United Health Care insurance is the worst insurance company! I spend over $600 per month paying insurance premiums to UHC for my son and I, have a $1500 deductible per person and $6000 max out of pocket per person (which I met by Feb 5 of this calender year).
My 14 year old son was diagnosed in January of this year with severe UC. He had been bleeding in his stool for 3-4 months and didnt tell me. By the time I got him admitted to the hospital, he had lost a third of his body's blood and was severly anemic. His entire Colon was ulcerated. He hid his symtoms from me for months, even after being seen in the ER and by a GI Dr. three and six months previously. He ended up spending 9 days in the hospital on IV steriods and was sent home on 50 mg Prednisone daily,which has been weaned down (6 weeks later) to 5 mg per day, Asacol 800mg HD (6 tablets per day), Poly-Iron (2Xday) and VSL#3 DS (1/2 packet 2Xday). My insurance won't cover the Asacol 80mgHD and it is $700 per month. We have so far been surviving on sample bottles but the Dr won't give us anymore. (Forgot to add that I am a single parent). The Dr prescribed VSL#3 and my insurance would not cover it. It was $159 a month for a 30 day supply.... however , they would cover VSL#3 DS for $30 per month copay. We have been using the DS (double strength) and cutting the dose in half (half packet twice a day) But since starting the VSL#3 DS, he has started having symptoms again of cramping and diarrhea. Dr says the next step is Imuran. Does anyone have any feedback on this drug?
Thanks,
Mother of newly diagnosed Teen with UC