kontakTeamBCI

Hi motiap - First of all see & study your policy in a very detailed manner. See if there is any clause of genetical disorder or anything like it. Then we can see if we get any technical help from anybody

motiap in reply to kontak

Hi Kontak,

Thanks for quick reply. This is the clause in policy : clause 4.15 - Genetical disorders /stem cell implantation / surgery not payable

so I want to confirm whether my case is "genetical disorder" or not.

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greenbear

HER 2 positive is not genetic disorder/disease. Does the FISH report specifically state it is a genetic disorder/disease. I am also HER 2 positive and all my claims have been settled. Get a letter from your oncologist that it is not a genetic disorder/disease and submit to insurance company. Public sector insurance companies are funny

motiap in reply to greenbear

Hi Greenbear,

Thanks for reply.

There no statement in FISH report regarding genetic disorder. I have already submitted letter from oncologist however insurance company is not ready to change their decision. I am thinking of going by legal actions so just want to confirm things here before I proceed for the same. Again thanks for your quick reply.

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greenbear

pl go to higher up in insurance company and insurance ombudsman before going to court. The insurance company will have an escalation heirarchy. Usually some ignorant medical practitioners are sitting in the claims department. I think you will succeed if you go higher up.

kontakTeamBCI

Moitap - as informed by green bear go to higher authorities of the insurance agency

manish_vkgTeamBCI

Motiap, greenbear said correctly her2 positive is not genetics disorder but u know these insurance companies tries to find out the way to escape from claim...so if u discuss higher authorities, your case will be settled...our wishes are with u.

imprincess

Thanks motip greenbear for raising this issue. This is really a matter of concern for all .

sumeet_shahAdministrator

Hi motiap,

I have the following to say:

1. This is ABSOLUTELY not a genetic disorder. This is a test for mutation in genes and is NOT a congenital genetic disorder

2. None of my patients (many of them from New India Assurance) have experienced this. All of the claims were passed.

Incidentally, two days back, for one of my young thyroid cancer patient, 15 years old, for whom I had done a BRAF mutation test, got a letter that her claim was rejected because of genetic test and blah blah blah, according to clause 4.4.16 (Genetic Disorders etc.). I wrote a letter yesterday and gave it to her father to submit it for the claim. And I am going to fight for her and ensure she gets the money which rightly belongs to her. Here is a copy of the letter for you to read:

l32i.imgup.net/hu3f6c.gif

The problem with these Mediclaim chaps is, they do not know the difference between 'congenital genetic disorders' and 'genetic tests'. They club both of them, though they are not similar. And there is so much corruption in these medi claim companies and their TPA's. TPA's are paid an amount by their Mediclaim companies to reject as many claims as possible. They reject even routine claims for no obvious reason and cause extreme levels of inconvenience to the applicant who has to run here and there, waste time and energy, running for the money they rightly deserve to be re imbursed. People who do not know a word on medicine and its implications, judge whether you can get your claim or not!! And to mention here, though not related, more than 90% of authorities in Health ministry of India and almost all who are invloved in planning and implementation of Medical Education in India are non medicos (and are pure politicians), who do not know what it takes to become a doctor. It is these non medico ministers and MLA's who decide the fate of doctors and medical education!! This is India.

You MUST fight for this, motiap. Ask your doc to write a letter to your mediclaim company. Thousands of women undergo HER2 testing daily. And all mediclaim companies re imburse cost for Herceptin as well, as long as the amount of mediclaim covers it.

motiap in reply to sumeet_shah

Thank you Dr. Shah for a good detailed explanation. I am going to contact higher authorities tomorrow, lets see how it goes. I will keep updating here my course of actions. Thanks again for quick and detailed reply.

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GJoe in reply to sumeet_shah

Dear Dr. Shah,

I, as a BC patient, am facing the same problem with the insurance. In my case insurance was approved twice post surgery. Now they are rejecting. This is my 17th cycle. Please find below the response given by a consultant of the insurance who is also a doctor:

"I have perused the trail mail and also Doctor note. Patient is case of Ca Breast treated with anti malignancy chemotherapy and Transtuzumab.

