Have experience switching insurance companies?

[Guest guest]

Does anyone have experience in switching insurnace companies while on

GHT? My husband changed jobs and that means we have to change our

insurance company.

Our insurance company has always covered my son's GHT with no

questions asked. It's covered under the plan's prescription drug

benefit with only a $30 monthly copay.

Since it's covered by our current plan, when we switch plans to

another group plan, does that plan have to cover the drug, as well?

Please let me know what your experience has been with this. We can't

get on the plan until April 1st, and we are currently on Cobra with

our old plan.

Thanks,

Amy

[Guest guest]

Amy,

Are you a member of Magic? If you are, there is a woman

Tucker that can answer your questions. Basically she told us that

if/when my husband gets a new job offer, we need to review that

company's policy. Just because it was covered by the old company

doesn't mean it is covered by the new. Depends on the policy.

You'll need a copy from the HR department.

I don't have 's email handy, but you can contact her on the

Magic list if you are a member.

Beth

> Does anyone have experience in switching insurnace companies while

on

> GHT? My husband changed jobs and that means we have to change our

> insurance company.

>

> Our insurance company has always covered my son's GHT with no

> questions asked. It's covered under the plan's prescription drug

> benefit with only a $30 monthly copay.

>

> Since it's covered by our current plan, when we switch plans to

> another group plan, does that plan have to cover the drug, as

well?

>

> Please let me know what your experience has been with this. We

can't

> get on the plan until April 1st, and we are currently on Cobra

with

> our old plan.

>

> Thanks,

> Amy

[Guest guest]

Amy - we have experienced this twice. Began GH under Aetna in Oct.

2000, covered with a battle. 3 months later company switched to

CIGNA. Got it covered with a 2 month battle (Eli Lilly gave us free

growth hormone in the interim) -- with the assistance of

Tucker at MAGIC. We used the " continuity of care " stuff and all

that.

Now 2 years later, company switches back to Aetna, notorious for NOT

covering GH for RSS/SGA without a battle. HR says " no problem " --

and yet Aetna begins with a battle. Saying they need this kind of

paper etc. Thank goodness Dr. H was there. She did the old " MAGIC

is going to file a class action lawsuit on behalf of all RSS/SGA

children " .... thing, and faxed them 's growth records showing

she went from just below the 3rd percentile in height to above the

65th percentile in 3 years on GH. Aetna tells me they need some

more stuff. I call HR saying " do I need to get an attorney

involved? 's continuity of care clearly requires the

continuity of this medication. " That was Friday evening.

Monday morning Aetna approved it. I have no idea which hammer did

the trick.

Amy, aren't you a member of MAGIC (I have trouble remembering people

by email addresses). They can help give you step by step help if

you run into trouble. Push the " continuity of care " wording. Try

and get things in writing NOW before the official start date of

April 1st.

> Does anyone have experience in switching insurnace companies while

on

> GHT? My husband changed jobs and that means we have to change our

> insurance company.

>

> Our insurance company has always covered my son's GHT with no

> questions asked. It's covered under the plan's prescription drug

> benefit with only a $30 monthly copay.

>

> Since it's covered by our current plan, when we switch plans to

> another group plan, does that plan have to cover the drug, as

well?

>

> Please let me know what your experience has been with this. We

can't

> get on the plan until April 1st, and we are currently on Cobra

with

> our old plan.

>

> Thanks,

> Amy

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks for the background info on switching insurance companies.

Our COBRA ran out and now we have to switch to Oxford. We do not

know yet if they will cover gh without a problem, but we do know

that we received a letter talking about possible pre-existing

conditions and an 18 month wait because of it. We are not sure of

what conditions this applies to at the moment.

I can't wait to see Dr. H. in action if they deny gh coverage. We

are hoping that with the new FDA approval we will not have a

problem, though. The biggest problem so far is having to have a

referral each time we go to a doctor. This is new to us. What a

pain!

Jodi

[Guest guest]

-

Thanks so much for your reply. I joined MAGIC today and will

definitely utilize their resources for this matter.

We will have three different plans to choose from. Two of the three

plans we can choose from are Aetna. Once I get the details of the

plans (my husband starts the new job on Monday), I'll contact

Tucker.

We're also going for our first visit to Dr. H on April 8th.

Thanks again for your reply. I appreciate your help.

-Amy

> > Does anyone have experience in switching insurnace companies

while

> on

> > GHT? My husband changed jobs and that means we have to change

our

> > insurance company.

> >

> > Our insurance company has always covered my son's GHT with no

> > questions asked. It's covered under the plan's prescription drug

> > benefit with only a $30 monthly copay.

> >

> > Since it's covered by our current plan, when we switch plans to

> > another group plan, does that plan have to cover the drug, as

> well?

> >

> > Please let me know what your experience has been with this. We

> can't

> > get on the plan until April 1st, and we are currently on Cobra

> with

> > our old plan.

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Amy