Radiofrequency Ablation is in the cards for Gale918
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Gale,
I also am so sorry to hear this. The insurance companies have become big business. You pay all your life & when you need them they aren’t there for you. They will find any excuse not to pay! It is so sad & so unfair. Don’t give up!
Darla
I’m so sorry Gale. When first diagnosed, after researching, we had this whole big list of possibilities. In our case, BC won’t even pay about half of them. So insurance is really limiting quality of life. I wish something could be done about insurance companies. Keep fighting.
Carol
Well, talking with the doctor at the insurance company didn’t work, so the surgeon is taking it to the next level. Chat later.
THANK YOU for your responses. I received an email from the surgeon and he received the news on Friday. He has already put in for a review. From the wording of his email, he does this all the time. Carol, I’m so sorry to hear about your situation. I personally know our State Senator and I will keep that in mind. I’ll keep you posted. Chat later…
Gale, let me know if I can help out in any way. We’re still fighting the bill for the RFA Charlie had done in April this year. We were told it was approved by the doctor, had it done, then BC said it was never approved and of course, no one wants to help resolve it. They just want us to pay it, which WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO! I’ve had to get my local Senator’s office involved (Sen. Richard Burr). There is a health constituent advocate in his office and she’s been very helpful – also she’s a cancer survivor herself so she is not pleased with how we’re being treated. Maybe something will be resolved by next April. I think all the Senator’s offices have these advocates if you need to go that way. I’ve also threatened media, etc., but I don’t really want to put our family through all that. I hope it won’t come to all these extreme measures for you. I hope you get to sail right through and have it done. Wishing you the best.
Carol
That’s crazy – you either need it or you don’t. What difference does it make if it does or doesn’t fit into a neat little category for the insurance company? It really is a challenge for us to have this orphan cancer.
I got a letter yesterday stating that the ablation was not approved by the insurance comapny. Cholangiocarcinoma was not the the insurance doctor’s “cheat sheet” for this type of surgery. Hepatosecullar carcinoma, yes, but not cholangiocarcinoma. I’ll be making phone calls on Monday. Since the doctor does this surgery once a week, he MUST run into this situation all the time. I’ll find out Monday.
Sean, Neal and I met with Dr. Gemery Wednesday afternoon. We saw the CTscans from April, May and October. It’s not scar tissue. The tumor will be burned by the Radio Frequency Ablation surgery. We talked about doing a biopsy but the tumor is small, so he’s going to burn it either way (cancerous or non cancerous). I will probably get a PET scan to make sure this is the only tumor. It is very close to the inferior vena cava vein, so he said he may not be able to get it all. I will undergo chemo after. The surgery is laposcopic, so 1 possible 2 day stay in the hospital. He said he tells his patients to take two weeks off, and if I’m feeling good I can go back to work sooner. He does this surgery about once a week. It will take at least a couple of weeks to organize the surgery. I’m still hopeful with the fact the bloodwork all came back NOT ELEVATED. I’m looking at this as a bump in the road.Up
Gale…we had the same insurance company as you and not nearly did we have as much success as you have. Have a great Thanksgiving.
Gale,
Good news about the insurance. Please let us know how it all goes. I am thinking very positive thoughts for you. And please forgive me, I cant help myself….Burn baby, burn. Healing inferno. (off to go hide in shame and embarrassment)Kris
The insurance is Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Lumeous. It’s a PPO (Preferred Physician policy). It’s also a major medical policy. Comes with a VERY high deductible, no co pays. After the deductible is met, I’ve paid for nothing, including prescriptions. It comes at a high cost also. Work takes $178 out of my paycheck every two weeks. Given my condition, I’m not complaining. I’ve been getting bladder infections, one after another lately. I hope this doesn’t interfere with the RFA. I’ll keep you posted. Chat later.
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