Re: Insurance can be a pain!!

[Guest guest]

Dear Joe and Joanie,Perhaps it would help if you sent a letter to the head of BCBS and let them know the run around you had.My experience with BCBS is they finally paid my emergency room visit for a possible pulmonary embolism after three paperwork submissions.I was thankful that they finally paid, but the amount of stress they caused me in the meantime is really uncalled for. I don't use O2 yet and hope that's a long time down the road. But sometimes I wish people could experience the SOB, the O2 use, the physical way we feel from this disease and then maybe we would get a kinder response from our health insurance companies.PJ in Ohio, 54, IPF '09, Sjogren's '95 Insurance can be a pain!!

Hi gang,

A few weeks ago we were notified that Ford Motor Co. (Joanie is retired) was changing from United Health Care to Blue Cross Blue Shield. Shortly after we were sent a letter we had to do a self assessment of our health. After several rounds of being deleted and stopped on the computer while doing so we finally completed the form. Joanie received a response in the mail they received her report. We did not hear about me. Joanie called a couple of weeks ago and they said we were OK and nothing more had to be done. A couple of days ago we got a call saying they needed our reports. After Joanie had a heart to heart with the caller she said she would put in that our reports were completed. Maybe they are in space.

In the meantime we contacted our O2 , c-pap, and concentrator supplier and he said he was approved for Blue Cross and Blue Shield. (no problem right?) We received a bill for over $350 for O2 and they said we were using a company out of network and they would not pay. We took a copy of our bill to our supplier and he said he would find out what the problem was. After a couple of weeks he said Blue Cross Blue Shield had different groups and ours was out of Michigan and we could not use him as a provider. We then went on the Internet and found 5 providers in network. Unfortunately the 3 closest are 23 miles away and our current provider is about 5 miles. Joanie called the provider in Fayetteville and they said they needed new prescriptions for for O2, c-pap, and concentrator. We went to our local pulmo and he wrote a prescription for O2 therapy and c-pap supplies as I own the c-pap. After faxing the prescription the called and said they could not provide the O2 without a current 6 minute walk (last 90 days) test results. I called Emory and a wonderful Tech (Mari Hart) said to come up at noon today and she would slide me in. I did a 2 minute walk and she stopped me after I dropped to 80%. She then went to the Dr. and he wrote a prescription for O2 and all of the supplies,concentrator, bottles, etc. I returned home faxed the prescription to the new provider.

They now want me to come over and be fitted for the c-pap mask before providing one. This is 23 miles, Emory was about 40 miles and I have to pay for the gas not to mention the aggravation. Emory was kind enough to give me a token for parking otherwise it would have cost me another $4.00

If I need extra bottles in a hurry at a late time I am screwed., and the owner of my present provider gave me his cell # and I did call him once when on vacation and he responded quickly giving me a great feeling of security.

This is the type of insurance help we need. Stop the harassment. If a person has been on O2 for over a year and a half and has IPF, do you think a miracle has happened and it suddenly has disappeared.

This also raises my BP too.

Joe

  

JOE & JOANIE LAMENSKIE

IPF JAN. 2008

[Guest guest]

We did get approved for the O2 after my 2 minute walk. I have the new equipment from the company in Fayetteville. Years ago I had several bad experiences with BCBS when I worked for G.E.. They were the paperwork shuffler as G.E. was self insured. If there was ANYTHING to cause a delay they used it. This included a signature that was different such as Joe versus ph, a word that was misspelled, a word handwritten that they said they could not read etc. I finally had to go through G.E. channels to help. This went on so far as doctors and hospitals sent bills in for collection. It was blatant attempts to delay payment and several were thousands for my kids surgeries. I told Joanie when we were notified that we were changing from United Health Care to BCBS I hoped the experience was more pleasant. So far no improvement. I feel this is the type change we need in health insurance is to keep them from jerking people around. I think these examples are the reason we have seen people go postal.

Joe

   JOE & JOANIE LAMENSKIE

IPF JAN. 2008

-- Re: Insurance can be a pain!!

