Phone Consults with MD ANDERSON (or other cancer hospitals)
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Hi All –
We are the ones who went to MD Anderson and paid $24,000. Our ins did not cover it at all and they would not see us unless we paid that upfront. We had to charge most of it and we are slowly paying it back. My husband was not 100% diagnosed at the time. He had not been treated at all either so we were going for a confirmation on diagnosis as well as a suggestion for treatment. It may be different if you are already being treated and they don’t have to do a CT scan or pathology, but that is what we were going for. The $24,000 covered Pathology, CT Scan, Blood Work, and two LONG dr visits with Dr Shroff who specializes in CC and Pancreatic.
I agree that it is outrageous, but I promise that it is true:)!24k does not sound right to me either. I have insurance, but I know in the past my grandmother went there and she did not have insurance and was not rich either! Have you talked with your local oncologist about maybe trying to coordinate with Dr Javle? Best of luck to you!
24K just don’t sound right. I looked over all my stuff from my very first trip out there, and it was not 24K!
$24,000. Wow, that is a lot for a consult.
We have Cigna PPO as insurance. Prior to Andrea’s diagnosis of cancer, we had some hassle trying to get all the needed tests covered to figure out what was going on.
Though, after the diagnosis of cancer, they have been very reasonable. We will see how they react to an MD Anderson review…
Jason
WE only have a supplemental medicare HMO. With our financial setbacks even before I was diagnosed we ‘bottom line’ don’t have anything in retirement or emergency funds of any kind. Very scary. We have to take each day as it comes. I am getting disability insurance which has helped pay the big co-pay for the xeloda.
I had problems getting IN STATE coverage because Fox Chase, although covered by AETNA, is not in my network… But Mem Sloan Kettering was much less hassle. I hate dealing with insurance!
yes marion
but NOT out of state or out of network
and we already had an instate 2nd opinion.we spoke first hand with someone who traveled to MD Anderson
and with Dr visits/tests/etc….and no insurance coverage it cost them
24K out of pocket.Patty: it won’t hurt to apply for patient support:
Here is the link:
http://www.gene.com/patients/patient-accessHugs
MarionPattimelt,
Have you checked out the website for Genentech, the maker of Xeloda. They offer discounts on the drug and when Lauren was on Xeloda we hardly had to pay anything.
Pattimelt-I have private insurance and had to pay for all my meds (XELODA, PROGRAF…..) and then wait to be reimbursed!! BC/BS would take 45-90 days to reimburse, I would get checks for thousands of dollars. The amount they could owe me was so staggering when I would call desperate for money the call center person was appalled and upset and couldn’t believe I was owed that kind of money!! I ended up having to take a “less coverage” policy so my prescriptions would be covered at 100% when my deductables were reached and the pharmacy would have to wait for payment not me. The whole insurance thing is a nightmare but I do add BC/BS to my list of “thank you God” because they gave me no grief and have paid out over 2.5 million dollars in my care and being a transplant recipient they will continue But the key sentence is “I am alive to complain” LOL!!!
Lots of prayers for all my CC family-CathyI know what you mean by this being a rich man’s disease. I am not a rich man! Just the co-pay of my xeloda $571 every 3 weeks is putting a strain on our budget! So it is $24000 !! That is ridiculous plus having to fly there & stay in a hotel. OMG absolutely ridiculous. I guess they think because this cancer has no real cure they think we might sell our soul to pay to see them. Makes me angry.
Thanks Cathy==
we just found out the cost of an in person MD Anderson visit
(to the tune of $24000)–so that option is out for us.Unfort. cancer is sometimes a rich mans disease–we are not rich
men (ha ha) So we are sticking with where we are at for now
and hoping to make the best choices within our budget.Too bad money has to be a deciding factor for so many, but it is.
Including us.We mostly wanted a 2nd set of eyes on all of kyle’s paperwork
(Which he has from scans–done 2 days ago) to bloodwork –done
last week)This is an interesting discussion. I don’t think any doctor should give a diagnose or a plan over the phone. I thought it was a positive thing when everyone would tell me how phone friendly my hero Dr. Chapman was. Then after this thread I thought mmmm! I am back to thinking that a phone “consult” is the right thing. I know Dr. Chapman’s latest “change there diagnose” story was started with a phone consult. No decisions were made until they physically visited and his own test and scans were done.
I find it very interesting that DR. Javle would put you through the expense and emotional roller coaster of this with out starting a conversation first.
I have “walked a mile in your shoes” so I too would leave no stone unturned no matter how inconvient or expensive!
Lots of prayers and HOPE for HOPE at MD Anderson-Cathy
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