Anyone go to a Mayo Clinic for neuropathy?

Posted by wisfloj @wisfloj, May 30, 2019

I’m just wondering if anybody has gone to a MAYO clinic for assessment, evaluation, a specific diagnosis and hopefully treatment? It has been in the back of my mind as my next and final step since it is feasible to drive to the Jacksonville location as I am in Tampa, Florida. (PN in feet, legs, hands and arms)

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

@rwinney

Yes, I had all appropriate testing for nerve related issues and saw multiple specialists in my local area at a large teaching Hospital. No, Mayo did not provide a reason for denial, but did recommend that I continue to work with my local medical care team. That led me to believe there was nothing much more they felt they could offer.

In addition, Mayo Clinic gets inundated with people wanting to be seen. Sometimes they don't have openings and may need to prioritize folks with more urgent matters. It's difficult to assess whether if you're denied once you'd be denied twice or three times. There have been instances of persistence paying off when applicable.

Where are you in your journey? Have you been diagnosed with neuropathy already? Do you feel there's more testing to be done?

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@rwinney Hi Rachel - Like you, I had lots of testing done for 3 years at 3 teaching hospitals and had all of the written reports. Idiopathic, all three. I decided to apply at Mayo Rochester. I sent all reports to Mayo with a letter implying that perhaps I could be a challenge for their doctors. I tried to give them a solid reason to accept me. Was accepted in Nov 2019, went to Mayo Feb 2020 prior to pandemic and I am sure back then the staffing was greater prior to the pandemic. Mayo said idiopathic as well however, they did some tests that the other hospitals did not do. If turned down, I would apply again after 9 - 12 months and provide any changes in condition from the prior application. Nothing to lose and don't get discouraged.

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Mayo will not accept any medicare advantage plan. What are people who are advocates doing about this. I had terrible time w Mayo. Went through process of talking to several people only to be told they would not accept me. Horrible service. What are administrators on this site doing about it.

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@lewin

Mayo will not accept any medicare advantage plan. What are people who are advocates doing about this. I had terrible time w Mayo. Went through process of talking to several people only to be told they would not accept me. Horrible service. What are administrators on this site doing about it.

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While I know not all Medicare Advantage plans are accepted, I was previously on MN UCare MA plan that was accepted at Rochester Mayo and now on UHC MA plan that is also currently accepted.

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@lewin

Mayo will not accept any medicare advantage plan. What are people who are advocates doing about this. I had terrible time w Mayo. Went through process of talking to several people only to be told they would not accept me. Horrible service. What are administrators on this site doing about it.

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Hi @lewin, to get your questions answered about insurance types accepted at Mayo Clinic, please contact Patient Account Services at 844-217-9591 (toll-free), Monday through Friday. See more info here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/billing-insurance

It sounds, however, like you have already talked with someone in the Insurance and Billing department and that your insurance plan is out of network.

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@lewin

Mayo will not accept any medicare advantage plan. What are people who are advocates doing about this. I had terrible time w Mayo. Went through process of talking to several people only to be told they would not accept me. Horrible service. What are administrators on this site doing about it.

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@lewin
I will add one thing to John and Colleen's response. The type of insurance Mayo accepts is also based on location. Each Mayo location (MN, FL, AZ) has different policies on insurance policies they accept.

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@roch

@lewin
I will add one thing to John and Colleen's response. The type of insurance Mayo accepts is also based on location. Each Mayo location (MN, FL, AZ) has different policies on insurance policies they accept.

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They accept no Medicare advantage plans. I think you can check on this, but doesn't seem fair. I wasn't told this until I had jumped through a lot of hoops.

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@lewin

They accept no Medicare advantage plans. I think you can check on this, but doesn't seem fair. I wasn't told this until I had jumped through a lot of hoops.

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Hi @lewin - to Laurie's @roch point, my Medicare plan was accepted at Mayo Clinic Florida. I certainly understand your frustration though. I learned things the hard way regarding insurance and began to make "insurance acceptance" one of my first questions. Noone wants wasted time. Typically a medical professional gives attention to insurance acceptance early on.

Sorry you had an unfortunate experience. I wouldn't give up on Mayo yet. Medicare open enrollment time is upon us. I actually switched my medicare insurance plan in order to be seen at Mayo and it was worth it.

Have you considered switching your Medicare insurance to one that Mayo does accept for the benefit of going there? Just a thought.

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Thank you so much. How do I find out which plans they accept? I am in my local hospital plan. Don't you also need a referral from your doctor?
Thanks again.

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@njed

@rwinney Hi Rachel - Like you, I had lots of testing done for 3 years at 3 teaching hospitals and had all of the written reports. Idiopathic, all three. I decided to apply at Mayo Rochester. I sent all reports to Mayo with a letter implying that perhaps I could be a challenge for their doctors. I tried to give them a solid reason to accept me. Was accepted in Nov 2019, went to Mayo Feb 2020 prior to pandemic and I am sure back then the staffing was greater prior to the pandemic. Mayo said idiopathic as well however, they did some tests that the other hospitals did not do. If turned down, I would apply again after 9 - 12 months and provide any changes in condition from the prior application. Nothing to lose and don't get discouraged.

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Hi rwinney,
Did the Mayo Clinic after they did the tests help to reduce your neuropathy pain? If so, what did they do? TIA

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Yes, I am highly interested in getting details on "May Clinic on Neuropathy/chronic pain" program, if they have one????
BTW, any official from Mayo clinic monitor these discussions or they just host this platform / hub for individuals communicate/ exchange information?
Currently just get random responses from individuals i.e.: Helpful, Hugs etc. Although this is very nice, it really does not help / contribute to addressing real issues / suffering of patients like me!
Thank you,
Hossur Srikantan

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