happens for a reason. I have had far too many coincidences in my life to not feel this way. If I can help just one person with a problem in their life and the reason I was able to help that person was due to my getting cancer then it makes my hardship that much easier to accept. My getting cancer may not result in finding a cure but it can certainly result in finding a possible solution to even the smallest of problems and that matters. The possibilities of "something positive always comes from something negative" can get anyone through their darkest hour. If the end result of my simple suggestion (god willing) happened to get you medication that can save your life then I could explain to my kids that my (negative) disease put me in a place to help save someone's life. Perhaps they, as well as myself, could better accept whatever happens to me. Your awfull situation led others to reach out with compasion which gave you new hope of a solution which in turn gave others a sense of worth in their own self by giving comfort to someone in need. It's one big circle and you are a big part of it. I pray it works out for you.
Chris

SandyL

cowman said:

How Much More?
Lisa,

Have been looking for news from you and this sure wasn't what we were all looking for. I think there is enough collective energy on this board to 'stomp down the doors' of the insurance company and give them a piece of our minds!

You have received several good replies and I pray that something will work out. I wish you could just jump in there and start on the Gemzar and see what happens. Surely it will work out and you don't want to wait and worry. My prayers and positive thought are with you.

Keep up the juicin'!

Diane

Stinks!
I am now wondering if it would help if a bunch of us sent letters to the insurance commission or other agency. If safety is in numbers, perhaps a few letters directed to the right folks would help. We certainly have numbers here! And I for one would be glad to send a letter on your behalf without getting too much in depth to your personal information. It just really bothers me that when we need that insurance is when we get the biggest fight. Whether it be car, house or health insurance. Totally stinks. Rotten!
Sandy