Posted 11/15/2009 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
Christine, hang in there. Contact the foundation and get yourself an advocate. They can most definitely help you. I sure hope the Remicade works for you. When I first started on it it was a miracle. At the time my daughter was in a residential center and I needed to be available to make the trip (an hour each way) once or twice a week to participate in her recovery. It was NOT the time for me to be having surgery (paying for HER treatment while at the same time unable to earn any money because I had to close down my own business for a time? NOT a winning combination!). The Remicade put me in remission for a couple of years and in that time she got well and I was able to come to terms with having to have surgery. I am also healthy enough to make it through the surgery better.
CrazyColitis, this is a foundation that exists to provide the individual with help in dealing with their insurance company. It won't be able to get you covered for something that is not covered, but it if you have an illness for which a particular medication or procedure is required and approved for the condition and you are denied, they will help you get the coverage you deserve and have paid for. If your insurer is tossing up obstacles in dealing with them (over-long hold times, not returning calls), over the years and with their vast dealings with all companies they often have better contacts and numbers to reach. They can reach the people with the power to get something done whereas you may only be able to get some low-level flunky who just can't get the right things approved.
Face it, when you are sick and weak, you just don't have the stamina and patience required to deal with the paperwork and the hassles. Your advocate will be there for you and will help you.
When I am through my surgeries and have gotten back to work I intend to make a hefty donation to the Patient Advocacy Foundation. For now I need to hang on to all my money in preparation for being out of work and recovering. There is no charge to you for this service, they are a nonprofit. So if you do receive help from them it would be great, if you can afford it, to pay it forward.
Meesh