HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - A Call to Eliminate 'Chemotherapy Concession'

Jackie07 · 03-13-2013, 04:08 AM

The hospital/clinic I use has set up its own insurance company some years ago.

I did not choose their plan when I first moved to town 20+ years ago, thinking that the other plan offered by the City would give me more access as there were more hospitals available in the region under their plan.

Little did I know that those hospitals were all 2nd-rated... When my life-long brain tumor was finally discovered, my neurologist informed us that he would only recommend one particular neurosurgeon in 'that' hospital (not affiliated with my HMO) After some sleepless nights, we were able to get a special contract made and get the surgery/rehab done at the hospital that was not part of the 'Network'.

Naturally I switched to that hospital/insurance company the first opportunity I had.

Since then I've had 4 more surgeries including two for breast cancer that required adjuvant therapies. The hospital has more than doubled its size and we've never encountered any problem with our insurance.

For certain procedures that're not availble locally, the hosital sent us to other contracted facility (eg. my GKRS was done in the center affiliated with another big hospital almost 200 miles away.) From the invoice, we could see that medical bills are heavily 'discounted' between hospitals/insurance companies ...

I've encountered 'incompetent' doctors, but I've not encountered any unethical ones ...

03-13-2013, 04:08 AM	#7
Jackie07 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: "Love never fails." Posts: 5,808	Re: A Call to Eliminate 'Chemotherapy Concession' The hospital/clinic I use has set up its own insurance company some years ago. I did not choose their plan when I first moved to town 20+ years ago, thinking that the other plan offered by the City would give me more access as there were more hospitals available in the region under their plan. Little did I know that those hospitals were all 2nd-rated... When my life-long brain tumor was finally discovered, my neurologist informed us that he would only recommend one particular neurosurgeon in 'that' hospital (not affiliated with my HMO) After some sleepless nights, we were able to get a special contract made and get the surgery/rehab done at the hospital that was not part of the 'Network'. Naturally I switched to that hospital/insurance company the first opportunity I had. Since then I've had 4 more surgeries including two for breast cancer that required adjuvant therapies. The hospital has more than doubled its size and we've never encountered any problem with our insurance. For certain procedures that're not availble locally, the hosital sent us to other contracted facility (eg. my GKRS was done in the center affiliated with another big hospital almost 200 miles away.) From the invoice, we could see that medical bills are heavily 'discounted' between hospitals/insurance companies ... I've encountered 'incompetent' doctors, but I've not encountered any unethical ones ... __________________ Jackie07 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/MultiMedi...=114&trackID=2 NICU 4.4 LB Erythema Nodosum 85 Life-long Central Neurocytoma 4x5x6.5 cm 23 hrs 62090 semi-coma 10 d PT OT ST 30 d 3 Infertility tmts 99 > 3 u. fibroids > Pills CN 3 GKRS 52301 IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen Recc IIB 2.5 cm Bi-L Mast 61407 2/9 nds PET 6 TCH Cellulitis - Lymphedema - compression sleeve & glove H w x 4 MUGA 51 D, J 49 M Diastasis recti Tamoxifen B. scan Irrtbl bowel 1'09 Colonoscopy 313 BRCA1 V1247I hptc hemangioma Vertigo GI - > yogurt hysterectomy/oophorectomy 011410 Exemestane 25 mg tab 102912 ~ 101016 stopped due to r. hip/l.thigh pain after long walk DEXA 1/13 1-2016 lesions in liver largest 9mm & 1.3 cm onco. says not cancer. 3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer. Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement （600mg x2) 10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016 7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence. 7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule. 1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule. "I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY." Irene from Tampa Advocacy is a passion .. not a pastime - Joe Last edited by Jackie07; 03-13-2013 at 04:46 AM..