Dear Joe and Joanie,Perhaps it would help if you sent a letter to the head of BCBS and let them know the run around you had.My experience with BCBS is they finally paid my emergency room visit for a possible pulmonary embolism after three paperwork submissions.I was thankful that they finally paid, but the amount of stress they caused me in the meantime is really uncalled for. I don't use O2 yet and hope that's a long time down the road. But sometimes I wish people could experience the SOB, the O2 use, the physical way we feel from this disease and then maybe we would get a kinder response from our health insurance companies.PJ in Ohio, 54, IPF '09, Sjogren's '95 Insurance can be a pain!!

Hi gang,

A few weeks ago we were notified that Ford Motor Co. (Joanie is retired) was changing from United Health Care to Blue Cross Blue Shield. Shortly after we were sent a letter we had to do a self assessment of our health. After several rounds of being deleted and stopped on the computer while doing so we finally completed the form. Joanie received a response in the mail they received her report. We did not hear about me. Joanie called a couple of weeks ago and they said we were OK and nothing more had to be done. A couple of days ago we got a call saying they needed our reports. After Joanie had a heart to heart with the caller she said she would put in that our reports were completed. Maybe they are in space.

In the meantime we contacted our O2 , c-pap, and concentrator supplier and he said he was approved for Blue Cross and Blue Shield. (no problem right?) We received a bill for over $350 for O2 and they said we were using a company out of network and they would not pay. We took a copy of our bill to our supplier and he said he would find out what the problem was. After a couple of weeks he said Blue Cross Blue Shield had different groups and ours was out of Michigan and we could not use him as a provider. We then went on the Internet and found 5 providers in network. Unfortunately the 3 closest are 23 miles away and our current provider is about 5 miles. Joanie called the provider in Fayetteville and they said they needed new prescriptions for for O2, c-pap, and concentrator. We went to our local pulmo and he wrote a prescription for O2 therapy and c-pap supplies as I own the c-pap. After faxing the prescription the called and said they could not provide the O2 without a current 6 minute walk (last 90 days) test results. I called Emory and a wonderful Tech (Mari Hart) said to come up at noon today and she would slide me in. I did a 2 minute walk and she stopped me after I dropped to 80%. She then went to the Dr. and he wrote a prescription for O2 and all of the supplies,concentrator, bottles, etc. I returned home faxed the prescription to the new provider.

They now want me to come over and be fitted for the c-pap mask before providing one. This is 23 miles, Emory was about 40 miles and I have to pay for the gas not to mention the aggravation. Emory was kind enough to give me a token for parking otherwise it would have cost me another $4.00

If I need extra bottles in a hurry at a late time I am screwed., and the owner of my present provider gave me his cell # and I did call him once when on vacation and he responded quickly giving me a great feeling of security.

This is the type of insurance help we need. Stop the harassment. If a person has been on O2 for over a year and a half and has IPF, do you think a miracle has happened and it suddenly has disappeared.

This also raises my BP too.

Joe

  

JOE & JOANIE LAMENSKIE

IPF JAN. 2008

[Guest guest]

