Re: Health Insurance and Transplants

[Guest guest]

I should also amend this post to mention that this is for health

insurance in the United States which is quite different from health coverage

for those of you in other locations!

Rick

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf

Of rick.kamp

Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009 6:40 PM

To:

Subject: Health Insurance and Transplants

I was hoping to hear some feedback from folks

regarding transplants

and health insurance. I am in the position to be picking the group

policies for my business and have seen a lot of differences in the

policies when it comes to transplants. Here are a few questions:

1. When considering a plan's maximum lifetime benefit how much of a

considering should this be? Is a policy with a $3 million maximum

acceptable for us? Or should we be shooting for the $5 million or

$10 million lifetime maximums?

2. Do any of your plans have seperate deductibles for transplants?

I have seen several that have a seperate column with deductibles up

to $30,000. How much have some of your out of pocket expenses been

for transplant?

3. Have any of you had coverage for aeromed/jet ambulance services?

Some companies I have been looking at will provide this benefit up to

$15,000 to jet you to your transplant center when a liver is

availalbe. Is this even realistic to use this kind of service?

4. Has anyone had trouble getting their transplants approved by

insurance? Do you have any carriers that you recommend that were

easy to work with?

5. Any other feedback or comments that might be helpful as I'm

picking a policy. I need to be careful because this plan is for my

employees too and even though we cover 75% of the cost I don't want

to pad thier bills when I anticipate a service I may need some time

down the road.

Thanks for any feedback that you can offer!

Rick

[Guest guest]

I should also amend this post to mention that this is for health

insurance in the United States which is quite different from health coverage

for those of you in other locations!

Rick

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf

Of rick.kamp

Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009 6:40 PM

To:

Subject: Health Insurance and Transplants

I was hoping to hear some feedback from folks

regarding transplants

and health insurance. I am in the position to be picking the group

policies for my business and have seen a lot of differences in the

policies when it comes to transplants. Here are a few questions:

1. When considering a plan's maximum lifetime benefit how much of a

considering should this be? Is a policy with a $3 million maximum

acceptable for us? Or should we be shooting for the $5 million or

$10 million lifetime maximums?

2. Do any of your plans have seperate deductibles for transplants?

I have seen several that have a seperate column with deductibles up

to $30,000. How much have some of your out of pocket expenses been

for transplant?

3. Have any of you had coverage for aeromed/jet ambulance services?

Some companies I have been looking at will provide this benefit up to

$15,000 to jet you to your transplant center when a liver is

availalbe. Is this even realistic to use this kind of service?

4. Has anyone had trouble getting their transplants approved by

insurance? Do you have any carriers that you recommend that were

easy to work with?

5. Any other feedback or comments that might be helpful as I'm

picking a policy. I need to be careful because this plan is for my

employees too and even though we cover 75% of the cost I don't want

to pad thier bills when I anticipate a service I may need some time

down the road.

Thanks for any feedback that you can offer!

Rick

[Guest guest]

I should also amend this post to mention that this is for health

insurance in the United States which is quite different from health coverage

for those of you in other locations!

Rick

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf

Of rick.kamp

Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009 6:40 PM

To:

Subject: Health Insurance and Transplants

I was hoping to hear some feedback from folks

regarding transplants

and health insurance. I am in the position to be picking the group

policies for my business and have seen a lot of differences in the

policies when it comes to transplants. Here are a few questions:

1. When considering a plan's maximum lifetime benefit how much of a

considering should this be? Is a policy with a $3 million maximum

acceptable for us? Or should we be shooting for the $5 million or

$10 million lifetime maximums?

2. Do any of your plans have seperate deductibles for transplants?

I have seen several that have a seperate column with deductibles up

to $30,000. How much have some of your out of pocket expenses been

for transplant?

3. Have any of you had coverage for aeromed/jet ambulance services?

Some companies I have been looking at will provide this benefit up to

$15,000 to jet you to your transplant center when a liver is

availalbe. Is this even realistic to use this kind of service?

4. Has anyone had trouble getting their transplants approved by

insurance? Do you have any carriers that you recommend that were

easy to work with?

5. Any other feedback or comments that might be helpful as I'm

picking a policy. I need to be careful because this plan is for my

employees too and even though we cover 75% of the cost I don't want

to pad thier bills when I anticipate a service I may need some time

down the road.

Thanks for any feedback that you can offer!

Rick

[Guest guest]

Sheesh I’m lucky! As long as I can keep working for my company

my insurance is covered. There’s no maximum, no deductable, no co-pay. When I found

out that Baylor requires a 215,000 deposit for transplant if you don’t have

insurance, I was just floored.

