← Return to How long have people waited for surgery?

Discussion

How long have people waited for surgery?

Brain Tumor | Last Active: Mar 15 12:44pm | Replies (5)

Comment receiving replies
@mkoch

Just a suggestion for those about to turn 65 and go on Medicare. If you choose a Medicare Advantage plan it is usual to run into this problem of being hassled about getting second opinions outside of their network. Also, there have been many complaints about the timeliness of getting prior authorization for needed procedures. I attended a seminar about the different options when one is eligible for Medicare and chose traditional Medicare with AARP supplemental. Prior authorizations , for me, for the most part happen the same day that I meet with the doctor. I don't have to meet a deductable nor make a co-pay. You do pay a higher premium each month but for me it's worth it to be able to choose my own doctors outside of a Medicare Advantage network with no hassle.

Jump to this post


Replies to "Just a suggestion for those about to turn 65 and go on Medicare. If you choose..."

i AM a former renal sw who dealt alot with medicare insurances because dialysis is paid at 80%y and the are responsible for the remaining 20% for a months of treatments this could be well into the $600. range. When we turned medicare elgilble, i told my husband who is now diagnosed with Glioblastoma , that we were going to get medicare and aarp supplement, yes its costly but the monthly premium is still less than the copays that accumulate with any serious illness as well you are their mercy re; doctors and hospital choice. I urge anyone to heed what the person above says, We have not had a bill, he is now at 13 months, unfortunately the spot was not operable, not could it be biopsied , the latter precluded us from seeking any other options, we are happy with our team, he had radiation/chemo, incenter chemo and oral. Unfortunately he looks better on paper than he feels in person, and now it is the ? of toxicity with txs so with nothing to loose he has stopped treatment. for the past 6 weeks, his appetite has just returned but his mental functioning and mobility are declined but stable at present but the fatigue remains overwhelming and disabling. we take one day at time, we know that it was slow growing, when first started, as i noticed symptoms as early as 2 years before dx, but he minimized them until i put my foot down. Also tried the other tx , with putting electrodes on for 18 hours a day, that was chaos between the lack of good support and it having several interruptions with alarms, he stopped that As it was we were getting it reimbursed by medicare, and they went up to several appeals with the final decision this past dec, 4 months after he stopped it, Medicare was clear we are not on the hook for it, some people swear by it, others not so much, but nevertheless a personal decision.