Did Medicare pay for your proton radiation therapy ?

However when I called Medicare today to ask them about proton authorization, all they could tell me was Medicare pays pays for radiation therapy.  They had no breakdown for IMRT or proton, or any other types of radiation therapy.

It seems quite difficult to find out.  I did a Google search tonight and did see an article that said Medicare pays for proton therapy.  I'm wondering how the author of that article found out that information to write the article.  Cause it is impossible to get through to the people in the authorization departments of the insurance companies.

So I thought I'd post on the forum here and ask you all if anyone has used traditional Medicare to pay for your proton radiation of your prostate.

If so, I will probably change from the Medicare Advange plan that I have now over to traditional Medicare + a supplement plan.  I have Health America Advantra, and they turned me down for proton treatment.  So I figure I will drop them for next year, for an insurance plan that will cover proton therapy.  It is so difficult though to find out if another Medicare Advantage insurance company or if traditionalo Medicare will cover proton therapy.  Calling the customer service numbers of Medicare and a couple Medicare Advantge companies is no help.  They don't know either since their Statement of Benefits is so vague when it comes to radiation therapy.

I figure there must be someone here who has actually used traditional Medicare to get proton therapy.

Thanks for your help,

Bob

Post Edited (BobY777) : 4/17/2012 10:49:09 PM (GMT-6)

Thanks for your post.

I think you are right about the waiting part.

I'm going today to an IMRT place to get a CAT scan .  I hope to get the radiation started next week.

It would be interesting to hear from anyone who has used Medicare to pay for proton therapy.

Thanks,

Bob

 Hi Bob,

Yes Medicare did pay all of my treatment at the Univ. of Florida Proton in Jacksonville.

I finished my treatments there in March of 2011 - Have no (NONE) side effects

Go to Amizon and get a book by Ron Nelson "Protons versus Prostate Cancer Exposed" - tells all about it

 I aslo have blue cross and they picked up the 20 % that medicare did not pay.