Quote:
Originally Posted by zookester
I know what you mean about waiting for the shoe to drop.. I actually heard through our company grapevine that BCBSIL may cancel our policies.. the thing is many of them also don't show (except in the fine print) the many things they don't cover. Like vision and dental for adults, off label prescriptions and even chiropractic care. I know many people don't believe in chiro.. but mine has been helping me and knows more about CRPS II than many of the PM's I consulted with.. I had it with my old plan I should have it with my new plan.
I actually made several calls today to find out how much it would cost on a cash basis.. and now I am thinking about going that route with a catastrophic plan for major issues if one arises. Here is an example of what one doctor would cost me with cash vs. billing an insurance company.
Currently I pay a $25 co-pay to my PM.
He bills BCBSIL $356.00 for a 20 min. basic visit
BCBSIL pays him $156.00 after the contract discount
If I pay cash I would only be charged $82.50.. SHOCKING.. really!! Think I'm going cash.. my reasoning.. being that there is no cure or real treatment other than medications and I won't be having surgery unless it is life/death situation due to the CRPS II and I can't have MRI's because of my SCS.. unless I cancer raises its ugly head again or something else catastrophic I am better off paying cash in the long run I would be about $400+ dollars ahead every month.
Ugh.. it is just another stress to our already stressful lives.
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I so understand what you are saying. CASH may be the only thing that will be accepted soon and in many cases will be the cheaper way to go. No one seems to know or feel secure about all the chaos with health care and health insurance at the moment. A lot of people that are currently covered under their employers, are healthy, and think none of the current turmoil affects them may soon find themselves in a similar boat. We here with health issues are more aware as we are affected first.
I only hope that when all the dust settles, everyone comes out of all this without too much harm but I fear that will not be the case.
Wishing you the best and hope we can keep our docs. Nothing is more important to me than being able to choose who I trust with my life and health. I don't just want a doctor, .... I want MY doctors. It IS MY life that is in their hands.