Connect
← Return to HCM-ers: Introduce yourself or just say hi
Discussion
HCM-ers: Introduce yourself or just say hi
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) | Last Active: Aug 26 9:56am | Replies (870)Comment receiving replies
One more thing I wanted to mention - many of us here (including my neighbors here in Southern California @mbcube and @1949 (Tillie)) live some distance away from Mayo. We all have local physicians here in our home area and travel to Mayo periodically, or as needed. Marc (@mbcube) and I both had myectomy surgery there some years ago while Tillie is on her way there in a few months for her myectomy.
It is not unusual for people with HCM to have an expert who they travel to see when they get into trouble, and a local doc who helps them manage the day to day.
Many of us don't have someone like Dr. Tajik (who used to be at Mayo) living nearby like @onewholovesrock, so we must travel to consult with the Mayo docs who have such a wealth of HCM experience.
Replies to "One more thing I wanted to mention - many of us here (including my neighbors here..."
I'm sure you saw this, but thought I'd share for others in the same situation.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/documents/commercial-insurance-plan-contracts-minnesota/doc-20203720
Yes, thank you-it is important to have this information. There is so much on Mayo's website that people don't realize is there! The cost is what is killing me. If Mayo remains out of network, the cost will be prohibitive, yet I have no choice. Really awful. Still 2+ years away from Medicare where I can go to Mayo, so need to find a way to get through until then. I am looking to the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association to give me an assist here in getting the insurance company to recognize them as in-network for me because of the HCM.
Normally, you can try and request this, a letter from your doctor (it best to write these for them & have them edit & put it on their letterhead) might be good enough. Do a search of the HCMA site and Google & see if you can get some supporting facts to help support your efforts. The HCMA MAY have a basic letter that they use which may provide the info you need.
BUT - Since your insurance elected to opt out of Mayo, there may be some bad blood here? Hoping the folks who review petitions to go out of network, don't have a direct order to ban all Mayo requests. Keep us posted!
Connect
Exactly. I feel very fortunate to live 1.5 hours away from Mayo and I have been able to make them my primary cardiologists. For me, sadly, I am trying to find insurance that will cover Mayo in-network and, despite living in Minnesota, no one offers an individual policy with Mayo as in-network THanks for nothing, Blue Cross (who pulled out of the individual market here.)