So once again I have insurance news.
I will give Anthem Blue Cross this, they have exceptional customer service and I have no complaints. I understand every move that has happened and as I've said before, their website where you can log in and see the status of each claim is very helpful.
So when we last left, I was told that the reason my CT scan was rejected was because I was in a six month probation period. I didn't really push it (because I wanted to go back and try to find any literature that said that) and I've played very nicely with the company.
So today I called and discovered that what the probation period means is "they do not PRE AUTHORIZE any treatments for six months."
I totally get that. I do. Honestly, I can see why a company wouldn't preauthorize something as big as a cancer operation.
It DOES NOT mean they aren't covering it. It DOES mean that I end up paying for things up front, but then again, I have a deductible to be met.
When I saw today that the hospital visit of $9,000 was "rejected," I damned near had a stroke. But in reality, what is happening is the insurance company has requested more information from the hospital, since of course, there is no prior record of me and cancer.
She said that it would take a few weeks (at which point I said, "take all the time in the world") but that eventually that visit would reflect the outcome of their request.
It did scare me when I got home and found 10 letters from the insurance company in my mail box, but they were just all copies of the request letters sent to the hospital and an explanation of benefits on the very expensive tests from a few weeks ago.
The staples come out at 9AM tomorrow (thank God... they are killing me) and then I go back at 2PM for the infamous CT scan.
I get to drink a "special smoothie" tonight before going to bed that will light me up for the scan.
Sadly, I do think I will have to leave the documentary this week. I had to watch the latest cut of the film today to start a giant archival log and it was just too hard to watch. I can do paperwork, but I just can't hear "cancer, cancer, cancer, death, cancer, death" around me.
That being said, things are looking good for me and AIDS Marathon. I was told today that many of my running group wore my name on their singlets when they ran the marathon yesterday (in a monsoon of rain, no less). I'm hoping to hear from the national director soon.
Whatever happens, I need a change. I would be ever so happy to be the director of the LA office.
UPDATE: Holy crap - The Berry "Smoothie" Readi-Cat 2 has got to be the worst tasting crap I've ever ingested. I think I'm high, my stomach is rumbling like Ripley at the end of ALIEN3 and I think I'm about to puke. And I still have to drink another one tomorrow at noon!