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of rick.kamp

Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009 5:40 PM

To:

Subject: Health Insurance and Transplants

I was hoping to hear some feedback from folks

regarding transplants

and health insurance. I am in the position to be picking the group

policies for my business and have seen a lot of differences in the

policies when it comes to transplants. Here are a few questions:

1. When considering a plan's maximum lifetime benefit how much of a

considering should this be? Is a policy with a $3 million maximum

acceptable for us? Or should we be shooting for the $5 million or

$10 million lifetime maximums?

2. Do any of your plans have seperate deductibles for transplants?

I have seen several that have a seperate column with deductibles up

to $30,000. How much have some of your out of pocket expenses been

for transplant?

3. Have any of you had coverage for aeromed/jet ambulance services?

Some companies I have been looking at will provide this benefit up to

$15,000 to jet you to your transplant center when a liver is

availalbe. Is this even realistic to use this kind of service?

4. Has anyone had trouble getting their transplants approved by

insurance? Do you have any carriers that you recommend that were

easy to work with?

5. Any other feedback or comments that might be helpful as I'm

picking a policy. I need to be careful because this plan is for my

employees too and even though we cover 75% of the cost I don't want

to pad thier bills when I anticipate a service I may need some time

down the road.

Thanks for any feedback that you can offer!

Rick

[Guest guest]

Sheesh I’m lucky! As long as I can keep working for my company

my insurance is covered. There’s no maximum, no deductable, no co-pay. When I found

out that Baylor requires a 215,000 deposit for transplant if you don’t have

insurance, I was just floored.

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of rick.kamp

Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009 5:40 PM

To:

Subject: Health Insurance and Transplants

I was hoping to hear some feedback from folks

regarding transplants

and health insurance. I am in the position to be picking the group

policies for my business and have seen a lot of differences in the

policies when it comes to transplants. Here are a few questions:

1. When considering a plan's maximum lifetime benefit how much of a

considering should this be? Is a policy with a $3 million maximum

acceptable for us? Or should we be shooting for the $5 million or

$10 million lifetime maximums?

2. Do any of your plans have seperate deductibles for transplants?

I have seen several that have a seperate column with deductibles up

to $30,000. How much have some of your out of pocket expenses been

for transplant?

3. Have any of you had coverage for aeromed/jet ambulance services?

Some companies I have been looking at will provide this benefit up to

$15,000 to jet you to your transplant center when a liver is

availalbe. Is this even realistic to use this kind of service?

4. Has anyone had trouble getting their transplants approved by

insurance? Do you have any carriers that you recommend that were

easy to work with?

5. Any other feedback or comments that might be helpful as I'm

picking a policy. I need to be careful because this plan is for my

employees too and even though we cover 75% of the cost I don't want

to pad thier bills when I anticipate a service I may need some time

down the road.

Thanks for any feedback that you can offer!

Rick

[Guest guest]

Sheesh I’m lucky! As long as I can keep working for my company

my insurance is covered. There’s no maximum, no deductable, no co-pay. When I found

out that Baylor requires a 215,000 deposit for transplant if you don’t have

insurance, I was just floored.

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of rick.kamp

Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009 5:40 PM

To:

Subject: Health Insurance and Transplants

I was hoping to hear some feedback from folks

regarding transplants

and health insurance. I am in the position to be picking the group

policies for my business and have seen a lot of differences in the

policies when it comes to transplants. Here are a few questions:

1. When considering a plan's maximum lifetime benefit how much of a

considering should this be? Is a policy with a $3 million maximum

acceptable for us? Or should we be shooting for the $5 million or

$10 million lifetime maximums?

2. Do any of your plans have seperate deductibles for transplants?

I have seen several that have a seperate column with deductibles up

to $30,000. How much have some of your out of pocket expenses been

for transplant?

3. Have any of you had coverage for aeromed/jet ambulance services?

Some companies I have been looking at will provide this benefit up to

$15,000 to jet you to your transplant center when a liver is

availalbe. Is this even realistic to use this kind of service?

4. Has anyone had trouble getting their transplants approved by

insurance? Do you have any carriers that you recommend that were

easy to work with?

5. Any other feedback or comments that might be helpful as I'm

picking a policy. I need to be careful because this plan is for my

employees too and even though we cover 75% of the cost I don't want

to pad thier bills when I anticipate a service I may need some time

down the road.

Thanks for any feedback that you can offer!

