Guest guest Posted December 9, 2002 Report Share Posted December 9, 2002 Hi, , I think they zap people with an adrenalinelike substance during the ablation, to force the heart into afib. You might call your insurance folks and ask if the procedure is covered. If they say no, you can ask about the appeals process. If the company appeals process turns you down, at least in California, you can appeal to a state agency that can overrule the insurance company. Each step takes about 30 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2002 Report Share Posted December 9, 2002 Hi, , I think they zap people with an adrenalinelike substance during the ablation, to force the heart into afib. You might call your insurance folks and ask if the procedure is covered. If they say no, you can ask about the appeals process. If the company appeals process turns you down, at least in California, you can appeal to a state agency that can overrule the insurance company. Each step takes about 30 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2002 Report Share Posted December 9, 2002 Hi, , I think they zap people with an adrenalinelike substance during the ablation, to force the heart into afib. You might call your insurance folks and ask if the procedure is covered. If they say no, you can ask about the appeals process. If the company appeals process turns you down, at least in California, you can appeal to a state agency that can overrule the insurance company. Each step takes about 30 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2002 Report Share Posted December 9, 2002 > > >don't you need to go into afib during the ablation procedure so >they can " map " the rogue areas? > Dear , With today's procedures you don't have to be in A-Fib for them to map your A-Fib generating areas of the heart. They measure potentials, like the battery in your car. Even if your car isn't running, there is still a 12 volt potential there. Similarly, in your heart any potential in a pulmonary vein can be measured and pinpointed, even if you're not in A-Fib at the time. When the area is ablated, the potential disappears. Like taking the battery out of your car, removing this potential eliminates your A-Fib. I had my ablation procedure nearly five years ago in France. My insurance covered everything, except for the travel. And at that time a PVA was a relatively new procedure. United health Care can tell you if they cover PVAs. A-FibFriendSteve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2002 Report Share Posted December 9, 2002 > Hi all, > > I haven't written in a while, but just wanted you to know that I read the > emails daily and they are a true comfort. > > > GOOD LUCK BRUCE!!! > > Hi , I had my PVA 4-1/2 weeks ago at St. Lukes Texas Heart Institute in Houston, TX. Was not in A-Fib, and in fact my doctor said he preferred that I not be in A-Fib when he did the procedure. He ablated six points and so far I have been in normal sinus rhythm. As far as the insurance goes, they covered the procedure with no problem. My E.P. was Dr. Chieng, the same doctor who is doing Bruce's procedure on Thursday. I see him for follow-up on Friday and will keep you posted. Dorothy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2002 Report Share Posted December 10, 2002 Hi, Thanks to everyone for the prayers and well wishes. I'm excited and nervous about the whole procedure for Thursday. Anyway, in response to insurance. My Primary Care Physician said that the key to getting your insurance to cover this procedure (including a trip to Cleveland if that's where you want to go) is your Primary Care Physician. As long as your PCP refers you to someone who can do this procedure it should be covered. The specialist you see then dictates the treatment and insurance should pay for it. Also, the PVI (or the Focal Point) are types of ablations, and it was also explained to me that some insurance providers don't distinguish between the various types of ablations and just lump them into one category. My PCP left it entirely up to me as to where I wanted to go to get worked on. Here in Houston by Dr. Cheng, or Cleveland by Dr. Natale. My PCP also told me to immediately call him if there was any fussing by insurance to pay for anything. Of course, insurance will probably not cover travel expenses, hotel stays, meals, etc. if you are traveling out of town to have it done. (This was a major consideration for my wife and I, in deciding whether to have mine done here or Cleveland. Travel up one evening, the next day have your initial visit/consultation and TEE, the next day have the procedure, get discharged the next day, then travel the day after that.) Remember, like I said, this is what was explained to me. It may not apply to everyone. Good luck. Bruce > Hi all, > > I haven't written in a while, but just wanted you to know that I read the > emails daily and they are a true comfort. > > I also want to wish Bruce a very successful ablation!!!! I'll certainly be > thinking of you this Thursday and praying for you. It's very exciting. > > As for an update on Orgain (husband) and myself, we are playing phone tag at > the moment with the Cleveland Clinic and are really hoping that we can get > an ablation scheduled (knock on wood). Of course the nurse called on Friday > when nobody was home and then he is flying out on business today and won't > be able to call them back until Thursday. The waiting is so hard. Orgain's > pretty nervous about so many things 1) afraid to get his hopes up 2) afraid > they won't consider him a good candidate (even though he has his afib bouts > several times a week) 3) worried that he won't be able to go into afib when > he needs to (don't you need to go into afib during the ablation procedure so > they can " map " the rogue areas?) 4) and worried that insurance won't cover > it. We are waiting to see if he gets " accepted " at the Cleveland Clinic > before contacting insurance. He has United Health Care. Does anyone have > information as to whether insurance will cover this type of procedure and > what we can expect for the cost? > > The good news is that we continue to be optimistic. Thanks again to > everyone for all the support and information. > > GOOD LUCK BRUCE!!! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2002 Report Share Posted December 10, 2002 Hi, Bruce. Just wanted to wish you all the best on Thursday. I'll be sending positive thoughts your way. Update on me: I am having my second episode of afib since the PVI on 11-14. It has now been going on for about 46 hours, and I hope it will follow the pattern of recent months before the PVI of lasting a maximum of about 48 hours.. The first one lasted only 2 1/4 hours. I see Dr. Cheng this coming Friday, so I'm eager to hear what he has to say about it. " bruceboulanger " wrote: > Hi, > > Thanks to everyone for the prayers and well wishes. I'm excited and > nervous about the whole procedure for Thursday. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2002 Report Share Posted December 10, 2002 Hi, Bruce. Just wanted to wish you all the best on Thursday. I'll be sending positive thoughts your way. Update on me: I am having my second episode of afib since the PVI on 11-14. It has now been going on for about 46 hours, and I hope it will follow the pattern of recent months before the PVI of lasting a maximum of about 48 hours.. The first one lasted only 2 1/4 hours. I see Dr. Cheng this coming Friday, so I'm eager to hear what he has to say about it. " bruceboulanger " wrote: > Hi, > > Thanks to everyone for the prayers and well wishes. I'm excited and > nervous about the whole procedure for Thursday. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2002 Report Share Posted December 10, 2002 Hi, Bruce. Just wanted to wish you all the best on Thursday. I'll be sending positive thoughts your way. Update on me: I am having my second episode of afib since the PVI on 11-14. It has now been going on for about 46 hours, and I hope it will follow the pattern of recent months before the PVI of lasting a maximum of about 48 hours.. The first one lasted only 2 1/4 hours. I see Dr. Cheng this coming Friday, so I'm eager to hear what he has to say about it. " bruceboulanger " wrote: > Hi, > > Thanks to everyone for the prayers and well wishes. I'm excited and > nervous about the whole procedure for Thursday. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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