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Anyone have chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)?
Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: 6 days ago | Replies (368)Comment receiving replies
@tomatack
Yes, I am very thankful for those markers. By the way, I contacted the CLL Specialist's office at OHSU in Portland, Oregon and was told that unless Kaiser gives a referral, the initial consult would be $600-$900, and she said Kaiser doesn't tend to give referrals. I'm sure it is because Kaiser considers their oncologists to be top of the line and there is no need to go elsewhere. And they may be top of the line, but I should be able to see a specialist if I want to. This might be what makes me leave Kaiser. I don't usually say things like this, but I got so upset, I said "Well, I may as well just die then!" and hung up. It just gets so frustrating! Then I felt horrible for burdening the poor woman with my anger. Oh boy.
I assume other people read these posts - does anyone know which insurance plan for old people like me (72) is a good one? I've been with Kaiser for over 20 years, so I have no idea how it compares to other companies.
Replies to "@tomatack Yes, I am very thankful for those markers. By the way, I contacted the CLL..."
Lori, a similar thing happened to me and I called my insurance company and luckily, after I explained my situation, the woman who answered phone said her husband was treated for leukemia at Memorial Sloan Kettering and she told me I had to go there and she switched my plan that day from their HMO to a PPO that MSK accepted. It was a bit of a miracle, but it worked and then my doctor transferred to Mayo and I followed her there. Don't give up and even if you can't change now, try at your next opportunity. As one doctor told me, "when you get diagnosed with cancer it's time to gold plate your health insurance."
@loriskt I feel you. I was with Kaiser for 25 years and I’m 72. They missed so many illnesses I had and more. I left them and went with Scan Alta. (Part of Scripps). I couldn’t be happier. They didn’t even believe in Fibromyalgia!
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Hi @loriskt
You might think about calling the facility you want to see and ask their business office about insurance recommendations. Have you considered medicare? A nurse at a Mayo facility (where I was getting an IgG infusion) said that she thought it was good. I've heard this from at least a few others (brother, also someone on CLL) as well. I just signed up for it – admittedly, it was a pain, many options to research, and now I am going to be paying 3 companies instead of just one (via my old employer). Beyond that I am expecting very good coverage and freedom to choose who I see. TBD if that'll be my reality. Maybe discussions on health insurance should be in a different thread?
I hope this helps!