Insurance

[RoseySawyer]

So basically I have to wait for open enrollment which is in fall and my next infusion is in August. Which the company that does it needs MIR scans before they give it to me free again and MRIs are expensive. 😕So what now???? I guess I'm going to have to write the congressman and take it to the news people. 😕

[greaterexp]

What a tangled mess! I'm sorry you're having to deal with this.

[Iona60]

I think that MSAA may help with MRIs. How did you end up without insurance?

[RoseySawyer in reply to Iona60]

My husband was working for the Government but they gave him a bunch of BS when I came out of the hospital for taking days off. My Neuro even wrote his job a note stating he is to be home with my for atleast a couple of weeks since I just started walking again. So he put in his two weeks notice in.

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador in reply to RoseySawyer]

What a guy, loves his bride for sure. I have a friend, that is 63, lost her good job early last year and has had a heck of a time getting a job, keeping it and making enough to get health insurance. Right now she's got insurance, hates the job, her immediate supervisor is verbally abusive, She's making $13. an hour. I told her to tell both her supervisor and that person's boss what's going on, then quit and file a lawsuit or go on disability. They wouldn't even give her a few hours to take her hubby for colonoscopy and when her dad died 5 weeks ago, they gave her 3 days with no pay. I don't think that's legal for a person that has been put on permanent status. I'm trying to find a new job or more information for her. Kudos to your hubby!

[Iona60 in reply to RoseySawyer]

If you aren't taking insurance under cobra, losing your job may be a qualifying event to get coverage on healthcare. gov. Try calling them.

[RoseySawyer in reply to Iona60]

I already went on that site and they say the same thing.

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador]

Wow, Keep us posted. Yes, MSAA may provide some help for you. Check the search button.

mymsaa.org/msaa-help/mri/

[RoseySawyer in reply to CalfeeChick]

Thank you

[ssdw1958 in reply to RoseySawyer]

I am so sorry 😐 for your loss I thought you were supposed to get 5days off with pay I would go to who ever is in charge of payroll and ask them about Bereavement Days off. I hope you are trying to find another JOB who wants to work for a fool like that. Oh that would have been me. That’s who took my job away from me. Now I had to retirer. People always think because your retired and disabled your making big bucks NO THATS NOT THE WAY IT GOES I’m lucky to get not quit $300.00 and our heath Insurance is $900.00 right now we can cover it for now. I’m 59 years old. It sure stinks not to being able to work and to be able to contribute more $$$ to the family, not that I made a lot of money but my job was the job to pay for the insurance. My husbands job has insurance but will not cover MS Bills enough about me I hope you can find another job with kind people good luck to you.

ssdw1958

[melack01]

I have read that MSAA is helping with the costs of MRI's. Definitely check on that. I don't have insurance but luckily the VA is covering everything. I do pay for medications but at a much reduced rate. I am so glad me and my husband applied to VA to see if we were eligible when we were barely affording our insurance. It sure has taken a lot of the worry away.

[jackiesj]

Thanks for sharing..most of us just don't know whre to start with coverage, who to call etc cause it is so overwhelming.Dont forget to ask each time for all couons etc to the pharmacist for meds...they change offers almost every month for me.Last visit of 7 meds...cut in half....It would have been 3 house payments...now that is ridiculous.,

[RoseySawyer in reply to jackiesj]

As soon I say I have MS they say that the coverage they can get me now will cover all other things but not my MS meds.

[jackiesj in reply to RoseySawyer]

sometimes the company that makes your MS med you are trying to receive has its own payment to the pharmacy.You may be put on hold but may be well worth it.MS Society site may have some answers...

[RoseySawyer in reply to jackiesj]

Yes they will pay for my infusion but I have to get MRi's done before the company will give me the infusion for free again.

[ssdw1958 in reply to RoseySawyer]

When I was on Tecfidera that was fully covered by the company you should talk with your neurologist To see what he can do about the cost of your medicines remember you’ll never know until you ask.

[RoseySawyer in reply to ssdw1958]

True but I covered all bases. My Neuro is the one who got the company to cover my Rituxan Infusion twice now.

[hairbrain4 in reply to RoseySawyer]

Are they allowed to use pre-existing now on insurance? I thought that law was changed with Obamacare? I know they couldn't use it on my husband a couple of years ago when he applied.

[RoseySawyer]

MSAA say they cover up to $600, I don't think that will cover the MRi's

[ssdw1958 in reply to RoseySawyer]

I don’t have any idea where you can get any help on that I’m just guessing maybe you can call the people who administers the MRI you never know they may have an idea as to what you can do.

I wish I know I would let you know.

[Peruzzot in reply to RoseySawyer]

It depends on where you are as to how much an MRI costs. While I was still stationed in Italy, the MRI cost me about $600 out of pocket (I was there as an Army civilian. My reserve unit was in Germany.) When I was finally allowed to use the military medical facilities I had to drive up to Landstuhl to talk with the Neurologist and do MRIs. There they would cost about $250. Since I've been here in South Carolina the most I've paid is about $400. Insurance doesn't cover MRI's at all. But insurance companies aren't allowed to deny you coverage for pre-existing conditions but that doesn't mean they have to cover all medical costs. I've had Blue Cross since 1996 but didn't get diagnosed with MS until 2016 and they still won't cover all of my MS medical costs even after I've reached the catastrophic limit. I still have to pay for the MRI out of pocket. But I only have to pay $35 copay for Tecfidera monthly.

[Fancy1959]

Rosey, who ever dreamed up this open enrollment must have been full of bull beans and should be shot! When you need to change insurance or need different or additional Insurance you should be able to get it when the need arises! Not during what somebody dreamed up was open enrollment. We need to get politics out of our insurance! Fancy.