General
Insurance frustration
In October I was in Boston for work, and suddenly because very ill. I also have celiac disease and I am not certain I wasn't glutened from the breakfast I ate one morning or maybe it was something else but I started vomiting and wasn't unable to keep anything down all day. Water, Gatorade, crackers it all came back up. My urine output was also very little since I was dehydrated. I took myself to the emergency department for some fluids to be in the safe side. I purposely went to the hospital where they also have a transplant center vs an urgent care. I was 99% positive I just needed some IV fluids but I didn't want to risk anything. I was alone, and in a city several thousand miles from home. Now, my insurance is saying this wasn't medically necessary and are not paying for it. I asked for a resubmittal of my claim and requested support from my transplant team so I am sure the total amount of the bill will go down, or so I hope. I think I'm just venting here but sometimes the American healthcare system and insurance are so frustrating! Have you had to fight with insurance?
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No my insurance company is very nice.I had a transplant in India.
@TServold, the transplant itself, my insurance covered. But after that I feel on my own. Yes our healthcare can have problems way more often than they should.
Transplant Patient
I also can’t relate - Canadian here who has never dealt with insurance. I feel for all of you Americans navigating this system because from what I’ve heard it can be pretty brutal
Transplant Patient
@rakeshpatel17 how you said that made me smile. I’d love to hear more about the transplant process in India! I feel each country does things differently and the best things happen when we all work together and learn from one another’s strengths
Transplant Patient
@TServold - Many many fights! Also, keep fighting, over 80% of people who are billed incorrectly etc, end up paying without checking/fighting. Do you have private insurance, through your work place?
Sometimes insurance companies respond with "not medically necessary", if the medical provider submitted an incorrect "code".
Good luck to you!! I know it can be very frustrating.
I have been fighting with insurance for over 20 years. I've always made sure my employer provided the best. It never mattered. There have always been hassles. Nothing has been worse than when I had COBRA for a bit during a transition.
It sounds like it could just be a billing code issue, as @Sdey0522 mentioned. Those are usually the hangups.
On some of the expensive anti-rejection meds or plasmapheresis, I've had to request patient advocates at the insurance companies to get things to go through. It all can be very frustrating.
Yes it may be.