Rick

[Guest guest]

My wife keeps impeccable records. So

far, since July, 2007 my medical bills have been very close to $600,000. The

vast majority of that amount is for the transplant.

From:

[mailto: ] On

Behalf Of Anita Oakley

Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009

7:11 PM

To:

Subject: RE: Health

Insurance and Transplants

Sheesh I’m lucky! As long as I can keep working for my

company my insurance is covered. There’s no maximum, no deductable, no

co-pay. When I found out that Baylor requires a 215,000 deposit for transplant

if you don’t have insurance, I was just floored.

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of rick.kamp

Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009

5:40 PM

To:

Subject: Health

Insurance and Transplants

I was

hoping to hear some feedback from folks regarding transplants

and health insurance. I am in the position to be picking the group

policies for my business and have seen a lot of differences in the

policies when it comes to transplants. Here are a few questions:

1. When considering a plan's maximum lifetime benefit how much of a

considering should this be? Is a policy with a $3 million maximum

acceptable for us? Or should we be shooting for the $5 million or

$10 million lifetime maximums?

2. Do any of your plans have seperate deductibles for transplants?

I have seen several that have a seperate column with deductibles up

to $30,000. How much have some of your out of pocket expenses been

for transplant?

3. Have any of you had coverage for aeromed/jet ambulance services?

Some companies I have been looking at will provide this benefit up to

$15,000 to jet you to your transplant center when a liver is

availalbe. Is this even realistic to use this kind of service?

4. Has anyone had trouble getting their transplants approved by

insurance? Do you have any carriers that you recommend that were

easy to work with?

5. Any other feedback or comments that might be helpful as I'm

picking a policy. I need to be careful because this plan is for my

employees too and even though we cover 75% of the cost I don't want

to pad thier bills when I anticipate a service I may need some time

down the road.

Thanks for any feedback that you can offer!

Rick

[Guest guest]

My wife keeps impeccable records. So

far, since July, 2007 my medical bills have been very close to $600,000. The

vast majority of that amount is for the transplant.

From:

[mailto: ] On

Behalf Of Anita Oakley

Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009

7:11 PM

To:

Subject: RE: Health

Insurance and Transplants

Sheesh I’m lucky! As long as I can keep working for my

company my insurance is covered. There’s no maximum, no deductable, no

co-pay. When I found out that Baylor requires a 215,000 deposit for transplant

if you don’t have insurance, I was just floored.

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of rick.kamp

Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009

5:40 PM

To:

Subject: Health

Insurance and Transplants

I was

hoping to hear some feedback from folks regarding transplants

and health insurance. I am in the position to be picking the group

policies for my business and have seen a lot of differences in the

policies when it comes to transplants. Here are a few questions:

1. When considering a plan's maximum lifetime benefit how much of a

considering should this be? Is a policy with a $3 million maximum

acceptable for us? Or should we be shooting for the $5 million or

$10 million lifetime maximums?

2. Do any of your plans have seperate deductibles for transplants?

I have seen several that have a seperate column with deductibles up

to $30,000. How much have some of your out of pocket expenses been

for transplant?

3. Have any of you had coverage for aeromed/jet ambulance services?

Some companies I have been looking at will provide this benefit up to

$15,000 to jet you to your transplant center when a liver is

availalbe. Is this even realistic to use this kind of service?

4. Has anyone had trouble getting their transplants approved by

insurance? Do you have any carriers that you recommend that were

easy to work with?

5. Any other feedback or comments that might be helpful as I'm

picking a policy. I need to be careful because this plan is for my

employees too and even though we cover 75% of the cost I don't want

to pad thier bills when I anticipate a service I may need some time

down the road.

Thanks for any feedback that you can offer!

Rick

[Guest guest]

My wife keeps impeccable records. So

far, since July, 2007 my medical bills have been very close to $600,000. The

vast majority of that amount is for the transplant.

From:

[mailto: ] On

Behalf Of Anita Oakley

Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009

7:11 PM

To:

Subject: RE: Health

Insurance and Transplants

Sheesh I’m lucky! As long as I can keep working for my

company my insurance is covered. There’s no maximum, no deductable, no

co-pay. When I found out that Baylor requires a 215,000 deposit for transplant

if you don’t have insurance, I was just floored.

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of rick.kamp

Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009

5:40 PM

To:

Subject: Health

Insurance and Transplants

I was

hoping to hear some feedback from folks regarding transplants

and health insurance. I am in the position to be picking the group

policies for my business and have seen a lot of differences in the

policies when it comes to transplants. Here are a few questions:

1. When considering a plan's maximum lifetime benefit how much of a

considering should this be? Is a policy with a $3 million maximum

acceptable for us? Or should we be shooting for the $5 million or

$10 million lifetime maximums?

