About this Blog
~Hi, my name is Courtney. I was a full time college student, starting to be a dancer, and used to work with kids part time, living on my own until my illness disabled me.
~I became sick in 2005. I created this blog in the summer of 2006 to record my "headache" diary and to see if anyone finds it interesting.
~12/2006 I lost my job then after, failed a year of college.
~2/2007 Dx Lyme Disease with Bartonella: prescribed 8 months of oral antibiotics. I'm not even sure if I ever had the Lyme Disease.
~11/2007 The doctor took me off medicines while I was still improving but not fully recovered.
~6/2008 Dx Chiari I Malformation by a neurosurgeon in Beverly Hills.
~8/2008 Decompression and Lamenectomy helped 80% of my problems.
~2/2009 Dx Hypermobility by an Orthopedic Surgeon/School Doc: Started PT, dancing, going to school and working.
~6/2009 Started working full time as an Infant-Toddler teacher, which requires lifting. Dancing part time, maybe I'll finish school eventually...lol
~12/2009 Dx Chronic Sinusitis: Stopped dancing due to constant infections.
~2/2010 Sinus Surgery & complication: Severe Epistaxis: Became severely anemic.
~3/2010: Dx Ehlers Danlos Syndrome: by Geneticist
~4/2011: Switched jobs, now work at a Pre-K teacher for 3 and 4 year olds. Less lifting!
~5/2011: Started PT and exercising again
How long should it take?
I was ordered to get an MRI oh a few months ago maybe more and I'm still not approved. I dont get any updates about it or anything but a couple weeks ago i asked about it and they said it takes months to get approved. whats up with that? should i say something to my doctor? I have Blue Cross so that might be the problem...
Posts
4 comments:
An MRI does not take months to get approved. Waiting to get this done--and being on antibiotics, etc...and disease progression...could alter the findings, though I doubt they are going to see anything at all on an MRI. You need a Brain Spect Scan. Only if you have Lesions of really significant findings will it show up on an MRI---even a CT scan, w/ and w/o contrast- is better.
I have Oxford, which is one of the best insurance companies in NY and CT--but is not good for Lyme or Lyme treatments. However, they approve anything like Scans, or pathology--or medications--the only thing they do not approve is extended IV therapy, and some doctors visits to specialists.
Do you need pre-approval or something before tests??--If not--
You can have your doctor just write a prescription for the MRI, go to your local hospital, or radiology center---and just have it done---you need it done! Then they will put it through your insurance from there--and then it is BC/BS's problem. Let the hospital/medical center who does the MRI and BC/BS work it out, you will be out of the equation, and will have your test done.
The only problem would be if BC/BS will not pay--or will only pay a percentage--the bill gets kicked back to--you.
I wouldnt even waste time on an MRI if they will not pay--If you have to pay, I would put the money toaward a Spect scan, which is around $2, 000-$3, 000 and upwards. Good luck!
This really irritates me. It really makes me mad that an American who needs or is ordered to get a MRI can't get one, for whatever reason.
I am not sure why your health insurance won't allow it; I would need to read a lot of background information on your particular plan to comment.
I have BCBS and they have been great, I think. I had a brain MRI, pelvic MRI, knee MRI, and full spinal MRI. I requested the knee and pelvic MRI in lieu of a X ray and/or catscan, to avoid radiation. My gp at the time just gave me the tests I asked for. I've never had a cat scan. In any event, BCBS paid for everything and I owed a $30 copay for each scan.
courtney misfeldt wrote:
whats up with that?
Unacceptable.
Should i say something to my doctor?
Yes, call the office, leave a message for the doctor to call you back. When they ask what the "message" is about, say, regarding testing we're performing."
I have Blue Cross so that might be the problem...
They are not a Lyme-Friendly insurance carrier.
I have Blue Cross... I haven't had any problems so far, which, frankly, has surprised me.
Post a Comment