Guest guest Posted July 31, 2006 Report Share Posted July 31, 2006 How can a hospital take advantage of people with life threatening diseases in such a way? Varvaro And how can "INSURANCE COMPANIES" take that same advantage of people with life threatening diseases by denying them of certain medical treatments and medications??? kiss kiss, ~Ginger~ ipf 9/04 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2006 Report Share Posted July 31, 2006 Hello, I was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis as a result of an ex ray taken during my annual physical exam. It was on July 20th, just two days before my 62nd birthday. I have no symptoms other than a wet cough that I've had ever since I started my small pet sitting business. I always attributed the cough to all the pet dander I am around. My doctor ordered a CT chest scan for me at a local hospital When I called to make an appointment I was kept on hold for about 45 minutes. Once the appointment was set up they informed me that I needed to call their pre registration department for approval. The pre registration department kept me on hold for about 15 minutes. They said that my insurance did not cover the CT scan. If I did not have insurance it would have cost me $1,430.00. However, because I had insurance, even though it did not cover the scan, I needed to come up with $2,200.00! I called back my doctor's office and told them what the people at the hospital said. I asked if they knew of any other places that could do the scan. They gave me the name of a nearby lab to call. I got through to the lab immediately. They set up an appointment for this Wednesday, and quoted a price of $250.00. Yes, almost ten times less! I called back the hospital and they verified that they charge so much more because of all the other things they do that don't make them as much money. I called back my doctor's office to ask them why they didn't tell me I could get the scan for so much less until I asked, but they weren't answering their phones 30 minutes before closing time. I am shocked and disappointment with my doctor's office for not taking my personal and financial situation into account when recommending the hospital for the scan. I have the same feeling towards the medical establishment in general. How can a hospital take advantage of people with life threatening diseases in such a way? VarvaroThe purpose of Paws and Play is to improve the quality of the lives around us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Hi , I am so sorry you had to discover how money crazy Hospitals are. They play Robin Hood, Rob the ones they can get away with it and put the rest in the CEO's pocket.. I know it's not right. Maybe your local paper would be interested in this story.. I have been lucky with mine so far, But not my husbands for his heart cath 3 or 4 times... it's just crazy. How did things go with your family on your birthday? I know that was hard to break that news. If you can have them educate themselves about this monster. On our home page there are some good links to go to. It helps to talk about this.. Take care of you ... God Bless... Peggy 09/04 ipf > Hello, > I was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis as a result of an ex ray taken during > my annual physical exam. It was on July 20th, just two days before my 62nd > birthday. > > I have no symptoms other than a wet cough that I've had ever since I started > my small pet sitting business. I always attributed the cough to all the pet > dander I am around. > > My doctor ordered a CT chest scan for me at a local hospital When I called > to make an appointment I was kept on hold for about 45 minutes. Once the > appointment was set up they informed me that I needed to call their pre > registration department for approval. > > The pre registration department kept me on hold for about 15 minutes. They > said that my insurance did not cover the CT scan. If I did not have insurance > it would have cost me $1,430.00. However, because I had insurance, even > though it did not cover the scan, I needed to come up with $2,200.00! > > I called back my doctor's office and told them what the people at the hospital > said. I asked if they knew of any other places that could do the scan. They > gave me the name of a nearby lab to call. > > I got through to the lab immediately. They set up an appointment for this > Wednesday, and quoted a price of $250.00. Yes, almost ten times less! > > I called back the hospital and they verified that they charge so much more > because of all the other things they do that don't make them as much money. > > I called back my doctor's office to ask them why they didn't tell me I could > get the scan for so much less until I asked, but they weren't answering their > phones 30 minutes before closing time. > > I am shocked and disappointment with my doctor's office for not taking my > personal and financial situation into account when recommending the hospital > for the scan. I have the same feeling towards the medical establishment in > general. How can a hospital take advantage of people with life threatening > diseases in such a way? > > Varvaro > > > The purpose of Paws and Play is to improve the quality of the lives around us. