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How to pay for Lyme treatment?

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Posted 1/9/2014 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
I might have Chronic Lyme D. with many symptoms but not diagnosed.
I have 2 LLMD's close to the suburb where I live. But neither is in my Insurance Network and I could pay for the first appt. and blood test. But if there are on-going tests and prescriptions these would only be covered
if written by a doc in my insurance network. My husband is retired so we are on a fixed income. I wonder if any of you are in the same situation and how do you pay for all the medical care. Like the doctor visits and RX's out of pocket or is there some other way around all of that?

Thanks
Posted 1/9/2014 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sue, most LLMDs do not directly participate with insurance companies, but often will write up a claim for you that you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement.
Posted 1/9/2014 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, definitely get your appointments, blood tests and drugs submitted to your insurance directly (if they accept out of network doctors).
Posted 1/9/2014 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
SueG, I have HMO insurance and my LLMD doesn't accept insurance for my LLMD appointments/visits. I have to pay from my pocket. I contacted my insurance to see if they could reimburse me for the LLMD visits and they said no because he is officially a Family Medicine Doctor out of my network, thus they won't pay.

For prescriptions, my LLMD writes the prescription and I pick it up at the pharmacy and it is covered by my insurance. However, if there are any tests, blood work, or procedures, he writes down what I need and I take it to my PCP. He then puts in the paperwork and the referral for me to get it done. When the blood work results or test results come in, they get posted online for me to view. I make a copy and send them to my LLMD.

My PCP did tell me that there will be times when he will not be able to comply because some tests need to be ordered by a specialist. I have not gotten to that point yet so I don't know what will happen then.

I hope this helps.

Post Edited (Healing98) : 1/8/2014 8:35:15 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/9/2014 3:32 AM (GMT 0)
I did get reimbursed some through my insurance company. I also found a new love of auctioning. I buy and resell on ebay and craigslist.

I just finished paying off the medical bills from last year and now I'm going to work on the credit cards I racked up. It isn't too bad b/c there are always auctions, sometimes hit or miss. My biggest issue is making sure I ship everything out on time when I'm busy and tired!

You have to know where to go though and it takes some time to learn what is worth money and will resell fast and what won't. I would recommend it to anyone who isn't horribly ill. The best part is you can go just for a few hours and if you don't feel well, leave. And you can do all the reselling on your own time.

~beth
Posted 1/9/2014 4:09 AM (GMT 0)
My town has a fund that helps out people on fixed income with things like that. There are actually several and one is well known but the other ones are not and they are under different agencies. Try to visit your local housing authority and they may be able to help you out with payment for housing temporarily when you show proof of medical bills. So, they will not help out with the bills but they will help out with the housing so that you can pay for the bills. Also, if you call your town clerk they may have some breaks on taxes and a fund for people in need. You kind of need to know where to look but sometimes there is money out there in places you would not even consider. And you may be able to get breaks elsewhere and then apply the money that is left over to your medical bills. There is the food pantry, some churches give away free clothing once a month… etc.
Posted 1/9/2014 4:16 AM (GMT 0)
I have always been very frugal but there is a book that helped me survive financially when I was caring for my disabled husband. It's called The Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn. I didn't do most things she suggests but it helped me get in the mode and do what I could to stay afloat. Thus said, we NEVER EVER had this kind of bills while he was alive! Lyme is absolutely outrageous!
Posted 1/9/2014 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
My parents are on a very fixed income. I had to move in with them so I could help pay for treatment. It's so sad that people aren't able to get the care they need. Anyways, for me there was no option. My mom's health is top priority right now.

I'm not much help but I did want to say I understand and you are not alone.
Posted 1/9/2014 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
Here are some resources that you might find useful. Do check out all of the links, although there are a lot of duplications I'm sure:
www.internetdrugcoupons.com/

medicationcoupons.com/

thyroid.about.com/cs/newsresearch/a/insurancepay.htm

lymedisease.org/news/touchedbylyme/needy-meds.html

www.prescriptionhope.com/index.html

lyme.kaiserpapers.org/financial-assistance.html

Also - and I promise you that I am not trying to convince you to change protocol types, but if things get really tight financially, remember that herbs are effective for these infections and often less expensive, as are many of the doctors who prescribe them.
Posted 1/10/2014 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,
I just came across another great resource:
http://lymeunderground.com/survival-tactics-getting-by-on-a-limited-budget/
Posted 1/11/2014 9:16 AM (GMT 0)
Just read this article:

http://lymedisease.org/news/touchedbylyme/lyme-financial-destruction.html
Posted 1/11/2014 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
That is exactly why I decided to pull all the stops and go to a clinic. I will be in debt but hopefully I can keep the debt small enough and keep my job so that I don't end up like this.
Posted 1/12/2014 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
Bump
Posted 7/28/2014 7:43 PM (GMT 0)
I feel like there are new members that may need this information! So bumpity-bump-bump, back on the first page with this thread! smilewinkgrin
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