2. Do any of your plans have seperate deductibles for transplants?

I have seen several that have a seperate column with deductibles up

to $30,000. How much have some of your out of pocket expenses been

for transplant?

3. Have any of you had coverage for aeromed/jet ambulance services?

Some companies I have been looking at will provide this benefit up to

$15,000 to jet you to your transplant center when a liver is

availalbe. Is this even realistic to use this kind of service?

4. Has anyone had trouble getting their transplants approved by

insurance? Do you have any carriers that you recommend that were

easy to work with?

5. Any other feedback or comments that might be helpful as I'm

picking a policy. I need to be careful because this plan is for my

employees too and even though we cover 75% of the cost I don't want

to pad thier bills when I anticipate a service I may need some time

down the road.

Thanks for any feedback that you can offer!

Rick

[Guest guest]

I really am fortunate – between three hip replacements, a

Roux-en-Y, my husband’s cancer and my liver, the insurance has covered all but

about $500, and that because I chose to go to an out-of-network rehab center.

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf

Of Joe Berry

Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009 8:42 PM

To:

Subject: RE: Health Insurance and Transplants

My wife

keeps impeccable records. So far, since July, 2007 my medical bills have

been very close to $600,000. The vast majority of that amount is for the

transplant.

[Guest guest]

I really am fortunate – between three hip replacements, a

Roux-en-Y, my husband’s cancer and my liver, the insurance has covered all but

about $500, and that because I chose to go to an out-of-network rehab center.

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf

Of Joe Berry

Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009 8:42 PM

To:

Subject: RE: Health Insurance and Transplants

My wife

keeps impeccable records. So far, since July, 2007 my medical bills have

been very close to $600,000. The vast majority of that amount is for the

transplant.

[Guest guest]

Hey Rick,

We recently met with a transplant financial consultant at my

trasplant center, so some of this is fresh in my mind still--I hope I

can help.

1. Our counselor said she has seen folks go beyond a $500,000

lifetime policy, and get close with $1 million. My personal lifetime

max is $1.5 million, and she said we should have no problems with

that.

2. We have one out of pocket maximum for the year--$5000, or 7% of

your salary up to a maximum of $7200 (ours happens to be $7200).

This covers everything except prescription drugs, and includes the

transplant. No seperate deductibles for anything else, other than

medications.

3. Yes, our policy covers 'donor charges' which includes getting the

liver to my transplant center from a potentially long distance, which

may thereby use a medi-vac or ambulance or something.

4. We're working with BCBS which has some sort of a

transplant 'package' of standard care and coverages. You can opt

into everything offered in the service simply by choosing the package

when you choose the benefits you want to offer your employees. The

package determines maximum amounts that can be charged for certain

services, has coverages for all kinds of situations, and covers all

standard donor and receipient charges.

Genevieve

UC 1983, J-Pouch 1999, PSC 12/07, CCA 10/08. Just finished my first

two cycles of chemo, getting ready to start chemo and radiation

together 1/26/09.

>

> I was hoping to hear some feedback from folks regarding transplants

> and health insurance. I am in the position to be picking the group

> policies for my business and have seen a lot of differences in the

> policies when it comes to transplants. Here are a few questions:

>

> 1. When considering a plan's maximum lifetime benefit how much of

a

> considering should this be? Is a policy with a $3 million maximum

> acceptable for us? Or should we be shooting for the $5 million or

> $10 million lifetime maximums?

> 2. Do any of your plans have seperate deductibles for

transplants?

> I have seen several that have a seperate column with deductibles up

> to $30,000. How much have some of your out of pocket expenses been

> for transplant?

> 3. Have any of you had coverage for aeromed/jet ambulance

services?

> Some companies I have been looking at will provide this benefit up

to

> $15,000 to jet you to your transplant center when a liver is

> availalbe. Is this even realistic to use this kind of service?

> 4. Has anyone had trouble getting their transplants approved by

> insurance? Do you have any carriers that you recommend that were

> easy to work with?

> 5. Any other feedback or comments that might be helpful as I'm

> picking a policy. I need to be careful because this plan is for my

> employees too and even though we cover 75% of the cost I don't want

> to pad thier bills when I anticipate a service I may need some time

> down the road.

>

> Thanks for any feedback that you can offer!

>

> Rick

>