insurance will NOT pay for thyrogen, can't AFFORD to pay. WHAT DO I DO, NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

kim123
kim123 Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Thyroid Cancer #1
AFTER MY THYROID WAS REMOVED AND SEVERAL LYMPH GLANDS. IODINE TREATMENT THREE TIMES. DOCTOR IS PUSHING THYROGEN AND THE INSURANCE WON'T PAY FOR IT. WHERE CAN I GO FOR HELP WITH THIS MEDICATION TO GET WHAT I NEED. ALSO I CAN'T STAND COMING OFF MY SYNTHOID. SYNTHOID HELPS BUT I STILL HAVE CHRONIC FATIGUE. PLEASE ANYONE WITH ANY IDEA AS TO WHAT I SHOULD DO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comments

  • TiffanyMichelle
    TiffanyMichelle Member Posts: 3
    #2
    Appeal
    Have you gone through the appeal process to get it covered? Sometimes, will doctor notes saying this is the medicine you have to take, they insurance company will make an exception. Talk to the adminstrator of your health insurance, they may have a form for your doctor to fill out and send in. Hope that this helps some.

    Tiffany
  • kim123
    kim123 Member Posts: 2
    #3
    TiffanyMichelle said:

    Appeal
    Have you gone through the appeal process to get it covered? Sometimes, will doctor notes saying this is the medicine you have to take, they insurance company will make an exception. Talk to the adminstrator of your health insurance, they may have a form for your doctor to fill out and send in. Hope that this helps some.

    Tiffany

    kim on the thyrogen
    thanks i will try this for sure
  • emma54
    emma54 Member Posts: 59
    #4
    Ctyomel
    I did the Cytomel route. If you can afford to rest for two weeks, it will work out fine for you. I overdid it a little and my blood pressure spiked. So it is an alternative to the thyrogen and a lot cheaper. But maybe I am misunderstanding. I used the Cytomel only before my Radioactive Iodine Treatment. Then I went back on Synthroid.
  • JAWsSavannah
    JAWsSavannah Member Posts: 57
    #5
    emma54 said:

    Ctyomel
    I did the Cytomel route. If you can afford to rest for two weeks, it will work out fine for you. I overdid it a little and my blood pressure spiked. So it is an alternative to the thyrogen and a lot cheaper. But maybe I am misunderstanding. I used the Cytomel only before my Radioactive Iodine Treatment. Then I went back on Synthroid.

    A class action lawsuit
    A class action lawsuit several years ago forced most of the big insurance companies to cover thyrogen shots. Since insurance is regulated largely by the individual states it sounds like you not only have the wrong insurance plan but you may also live in a state which has left this issue to cool on the back burner.

    But do not despair--in the old pre-thyrogen days (like 3 years ago :-) ) we just followed this routine (1) go on a low iodine diet and switch from Synthroid to Cytomel; (2) two weeks before RAI you stop taking the Cytomel and continue on the low iodine diet. You'll get very tired as your TSH climbs up to 60 or 70 but it won't kill you.

    Good luck.

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