Medical insurance has been a life saver, but this week it was a bit of a stressor.
I received a call from MD Anderson, telling me Cigna was only going to approve one more treatment. That’s today’s treatment. After this, they said I would have to go outside the MD Anderson system to another facility.
I get these infusions every three weeks, so my doctor was concerned about doing everything in time for my next treatment. Also, how does that work? He can only write orders for this facility, which means I need another doctor elsewhere. How do they monitor everything? And how does MD Anderson keep up with everything if it’s not all done in house?
This could be a real pain. 🤨 The closest center they want to send me to is 45 minutes from my home.
I get it. I’m sure it’s all about saving money. MD Anderson is considered a hospital system, and any time you do something at the hospital it is quite a bit more expensive than when you go to an outpatient facility. However, I’ve been getting treatment here since 2012, with no hiccups like this. Routinely and more frequently since 2017. Why the sudden change?
I’m sure it probably has something to do with Covid. Isn’t everything?
I pleaded my case. I informed the Cigna case manager that I will be going on Medicare starting in July, so please don’t make me move for a few more infusions. My 29-month waiting period to get on Medicare will finally be over. They will not only let me on Medicare, but force it on me.
She asked if I would be using Cigna as a supplemental policy to Medicare. Uh, after this fiasco? My answer is a confident NO. I will seek another company for supplemental insurance.
If they’ll have me. 😳😳
After multiple calls with Cigna back and forth, discussions with the medical director, and reviewing my case, she called me back this morning. Since I only have five more treatments until July, they authorized the remaining treatments until my Medicare kicks in.
Hooray! 🥳🤩🥳 See, your prayers were answered before you even knew what to pray for!
So, today I’m on round eighty-something of Perjeta and Herceptin. There are five more rounds until I go on Medicare. At least, I believe I’ll be on Medicare at that point. If not, Cigna is holding fast to their decision to move me outside the system. I guess we’ll see when the time comes.
“…your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!”
Matthew 6:8b NLT
À la prochaine…see you next time.