..."If there isn't, then I'm done paying co-pays if neuros/rheumys can't do anything else for the SFSN and things stay stable. About mid-way through this search, I had a pain management neuro tell me, quite honestly, that he couldn't help me. He didn't keep taking my money, and I appreciated that."...




I understand... I have lousy insurance this year. We are required to pay 20% of all laboratory, x-Ray and hospital bills after our $3,500 deductible was met. It really adds up. We have so many expensive lab bills (like two from Athena Labs).

I am having a bad arthritis flare right now so I went to my Rheumy and, of course, he ran the gambit of labs, including all the autoimmune tests (since my AI disease is "undifferentiated"). That can get rather pricey.

Well, he did something to help me. He discounted the cost of my labs by using his cost for the lab tests, rather than the lab charging me their cost. Not to go into too much detail, apparently the doctor gets a 'wholesale' price on lab tests.

I appreciated this. He is being aware of the costs to me, which is rare - for a doctor.