To PET or Not to PET

Kerry S
Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I just got a shock. I was setup to get a PET scan in June. I am on Medicare Advantage. My out of pocket cost was $30 for past scans. This year it is 25% of the total cost. As we live in the boondocks, the local hospital gets a larger Medicare reimbursement then the St. Louis hospitals, so my cost would have been around $500. If I drive a hundred miles into STL it would cost around $300.

I talked to my colon surgeon’s nurse about it and she said I don’t need one. In fact she said too many scans are hazardous to ones health. My last CT scan was in December after 4 other clear scans that year. The tightwad gene in me says I don’t need one. From 1/1/08 to today, our average “out of pocket” medical expense was $68 per day. We have spent enough on this crap.

Comments

  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #2
    Yep... I understand! My
    Yep... I understand! My portion of my CT scan the end of March was $770 (pennies less) but we're VERY low income and the hospital has a group that took care of it for me.

    Pet scan? My onc says not needed.
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    #3
    From another tightwad
    I hear you, Kerry. I went into the hospital on Oct.15th and so far out of pocket medical bills for me has been about $5,000.00.( not including special foods and other crap we seem to need.) Might not sound like much to some but I also lost my job on Oct.15th.I have been so fortunate to have a few relatives who love me enough to start giving me funds that I would have inherited eventually.Without that, well I guess the stress level would be pretty high right about now:(

    -Pat
  • greybeard64
    greybeard64 Member Posts: 254
    #4
    no PET
    My onc. uses CT scans also. I have had PET scans in the past but only when CT showed something already or we knew it was there.

    As for the money...I sometimes wonder what made me sicker, chemo or the mail box. Doesnt seem right to me that Ins. Co.'s get your retiremnet benefits, 401k, grocery money.....I wonder if the shoe was on the other foot how long it would take for things to change in this country..ah but that is a rant for another day.
    greybeard
  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    #5
    Pet Scan
    FYI - George has never had a PET Scan, only CT scans, and he is only being scanned every 6 months so he has had 2 thus far. I asked on one discussion about this and many people responded that they, also, only get CT scans. I asked the doc about it and he said he knew everything he needed from the CT. I also asked about getting scanned more than the every 6 months and he, again, said it wasn't necessary, we knew treatment was working. Now George's disease was pretty advanced with mets to the liver and lungs so that may be the reason.

    I know what you mean about the $$$, I look at some of the bills and think what the heck do we have insurance for. Of course, along with the bills, Mr. Obama also sent me directions directly to the poor farm and a map of all the available spots under the expressway over passes!

    Don't know if this helps or not.

    Take care - Tina
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #6
    greybeard64 said:

    no PET
    My onc. uses CT scans also. I have had PET scans in the past but only when CT showed something already or we knew it was there.

    As for the money...I sometimes wonder what made me sicker, chemo or the mail box. Doesnt seem right to me that Ins. Co.'s get your retiremnet benefits, 401k, grocery money.....I wonder if the shoe was on the other foot how long it would take for things to change in this country..ah but that is a rant for another day.
    greybeard

    I have....
    ...Never had any PET Scans, only CT Scans. Are PET Scans really needed???

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna
  • greybeard64
    greybeard64 Member Posts: 254
    #7
    Shayenne said:

    I have....
    ...Never had any PET Scans, only CT Scans. Are PET Scans really needed???

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna

    From what I understand PET
    From what I understand PET scans specifically target cancer cells while a CT scan is more generic. That of course is my interprutation and I am by NO MEANS a expert.
  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member
    #8
    confirmed my confidence
    Thanks guys. You have confirmed my confidence in my colon surgeon’s nurse and my gut feel. There is vast collective knowledge in this forum. I think we know more then most of the oncs.

    I got a letter from my Congress rep yesterday. She says this in her letter.

    “Medicare Advantage will change dramatically. Starting next year, reimbursement rates through the supplemental insurance program will be frozen and then cut in successive years by hundreds of billions. The cuts will result in a decrease in benefits and limits on care for Medicare Advantage subscribers”.

    Hell, its already happening. It’s not nice to Pi##-off old folks. We vote.
  • khl8
    khl8 Member Posts: 807
    #9
    Kerry S said:

    confirmed my confidence
    Thanks guys. You have confirmed my confidence in my colon surgeon’s nurse and my gut feel. There is vast collective knowledge in this forum. I think we know more then most of the oncs.

    I got a letter from my Congress rep yesterday. She says this in her letter.

    “Medicare Advantage will change dramatically. Starting next year, reimbursement rates through the supplemental insurance program will be frozen and then cut in successive years by hundreds of billions. The cuts will result in a decrease in benefits and limits on care for Medicare Advantage subscribers”.

    Hell, its already happening. It’s not nice to Pi##-off old folks. We vote.

    Kerry,
    i was in the medicla
    Kerry,
    i was in the medicla billing field for a long time before I switchced careers and this Medicare thing has been in the works for years. As much as I am not sure about the Health plan recently passed by Congress, it has nothing to do with it. I was privy to some information years back that showed what the reimbursement levels and coverage levels were going to be in the future.
    Is your policy a Medicare replacement or is it a supplement to your Medicare coverage?
  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member
    #10
    khl8 said:

    Kerry,
    i was in the medicla
    Kerry,
    i was in the medicla billing field for a long time before I switchced careers and this Medicare thing has been in the works for years. As much as I am not sure about the Health plan recently passed by Congress, it has nothing to do with it. I was privy to some information years back that showed what the reimbursement levels and coverage levels were going to be in the future.
    Is your policy a Medicare replacement or is it a supplement to your Medicare coverage?

    I have Humana gold
    I have Humana gold. They have been great to deal with.
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #11
    Kerry S said:

    I have Humana gold
    I have Humana gold. They have been great to deal with.

    Hi
    I would want a pet scan............but Kerry when was the last one?
  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member
    #12
    Nana b said:

    Hi
    I would want a pet scan............but Kerry when was the last one?

    last PET
    The last PET was 8/09 then I had a CT 12/09. I just had a colonoscopy that was damn good.
    Don't need another for 2 years.

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