After a week of explaining the situation and asking repeatedly why they'd let me go ahead and develop cancer rather than catch it before it had a chance to get entrenched, they just say it's not covered...I even asked why they'd want to wait and let me develop a potentially deadly disease when the cost of care would be more expensive than prevention. The response: Just because we're saying we won't cover it, doesn't mean you can't have the treatment.
So, Friday, I made the appointment, planning on paying for it myself. (I had gotten the go ahead from the facility where I am to have the MRI. Their radiologist seemed to think it was a good idea...and he didn't have to think about it very long.)I consider myself fortunate because I'm able to pay cash if necessary. Boils my blood to wonder how many other people have health care coverage and can't get preventative treatment.
I got a call today telling me officially that they weren't going to cover the MRI. (My breasts and I were going to lose this one.) They said, "We only cover MRIs if you have cancer." Now, maybe it's just me...but doesn't it make more sense to get the cancer before it's full blown and hard to control? Hey, maybe it's just because I'm personally interested in the case and that's affecting my judgment in this matter....a few thousand dollars vs. my life and health. Might not be that much to the insurance company, but it sure does mean a lot to me!
I managed to maintain my composure - no crying, not stunned...I'm becoming numb to the insanity, I think....so, I explain again my situation and that they're looking for a cancer that may be underlying what they've seen so far...She takes all the information and says it must go to the "higher ups."
I finally got approval late today. It had to go up the health care food chain. Then, one of their medical people called my doctor's office today and said he just didn't understand why this was necessary! - She explained once again the current danger and family history, and she, too, questioned him about why they'd want to let me get sick rather than keep me healthy.
Seems that even if you have insurance, you can't use it to keep from becoming sick. Seems you have to be really sick to use it. Maybe they make more money that way...not sure how this works. I'm baffled. Healthy is good, right?
