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7% Saline Success Story that warmed my heart.
Last year, I met a woman at our winter church who has had MAI (MAC) and Bronchiectasis for years, and had a horrible chronic cough. When she heard that #1 I knew what it was, and #2 I was on Mayo Connect, she started asking questions.
Over many conversations and text messages I convinced her to give 7% saline and airway clearance a try. Her doctor here never heard of it, so her husband ordered it on Amazon & she started using it daily.
Yesterday, she was waiting by my usual pew when I arrived at church and said to me, "I need to hug you. You saved my life!" She went on to explain she convinced her pulmonologist back home to order it, got Medicare to pay for it, and used it twice a day for months. By Fall, she was down to 5 times a week, and now she uses it twice a week (but daily airway clearance.)
Here was her story - in 2022 she was on antibiotics and/or steroids 19 times. She coughed a lot during the day, all night long, and whenever she tried to exert herself.
In 2023, she had ZERO exacerbations requiring antibiotics or steroids. She coughs far less (they used incense in our service, I was hacking up a lung, and she only coughed once or twice.) Her lung function improved 12% between her Spring appointment and December. She has been able to regain a little weight.
This is a lot like my experience with 7% saline and rigorous daily airway clearance. I made it through 2023 with one exacerbation that required steroids, no antibiotics. My lung function has held steady for 4 years using only airway clearance & saline. In my case I also use oral NAC and Mucinex because I have very "sticky" mucus and it helps keep it thin enough to expel.
Has anyone else managed to "ditch the Big 3" by using airway clearance and saline?
Sue
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HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.
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It appears you are on a State Plan that is an Advantage Plan and not a Supplement Plan.
It appears you are in a State Advantage Plan and chose not to be insured with the Original Medicare Plan and it appears that is why you do not need to show your Original Medicare Plan Card.
Those of us on a State Plan in OK can be on the Original Medicare Plan they choose and have the Supplement Plan at the same time or they can be on the State Advantage Plan and no longer have the Original Medicare Plan coverage. In other words the Supplement Plan keeps you in the Original Medicare Plan of your choice ( I have plan G). The Supplement with the Original Medicare Plan works together. The Original Medicare Plan as the primary plan and the Supplement plan as the secondary plan. One of the big differences is who gets to chose where you can go for medical help and who you can see as a doctor, hospital or clinic etc.
The Original Medicare Plan allows you to go anywhere. to see any medical professional in the US that accepts Medicare and in many cases you don't need referrals from a primary doctor if you want to see a specialist. Generally one of the other big differences that usually comes into play is the costs of a hospitalization and the deductible costs for the hospital stay.
There is so much to really understand when it comes to insurance, as we know.
The costs, as with almost everything, of insurance plans are also a big factor when it comes to deciding.
Hope this and Sue's reply has helped anyone who needs to decide at age 65 when it is time for Medicare sign up.
Barbara
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1 ReactionI have straight Medicare/Medicaid. It is not covered.
I made the mistake of doing one of those 'supplement' plans and it almost killed me! I needed to get on tobi and the rx plan I was under did not cover it! Took me 6 weeks of fighting with the all kinds of offices to get off of it and then finally I got my meds!
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2 ReactionsI did and then my tobi was not covered and I almost died. I will never trust an 'advantage plan' ever again.
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1 ReactionThe Advantage Plan, as you know, is not a Supplement Plan...
The Advantage Plan stands on its own and is also known as Plan C....
The Supplement Plan supplements Original Medicare, as you know.
Original Medicare with Medicaid, as you know, is a third health plan arrangement.
1, the Original Medicare Plan with the Supplement and Plan D (Plan D being the drug plan)
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2. A pure Advantage Plan alone.
3. Original Medicare with Medicaid.
Three different types of arrangements.
The problem is any of the plans will have the same type of "fight' quite often. Somewhat like Home Insurance some times. Insurance carriers/plans make you go through hoops and you have to fight for what you need and what is best etc. As we know there is much that needs to change with how health care is handled.
Hope we have helped others with our discussion, Beejenigma
Barbara
I’m proud of you for appealing. They save so much money by denying first and hoping people just accept it even sometimes when their own criteria say they cover.
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1 ReactionI had to RUN back to original Medicare and Medicaid. I will never again use anything else.
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2 ReactionsYes, the Advantage Plans are not what they tout to be for most people.
So glad you have Medicare and Medicaid for yourself. They most often work together well for those on the two plans.
Barbara
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1 ReactionYes, mine is a State of GA Advantage Plan PPO. I can get care wherever I want to go even traveling. I do not have to get approval either when I want/need to see a specialist. My Tobi was approved in one day and I had it within 3 days of my Dr. ordering it. I have never been turned down for any meds or services. I guess I am indeed very lucky to have such great medical in retirement. Of course, during my working career, I made sure that I chose jobs according to the medical benefits and retirement, not the salary. I just received a statement from Anthem for the end of January. There are 3 levels of drugs. I am in just one month on level 2 and after they get the bill for Tobi will be on the catastrophic drug level by the end of February. They said that all drugs will be free from here on out until the end of 2025.
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1 ReactionAs Sue said, you are fortunate with how GA has there Advantage Plan set up.
Most typical Medicare Advantage plans only cover a person for emergency care, ER, while traveling anywhere in the U.S and will not/may not cover for routine health care visits beyond your plan's service area... and then.... outside the U.S. the Medicare/Medicare Advantage coverage is limited.
Another good advantage for you: "no referral needed for specialist, unusual with an Advantage Plan."
Interesting how insurance can be so different, be it private or government.
There you have it...proactive.. as you said and planned: " I chose jobs according to the medical benefits and retirement, not the salary." That is so true what one should, or might have to, consider when seeking employment or changing to another employer. A young man friend of mine learned that lesson the hard way. I had to explain to him what he did after having an unexpected injury with his decision of doing the opposite of what you did.
I guess the Tobi medication gets you out of what is called the "donut hole" with drug costs.
Wishing you the success you are working on with the Tobi medication.
Barbara