Migraine

I am curious how many people have ever been to a Dr. or Clinic with money or ins not being an obstical to the care recieved. By this I mean that the Dr. did not have to worry about billing the ins. or being told how to treat the patient by the ins. co. Also Dr. did not have to worry about getting paid. Has anyone done this and did you recieve better care? If so in what ways? Thanks for your input.

I've been to many doctors where I've never had a problem with my insurance.....as long as you follow your insurance guidelines.

Such as Authorizations, Referrals and those kind of things.

My insurance is through an HMO (not kaiser). As long as I see doctors in the group I am fully covered and only pay a copayment. Am I treated differently Bev, I don't know, I've Bev, I don't know, I've always had insurance. The pharmacy portion of my insurance is an "open formulary". It pays for any drug, but the co-pay varies from $15-$45. Imitrex and Topamax are both a $30 co-payment, Frovoa was a $45 co-payment.

I work for a medium size company and pay $300/month for me and the kids' insurance. That is the most inexpensive plan they have. I keep the kids on my plan as the plan my ex husband has through a smaller company is not as good and would be more expensive for the kids.

I can't afford the "go to who ever you want plans", it would be about $400 per month for just me.

I don't know if that helps you or not.

Cindy

Hi Bev -

I've heard of doctors where instead of taking insurance, they have a membership relationship with their patients - the patients pay a set amount per year (several thousand $$) and use whatever services they need - I have a friend who sees a doctor like that and raves about it - she says her dr. doesn't have to worry about what will or won't be covered, but really gives her the attention she needs. I've never felt I had the up-front $$ to invest in something like that, and it wouldn't cover specialists, emergencies, etc. Is that the kind of thing you're talking aobut?

- Megs

I currently see a migraine specialist and while they submit the insurance paperwork, they don't actually process it in their office. They mail it to my insurance company and I see what will be covered and how much of it will be covered. I pay up front when the service is rendered. The important thing is my health and focusing on getting better. The money out of pocket is a bump in the road to my success.

Right now, I have the best insurance possible and have a few more years until my DH retires - then we will go from there I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Since he does this with all patients, I'm sure all patients are treated equally, as they should be. I'm blessed to have him a part of my treatment team.

I have been to doctors before (after my first DH died) and I didn't have insurance and was required to pay cash/credit card up front. They only time I was given a "break" was when they quoted me a certain amount for my son's surgery and then it came out to be more. Since I had their estimate in hand and they stuck to it.

However, I have never experienced being treated differently with or without insurance.

Bev,

I'm not sure what you're asking. I can read this question two ways. Which do you mean?...

1) If insurance and money are no obstacle, there are more treatment options?

2) If insurance and money are no obstacle, the doctor tries harder/has a better "attitude?"

I guess I mean both of those and if the ins. co. is "Contracted" with the Dr. If the ins. co. dictates what care the Dr. can actually give you. Example: Dr. does not inform you of treatment options, does not do tests, ect.ect. Mabey if they are not a participating provider for ins. co. they can be more free in treating you, giving you information.
It just seems to me that they do certain basic tests, then if you want any further investigation you must educate yourself, then ask Dr. for the test. I don't know if that made sense.

quote:

Originally posted by Teri Robert:
Bev,

I'm not sure what you're asking. I can read this question two ways. Which do you mean?...

1) If insurance and money are no obstacle, there are more treatment options?

2) If insurance and money are no obstacle, the doctor tries harder/has a better "attitude?"

I'm wondering similar things Bev. I recently found out that a standard thyroid test, THS test has nothing to do with whether or not a more in depth T3 or T4 thyroid test would come back normal or abnormal, although my doctor told me the opposite. I did know that insurance companies didn't like to pay for T3/T4 tests without abnormal THS tests, but I never would have guessed I was being told incorrect information. It's made me wonder how many other things I haven't been told.

Yes, I have hypothyroidism. I have had a horrible time keeping mine regulated. My most recent stent drove me from about 155lbs up to 240lbs. At 5ft 4 inch that is very unhealthy. I have had these test done. Test, I think an ultra sound, to see if I had a goiter{ growth on thyroid.] I have had T7, T4, T3, TSH, free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3 and reverse T4 and I beilieve at one point a T5.

Here are the things I have learned over the years that affect your thyroid function to decrease it. Other hormone imbalances. I take BIO_IDENTACLE Hormone replacement therapy. I get mine tested at least once a year and most years every 6 months. I was low in DHEA, Pregnenelone, testosterone, progesterone, estridol, that is all I can remember now. Also I learned from my orthodontist that the amount of FLOURIDE in toothpaste, mouthwash, and canned tuna fish, is enough to slow your thyroid function. Yes, even if you only brush with it once per day. The pain killer Vicodin slows thyroid. Gluten intollerans or Celiac disease also interfiers, if you go ahead and eat the gluten anyway.
I have heard a few Dr's say that throid meds vary significantly. Like if you are on Levoxyle, and it is working for you then do not switch to Synthroid, or vise versa. Armour thyroid works best for me because it had the T4and3 in it. I have been on all of them and even a compounded T3. Unless you specify to your pharmacy that you want the same generic every month, they can switch them on you according to what they have in stock. Like the maker. I have been told to stick to the very same name conmstantly. Armour Thyroid comes from hogs. YUM!!

I am now paying a Dr. cash and billing the ins. myself. I find that he is more open to my questions and about informing me of treatment options. I just wandered if anyone else had experienced this sort of thing.
I also had $1,900 worth of lab work done. The lab was contracted with the ins. co. Guess how much they "wrote off" of that bill because they were contracted. Almost 1,500 . Which means they did 1,900 and only got paid for 400. Can anybody tell me how that works. My friend had the same test done and no ins. So, she had to pay all of hers. I just do not understand, does that mean they way over charged her to pay for mine?
I cannot tell you the number of people I have spoke to that have, hypo-thyroid, migraines, and celiac disease all 3.

I have known people who had raging thyroid dysfunction and are now normal, taking no meds.
Most Dr's were taught in med school that the TSH is the right test for thyroid function and if the numbers are within a certain range it is fine. Not true. Naturpaths seem to have a better knowledge of thyroid test and how to interprit the numbers.

I think this web site we are on has an article titled Janie's thyroid story. It is very informative, and accurate. It is the best read on a thyroid article I have ever seen.

quote:

Originally posted by Candace:
I'm wondering similar things Bev. I recently found out that a standard thyroid test, THS test has nothing to do with whether or not a more in depth T3 or T4 thyroid test would come back normal or abnormal, although my doctor told me the opposite. I did know that insurance companies didn't like to pay for T3/T4 tests without abnormal THS tests, but I never would have guessed I was being told incorrect information. It's made me wonder how many other things I haven't been told.