April 2010 Weddings
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Health Insurance company gripe

I know I'm not alone here in my hatred of insurance companies.  I'm pretty convinced they would rather us just get very sick and rack up medical bills and then die. 

So my mom had breast cancer at age 41, it was discovered in her very first mammo.  Both grandmothers, and one great-aunt also had BC.  My paternal grandmother even had a mastectomy, and she was in her 50's.  Needless to say, I feel like it's inevitable for me.  So my OBGYN recommends that I should start getting my mammo's now, because I'm 31 years old, and it's 10 years earlier than mom's onset.  Except my insurance company won't cover it :(  Any advice???  For god's sake, you would think with all that history, it would make a difference.  My company said I would have 100% coverage for one per year at age 35.  Do I wait???  (FWIW, I had a breast sonogram about 2 years ago, just for a baseline exam.  That was covered, but it was a different employer and different ins. company)

 This suckkss

 

Re: Health Insurance company gripe

  • Stupid insurance companies!  If it were me, I would still get one and pay for it myself.  I think early detection is HUGE!  
    ~Melissa~
    Shmel's Blog
  • Ugh. Well, you're wrong about one thing - they don't want you to die bc then you won't pay!

    My only advice is to talk to your OB again and find out the risks associated with waiting 4 more years, in light of what showed on your 1st sonogram.  Then find out how much a mammogram costs out of pocket (eeeek!) and weigh the risks/costs. OOH another idea I just had is to look into planned parenthood - I know they provide some services (no, not just abortion crazy protestors on the side of the road) to women with little to no insurance. I'm not sure if mammograms fall under that - it's a long shot but worth a phone call.

    As a side note, if a hospital or doctor ever asks you to sign a "guaranty" of your hubby's healthcare services (or vice versa) DON'T! If someone dies before payment the only way they can go after the spouse is if they signed a guaranty.

  • Wow, I'm sorry but when I hear things like this it makes me so mad. So many women end up diagnosed in their 30s, and you are trying to do the RIGHT thing because of your family history.  Early detection not only saves lives, it saves insurance companies a ton of money because the treatment isn't as intense. I will never, ever understand why insurance companies make decisions like this.

    I suppose it can't hurt to call (or have your doctor call) your insurance company to see if they will make an exception because of your family history. My company technically only allows one mammogram between age 35 and 40,  but because of my family history I can get one every year.

    BTW, if my sister's cancer had been detected earlier it would have saved her life. If you can't convince your ins company to pay I would probably just pay for it out of pocket. I think some places give discounts for cash paying patients.

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  • Agree..with your family's history...get it done anyway. The benefits of early detection outweigh the costs...
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  • Maybe you can see if there are any days where they have free mammograms?  Maybe they would know of a place that is funded through an organization that gives free mammograms??  Also...how much is the mammogram?  I would say if it's not too expensive and you can swing it...to just get it and pay for it up front or make payments on it?
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