Greetings all - Am approaching five months since being declared in REMISSION!!! Now I have to watch out because insurance is going to make me sick! After my 9 weeks of radiation, I was referred by my original oncologist and prescribed by my radiation oncologist to receive 9 weeks of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy. No one said - "check with your insurance to be sure this is covered!" I completed my daily treatments under the mask, zapped 5 days a week, and was declared done. Then I started getting bills from the hospital for radiation treatment - first one - $79,000; second one $59,000; most recent, $113,000. I called the insurance and a VERY icy call center gal told me that "the manual indicates that this is investigative treatment and will not be covered." WHAT?? (I lost it at this point - apologized but told the woman how angry I was) This gal responded that "this is the policy, we're not the devil here." I yelled at the poor call center gal and hung up.
I found this wonderful photo on Facebook - my sentiments exactly!!
Luckily I was able to finally get through to the hospital billing dept. They told me that if the doctor sent a "medically necessary" letter to them, they would re-bill. I also called the Mass. health support legal team. If I end up having to do an "appeal", thank goodness, this office will help me. BUT CANCER PATIENTS/SURVIVORS DON'T NEED THIS AGGRAVATION!!
I'm ready to OCCUPY insurance companies and hospital offices any day now!! The hospital has actually been very friendly and helpful, but someone should have alerted me to this possibility. So I have a new "cause" to fight for - let's be sure we save national health care and make it even better! We can do this if we raise our voices and OCCUPY!!!
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