HRT and insurance,2

[HeadDoc]

I had to label this thread #2 because my computer says that I already started a thread with the same title somewhere. Over and over, we raise the same questions and problems about finding qualified docs and whether our insurance will cover the drugs. On the latter topic, I think that most of us are just going to have an uphill battle getting conventional insurance to pay. I fought this fight and won for all the bloodwork, drugs, except for the hgh and hcg. I invested hours of phone calls and "respectful" challenges to do this. To offset this when my wife started, we decided to not use regular submissions to the insurance. Rather, we paid the doc and labs upfront and then submitted the bills to a medical reimbursement account that my wife has through her work. I am getting my hgh and hcg reimbursed now also. We have changed the insurance plan to as high a deductible as we can to keep the premiums as low as possible. There were limits to this given that she has to work thru her employer's cafeteria plan. I hope this will provide some options for you middle class people who like myself and my wife are trying to cover the cost.

 

[ENDRO]

I myself found it to be a giant head ache and after many phone calls to the insurance company with little luck, I had my doctor make one phone call to them and have not had a problem since!

 

[BigRagu]

my insurance covers everything but their a pain in teh azz......... everytime my prescription runs out (after the speced number of refills) or i get a new prescription my doctor has to fill out some form and send it into my insurance company............... so they can "review" and authorize it.......... i always get what i need i just got to wait a few extra days.................

 

[gymrat1977]

When you go to an HRT doctor, are you required to just pay the copay at that time or is it different for these appointments.

 

[HeadDoc]

When you go to an HRT doctor, are you required to just pay the copay at that time or is it different for these appointments.

the hrt docs I know pretty much work with cash. Their receipts though can be used for reimbursement. I'm sure there are some who still practice primary care medicine and work directly with insurance. It's a matter of research. Go to the A4M site, locate the directory, pull down your state, and start calling. Do not be shy when asking for availability for appointments, their medical training in general, their specific certification, training, and experience with hrt, insurance policies, whether you need to buy meds from them, whether you need to purchase labs from them, whether you can use you own pharmacy, their availability for follow up, and typical schedule of follow-up for hrt patients, their willingness to accept labs performed by your own healthcare provider, their availability to consult with your own PCP and willingness to incorporate the hrt into your healthcare plan with your own pcp, or their willingness to do the primary health care along with the hrt.

 

[gymrat1977]

Thanks for the reply. I think that i'll go to SWALE so I just need to get ahold of him. It would be much easier and we all know that he is a great doctor.

 

[SWALE]

HeadDoc--It is illegal for doctors to demand that patients get their meds at any particular place.

Simple consumer protection stuff, and a VERY serious charge before the Board.