Now planned for Transtuzmab alone, this drug in monoclonal antibody not cosidred as chemoto therapy drug and hence claim is not payable and also the same can adminstred as OPD procedure".

Kindly give your advice.

Thank you

Getzi

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Gaurav15 in reply to GJoe

Hello Getzi,

Same thing happen for my mother claim also.

Your claim is considered or not?

Thanks,

Gaurav Kurvey

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greenbear

If higher up authorities in insurance company fail to give positive response then there is an insurance ombudsman who is a representative of IRDA that is the insurance regulatory authority.Contact details should be available in your policy. Sad that you have to waste your time in all this when you should be concentrating on the treatment. You will need insurance as Herceptin is very costly.

roxboxfoxRadiationOncologist

Her2 Positive breast cancer is certainly not a genetic disorder but an acquired mutation driver in the 17 p chromosome. All what the test seeks to answer is that once the breast cancer has occured, is there an accelerated driver to this cancer or not.

It is pitiful, how ignorant are the mediclaim officers out there who probably have no clue to what this means. You should try and get this published in Times of India and of course appeal and go to higher authorities. You will now undergo treatment with HERCEPTIN, and there is a huge cost to this, and if they are going to cover HERCEPTIN costs, on what basis would they not cover the mere test which proves you are Her 2.

Please preserve all these documents and write and insist on written letters and information, and not verbal excuses from these babus.

sumeet_shahAdministrator in reply to roxboxfox

Very aptly said, roxboxfox. Thanks.

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greenbear in reply to roxboxfox

Apparently from what motiap has written Dr. Rohit they are not going to pay for Herceptin as they have asked to refund the cashless claim recd for surgery and chemotherapy. It is just ignorance on the part of the mediclaim doctor. I am sure higher authorities would pass the claim. I think all cancers are a result of gene mutation. If this is not covered then no cancer patient would get a claim settled. Genetic disorders mentioned in mediclaim policies refer to congenital disorders either inherited or acquired. It is just irksome at a time like this to deal with all this.

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motiap

I had logged grievance complain a week ago. Today I got reply stating they will do payment. Here is their reply:

"The matter has been discussed in view of grievance raised for the case during our visit to MD INDIA TPA office, BARODA , on 21.01.2015, the treating doctor has clarified that this can not be taken as Genetic Disease as this is a case of Breast Cancer. Therefore MD INDIA TPA is considering the case for the payment in favour of the insured. "

Thank you all for your support and help.

Gaurav15 in reply to motiap

Hi,

I had raise one claim for my mother for Herceptin. But insurance company deny the insurance and give the below comment:

"As per the confirmation from our concerned team, we regret to inform you that chemotheraphy with herceptin injection is not covered under the policy."

Herceptin is under Hormone replacement therapy??

Please suggest me what can I do now.

Thanks in advance!!

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roxboxfoxRadiationOncologist

Great relief that you dont have to spend too much time battling to get this.

Thanks for the feedback as well.

(Glad to see quick and right justice done).

You can now concentrate and get back to the unfinished goal of finishing your mothers treatment with Herceptin.

All the best to your mom !

greenbear

This is good news

Sundari10

If Fish report is positive means its a genetical Disorder

manish_vkgTeamBCI in reply to Sundari10

Hi Sundari, please read the full post, as the medical professional if FISH test is positive it doesn't mean its a genetic disorder...FISH test is know about gen mutation..

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D1002

I am Deval Patel, a solicitor who has suffered the same misery at the hands of United India, my insurance company.

I have taken up this issue both with the Insurance Ombudsman and the IRDA.

Last week I have submitted a 200 page compilation, including opinions of Medical Oncologists, Articles on the criticality of Trastuzumab and Technical papers on the subject. I am waiting for their responses.

In the meantime, if you would like to receive updates on my crusade for the inclusion of Trastuzumab in insurance claims, please contact me by email with your case details on Deval1002@gmail.com.