Zometa

[lincolnj8]

I'm having oral surgery next Thursday on a bone in my jaw do to advanced cancer. Anthem refused to pay for it, saying it is a dental thing. Some cancer patients whose cancer has spread to the bones receive regular infusions of a bone-modifying drug, such as zoledronic acid (Zometa) May have side affects such as osteononecrosis of the jaw. A rare but debilitating condition which bone tissue in the jaw is no longer covered by the gums and start to die. So my sugery is NOT dental, they are cutting back jaw bone growth to prevent further problems

[lincolnj8]

Anthem refused to pay for it, saying it is a dental thing

[Hidden in reply to lincolnj8]

😳

[Concerned-wife]

If you are on Medicare, this might explain why cms.gov/Medicare/Coverage/M...

Did you call the insurance company to learn why it was denied? Or ask the oral surgeon’s office whether medical insurance ever covers this procedure?

So sorry you are experiencing this. I hope someone else has more positive info. I am not an expert on coverage of this but spent a lot of time searching the Internet for you

[lincolnj8 in reply to Concerned-wife]

Thanks you for your reply and your searching the internet for me. Yes I talked to the oral surgeons office in person and they couldn't explain why. then I called Medicare, I have the expensive supplemental insurance and talked to three people from India. It took the first person 10 minutes to record my card number. He gave up and the second one was a little better. Finally got contacted the third person from India and she said that the plan doesn't cover dental. Ok. This is not dental, they are cutting back jaw bone growth to prevent further problems. My general practitioner doctor (which I had a health follow up the same week) agreed that this was not a dental issue So, I emailed Anthem about the situation and also replied to their standard follow up request on "How did we do". It'll work out

[lincolnj8 in reply to Concerned-wife]

Thank you for your investigating and support. Someone told me to send all the info t the attorney general of Ohio (where I live)

[carbide]

I have pc & got Osteonecrosis from Xgeva.When in pain I called my oncologist and his nurse said call a dentist. I quit that doctor.

I did get correct type dentist specialist.

Sad how insurance trys to call it a dental problem when caused by Xgeva.

NUTS.

[lincolnj8 in reply to carbide]

There are dentists and oral surgeons at this facility.

[carbide]

Thx

[Hidden]

Anthem🧐? I’m on prolia and have a hole drilled into my jaw under what used to be a gold crown. A post failed . I’m thinking this won’t be the last one tooth gone bad. Ouch ! Yours sounds crazy painful .. Good luck in the 👍hurdles Lincoln ! ✌️