Just as I am on the cusp of a diagnosis, with everything except MS and Sarcoidosis ruled out, my insurance company has refused to do an MRI with contrast unless it goes to medical review, which will delay the test. They will do an MRI without contrast, which may miss critical information. My medical insurance expires November 30, and my husbands will be able to pick me up, but I may have to wait several weeks for coverage to start. The insurance company is supposed to call me for scheduling, and I am fairly confident the conversation is not going to go well. My issues: 1: My MD ordered a specific test based on my symptoms that cannot be appropriately performed without contrast. 2: How fair is it to ME (the patient) that if an innappropriate test is performed, and I need to get a contrast MRI later, that I should have to go through 2 MRI's instead of one. 3: If they have to put it to medical review, and it delays the test past my termination of coverage date, then they should still cover it, because the test was ordered for a date prior to termination of coverage. 4: If they refuse to cover the MRI and I need another one with contrast later, it will complicate matters with the new insurance. 5: Don't tell me that a medical review cannot be expidited! Grrrrrr!!! Thanks for letting me vent. The symptoms are starting to get to me, and I still can't use my hand well.

My PMD has been so wonderful to me about this, and doing the appropriate testing and follow up, it just figures that the insurance would give me a hard time. Here's one for Obama care....an insurance company cannot alter a test that has been ordered by your physician, but they can upgrade it to ensure a correct diagnosis. Food for thought.


Tam

Hi Tammey,

That sort of frustration is what all of us could do without; but the reality is that insurance companies don't care about what stresses their policies cause...or the health of their clients. The bottom line is their primary concern .

I'm not absolutely certain on this, but if I remember correctly, the MRI without contrast will reveal sclerotic lesions and abnormalities just fine. The contrast is used to identify/highlight the more active lesions. Thus, an MRI without contrast should provide enough information for a potential diagnosis.

Although Obama care might provide care to more people who up until now did not have insurance, it might also end up producing longer wait times for diagnostics and specialist care due to more people accessing services; much like the situation that we have in Canada.
The typical wait for 'elective' (non-emergency) MRIs in Canada is 5-10 months and the wait to see a specialist can be as long as 2 years. Even to have a fracture surgically pinned can involve a 4-6 day wait .

I waited for 9 months to see my MS neuro specialist for the current bout of this stupid disease and will have waited for 7 months by the time I get the MRI he ordered back in May. Other diagnostic tests that were also ordered in May required waits of 3-6 months to have done.
After the MRI gets done in December, provided that appointment doesn't get bumped to accommodate an emergency for someone else, it will be another 3 months of waiting before I can meet with the neuro to discuss options and potentials for managment.

Over the past 30 years, while waiting for tests and to see specialists, I've learned to deal with symptoms pretty much on my own through patience; and with whatever help I can get through my PCP, naturopaths, chiropractors, physiotherapists etc.
It sucks, but that is the reality.

I wish you an easy path and hope that your current insurance reconsiders. You put forward very good supporting arguments to achieve that end .

With love, Erika

I had multiple MRIs during my diagnosis, but for different reasons (MS wasn't suspected until after the first MRI). The MRI with contrast (which was the last MRI I got) didn't show anything beyond the non-contrast one I got first. Your situation may be different, but a non contrast MRI may show what the doc needs to see. Or you may have to go through multiple MRIs like I did.

Just food for thought, unfortunately it isn't very clear what you should do. I can offer you a hug and some sympathy - frustration seems to be the name of the game when it comes to diagnosing MS.

Tammey,

Welcome to NT. There are many good people here and a trove of information. I do hope that you don't need our info but we are here if you do.

ANN

Going through testing and diagnosis is hard enough without the added stress of insurance hassles. I hope you'll get through it ok, and find that you have something benign and easily treated.

So sorry for your stress, Tammy. When I was in the hospital for 2nd DX, the Ins Co, tried to deny my whole hosp, stay. I cried and then got mad and called my State Insurance regulators anD Voila the Ins co paid, less my Ded. of course.

Ins cos first response is to find a reason to deny.. I wish we could do away with the lot of them.