I just had my scans today....

Well, sounds like Obamacare made things worse!  Hopefully those are all the scans you need!  Things should be ok, don't worry too much!  Maybe the doc can INSIST on the scans you need!  I know of doctors who have called the insurance companies.  I don't see how they can deny the scans!  Please keep us updated, but I have a good feeling that things will turn out ok...

DonMiller said:

Waiting Time

I have long since arranged for my oncologist to authorize the radiologist to hand me the results of the scan the following day.  I can not wait a week!   Can't sleep and just go nuts.  By the way Angec this has absolutely nothing to do with Obamacare.  I am fairly certain kidney cancer is a strickly bi partisan desease.  These scans are an insurence headache for most all of us.

 

Don

I also have CIGNA and had the same exact experience as yours.  My doctor ordered CT of chest, abdomen, and pelvis and CIGNA would only approve a chest xray, CT of abdomen and nothing of pelvis.  There was absolutely nothing I could do myself because it is all up to their doctor and they won't let you talk to them.  My doctor called them, but they wouldn't budge.  It wasn't until I faxed my last scans to my doctor and he sent it that they approved all 3.  That is because the last scan report was 2 pages of many small things.  Fortunately, after they were approved, my new scan report came back all clear.  I've been miraculously healed of everything.  This is great news, but it probably means it will probably be impossible to get them to approve scans next time.  I would have thought a 9cm, grade IV tumor with necrosis would have justified frequent scans, but I guess not.  The problem is that I don't think there is a documented standard of when you need scans so the insurance company gets to make their own rules.  You were lucky if your other scans would only have been $100 more.  I was told that, to get my chest and pelvis scans would have been $6,000 out of pocket!  Fortunately, things went my way this time.  We shall see how it goes in February.  Enough of my CIGNA rant.

Kathy

Texas_wedge said:

Scan results

"my new scan report came back all clear.  I've been miraculously healed of everything".

 

Kathy, at face value, that's just about the best news I've heard in - I can't think how long.  Nonetheless, I appreciate your capacity for irony and you're too sharp an Analyst to be snowed by a dubious report.  Please give your appraisal of your true status; meanwhile, I'll pray that it is as the scan is depicting and will remain that way forever.

are like grab bags. We never know what we're going to get. Lets hope all get results like Kathy.

AprilandChuck said:

angec

I do not discuss politics on this board but I am going to point out a few things..insurance companies have been fighting exp..tests and kicking people out of hospitals for awhile now..long before Obamacare was passed..not only that but Cancer Treatments are very expensive and many with cancer used to hit the lifetime cap long before the their treatments were complete..there is No longer a lifetime cap..not to mention cancer is a preexisting condition that has had many people denied insurance..not anymore..kids who have cancer or even ones who are healthy can now stay on their parents health plans till they are 26..insurance companies also now have to spend 80 to 85 percent of the money you pay in premiums on your health care or they have to reimburse you..the average that last few years that they were actually spending on care not bonuses or saleries was a dismal 60 to 70 percent..not only that but since the condensing of Hospitals into for profit orgs people have been getting sick when they go for treatment for things the illnesses are often worse than what they were seen for to begin with..this will stop! Now if the hospital makes you sick they have to pay to make you well..meaning higher cleanliness standards..insurance premiums have risen at significantly higher  rates than inflation has for the past decade plus..meaning those costs were already being passed onto most employees in the form of higher co pays or less service for the same money..part time employment via temp staffing agencies was already a huge prob way before Obamacare..my daughter who is now 19 read the entire bill when she was 15 1/2 and reread it again last year after the Supreme Court affirmed the law was constitutional..which is more than can be said formost of  those who bash it..you may be actually surprised at what is in there and what is not! So as I said I don't do politics in here but I could not let that comment stand..

Good luck on your scan results!  we do not like to wait for results..praying for you! Huggss

 April and Matt:  Well, looks like my humor fell through the cracks this time!?!  I should have put in a smilely face after that comment!  It was a joke!  Everyone blames everything on Obamacare! I thought it would be realized as soon as it was read!  On the up and up, I actually think things were made better with some of Obama's changes....but I don't do politics either!  now that we have that cleared up...  I hope all scan results turn out for the better!

AprilandChuck said:

waiting is the hardest!

Waiting is always the hardest Chucks next scans are scheaduled for after his infusion..meaning we would normally have wait till the next appointment or recieve via phone..we asked to wait for them to be read we will see them that day..thank goodness..while you wait think positive thoughts..we are all praying for you and sending huggss

April and Chuck.=.

Lets try and keep politics off this board. For what it is worth I agree 100% with your politics.

Icemantoo

Texas_wedge said:

US healthcare

Likewise, and thank you April for a valuable and balanced appraisal of a hugely important topic. 

Admittedly, I'm an outsider, but that probably allows me to be objective in evaluating your situation Statesside?

I don't feel there's anything that can be legitimately considered off-limits as 'political' in giving an analysis of a piece of legislation and citing actual figures to support the analysis.  Our little UK health system can do with some improvements (e.g. only around 3% of our NHS budget is spent on preventative medicine) but your massive one is long overdue a big shake-up and now is not too soon!

Great Appraisal TW!

It is, in fact, far too long overdue.  Now if some of our polticians would take your sage advice . . .!

Bon Chance!

Michael