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Hi , I know your family is really questioning God as to how and why this monster picked you, It is just a hard thing for any of our family members. The anger, questioning, grieving, sadness. It is so hard on everyone concerned. They should go to our home page and talk to other caregivers. It helps so much to know you are talking with others that are going through the same thing. This group is the best thing I've ever had to help with LIFE after devastating news. To be able to share your life and sadness and to share theirs is amazing balm for your heart. After you get your CT (hopefully an HRCT) the best imaging. You will wait for those results. Them your Dr. will probably talk to you about a biopsy. research this carefully. The PF foundation has information, Leanne is a great place to get help from. The number is on the home site. As far as your daughter-in-love, that is so sweet. I am sure your whole family will be praying. Some of us here on this site will be praying also. When you are having trouble fighting the monster out of your thoughts a prayer will work. The devil has to flee when we call on Jesus. Do everything you can to LIVE everyday..Don't let this paralyze you. Keep as busy as possible. Stay on the board and share it all. God Bless You... Peggy 09/04 ipf Hi Peggy, My son suggested that I send a copy of the group posting to Grover at NBC news, so I did. I got through to my doctor's office. All they would say is that for future imaging services they would send me to the lab instead of to the hospital. They wouldn't comment about doing the same for all of their patients. I waited until everyone was up and ready to go home after my birthday celebration with my family. Then I handed them a print out from the PF web site and explained what the doctor told me and what my understanding is about the disease. For about 5 minutes you could have heard a pin drop! After that, conversation returned to normal. Everyone stayed for about another hour. My wonderful daughter in law said that she had " an in " with God and she was going to ask him to grant her some favors she deserved. The folks at the lab called and rescheduled my appointment from tomorrow to Thursday. I am anxious to get the CT scan done. That way I hope to have my question, " What happens next? " answered as soon as possible. Regards, > > Hi , I am so sorry you had to discover how money crazy Hospitals are. > They play Robin Hood, Rob the ones they can get away with it and put the > rest in the CEO's pocket.. I know it's not right. Maybe your local paper > would be interested in this story.. > I have been lucky with mine so far, But not my husbands for his heart cath 3 > or 4 times... it's just crazy. > > How did things go with your family on your birthday? I know that was hard to > break that news. If you can have them educate themselves about this monster. > On our home page there are some good links to go to. It helps to talk about > this.. Take care of you ... > God Bless... Peggy 09/04 ipf > > > Hello, > > I was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis as a result of an ex ray taken during > > my annual physical exam. It was on July 20th, just two days before my 62nd > > birthday. > > > > I have no symptoms other than a wet cough that I've had ever since I started > > my small pet sitting business. I always attributed the cough to all the pet > > dander I am around. > > > > My doctor ordered a CT chest scan for me at a local hospital When I called > > to make an appointment I was kept on hold for about 45 minutes. Once the > > appointment was set up they informed me that I needed to call their pre > > registration department for approval. > > > > The pre registration department kept me on hold for about 15 minutes. They > > said that my insurance did not cover the CT scan. If I did not have insurance > > it would have cost me $1,430.00. However, because I had insurance, even > > though it did not cover the scan, I needed to come up with $2,200.00! > > > > I called back my doctor's office and told them what the people at the hospital > > said. I asked if they knew of any other places that could do the scan. They > > gave me the name of a nearby lab to call. > > > > I got through to the lab immediately. They set up an appointment for this > > Wednesday, and quoted a price of $250.00. Yes, almost ten times less! > > > > I called back the hospital and they verified that they charge so much more > > because of all the other things they do that don't make them as much money. > > > > I called back my doctor's office to ask them why they didn't tell me I could > > get the scan for so much less until I asked, but they weren't answering their > > phones 30 minutes before closing time. > > > > I am shocked and disappointment with my doctor's office for not taking my > > personal and financial situation into account when recommending the hospital > > for the scan. I have the same feeling towards the medical establishment in > > general. How can a hospital take advantage of people with life threatening > > diseases in such a way? > > > > Varvaro > > > > > > The purpose of Paws and Play is to improve the quality of the lives around us. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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