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I’m 71 years old and my abdominal aorta aneurysm is 6.7 I’m scared !

Aortic Aneurysms | Last Active: Aug 4 11:13am | Replies (27)
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@bitsygirl

Hi, @tess55, I have an aneurysm that may need repair. I am somewhat close to retirement and trying to figure out what it might mean to go on Medicare rather than stay on my employer’s insurance wrt the repair. Can you tell me more about the 5.5inch requirement? If a doctor suggested you get it repaired earlier, would Medicare not pay?

Thanks.

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Replies to "Hi, @tess55, I have an aneurysm that may need repair. I am somewhat close to retirement..."
tess55 | @tess55 | Jul 14 1:10am

Hi bitsy girl. To my understanding, 5.0 cm (not inches) is a general criteria. The decision would be up to the surgeon, who would take other conditions and symptoms into consideration.

My PCP is an internal medicine doctor. As my aneurysm is only 4.5 cm, he has advised we do “watchful waiting” and obtain a CT scan with contrast every 6 months to monitor if it is enlarging. I DO know that Medicare will only approve one CT scan every 6 months.
I am sure your physician is well aware of this criteria and will advise you based accordingly based on his findings.

Instead of waiting on the results of my bi-annual CTs, I find myself wanting to go ahead and schedule an appointment with a cardiothoracic surgeon to at least meet him and let him advise me.

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