Joe, In the 70's and 80's we had BCBS and never had a claim just get paid.. One girl that had worked for them told my husband to always deny the first filing. I had several surgeries and boy did we ever have the paperwork pile up. I think they have always been a mess. Sorry you have that battle to fight SO FRUSTRATION. Love & Prayers, PeggyFlorida, IPF/UIP 2004"I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet, when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly." We did get approved for the O2 after my 2 minute walk. I have the new equipment from the company in Fayetteville. Years ago I had several bad experiences with BCBS when I worked for G.E.. They were the paperwork shuffler as G.E. was self insured. If there was ANYTHING to cause a delay they used it. This included a signature that was different such as Joe versus ph, a word that was misspelled, a word handwritten that they said they could not read etc. I finally had to go through G.E. channels to help. This went on so far as doctors and hospitals sent bills in for collection. It was blatant attempts to delay payment and several were thousands for my kids surgeries. I told Joanie when we were notified that we were changing from United Health Care to BCBS I hoped the experience was more pleasant. So far no improvement. I feel this is the type change we need in health insurance is to keep them from jerking people around. I think these examples are the reason we have seen people go postal. Joe    JOE & JOANIE LAMENSKIE IPF JAN. 2008 <53_c_link.gif> -- Re: Insurance can be a pain!! Dear Joe and Joanie,Perhaps it would help if you sent a letter to the head of BCBS and let them know the run around you had.My experience with BCBS is they finally paid my emergency room visit for a possible pulmonary embolism after three paperwork submissions.I was thankful that they finally paid, but the amount of stress they caused me in the meantime is really uncalled for. I don't use O2 yet and hope that's a long time down the road. But sometimes I wish people could experience the SOB, the O2 use, the physical way we feel from this disease and then maybe we would get a kinder response from our health insurance companies.PJ in Ohio, 54, IPF '09, Sjogren's '95 Insurance can be a pain!! Hi gang, A few weeks ago we were notified that Ford Motor Co. (Joanie is retired) was changing from United Health Care to Blue Cross Blue Shield. Shortly after we were sent a letter we had to do a self assessment of our health. After several rounds of being deleted and stopped on the computer while doing so we finally completed the form. Joanie received a response in the mail they received her report. We did not hear about me. Joanie called a couple of weeks ago and they said we were OK and nothing more had to be done. A couple of days ago we got a call saying they needed our reports. After Joanie had a heart to heart with the caller she said she would put in that our reports were completed. Maybe they are in space. In the meantime we contacted our O2 , c-pap, and concentrator supplier and he said he was approved for Blue Cross and Blue Shield. (no problem right?) We received a bill for over $350 for O2 and they said we were using a company out of network and they would not pay. We took a copy of our bill to our supplier and he said he would find out what the problem was. After a couple of weeks he said Blue Cross Blue Shield had different groups and ours was out of Michigan and we could not use him as a provider. We then went on the Internet and found 5 providers in network. Unfortunately the 3 closest are 23 miles away and our current provider is about 5 miles. Joanie called the provider in Fayetteville and they said they needed new prescriptions for for O2, c-pap, and concentrator. We went to our local pulmo and he wrote a prescription for O2 therapy and c-pap supplies as I own the c-pap. After faxing the prescription the called and said they could not provide the O2 without a current 6 minute walk (last 90 days) test results. I called Emory and a wonderful Tech (Mari Hart) said to come up at noon today and she would slide me in. I did a 2 minute walk and she stopped me after I dropped to 80%. She then went to the Dr. and he wrote a prescription for O2 and all of the supplies,concentrator, bottles, etc. I returned home faxed the prescription to the new provider. They now want me to come over and be fitted for the c-pap mask before providing one. This is 23 miles, Emory was about 40 miles and I have to pay for the gas not to mention the aggravation. Emory was kind enough to give me a token for parking otherwise it would have cost me another $4.00 If I need extra bottles in a hurry at a late time I am screwed., and the owner of my present provider gave me his cell # and I did call him once when on vacation and he responded quickly giving me a great feeling of security. This is the type of insurance help we need. Stop the harassment. If a person has been on O2 for over a year and a half and has IPF, do you think a miracle has happened and it suddenly has disappeared. This also raises my BP too. Joe    JOE & JOANIE LAMENSKIE IPF JAN. 2008 <imstp_animation_monkey_en_020908.gif>

[Guest guest]

Thanks. I am just trying to put everything in perspective.

Joe

   JOE & JOANIE LAMENSKIE

IPF JAN. 2008

-- Re: Insurance can be a pain!!

Dear Joe and Joanie,Perhaps it would help if you sent a letter to the head of BCBS and let them know the run around you had.My experience with BCBS is they finally paid my emergency room visit for a possible pulmonary embolism after three paperwork submissions.I was thankful that they finally paid, but the amount of stress they caused me in the meantime is really uncalled for. I don't use O2 yet and hope that's a long time down the road. But sometimes I wish people could experience the SOB, the O2 use, the physical way we feel from this disease and then maybe we would get a kinder response from our health insurance companies.PJ in Ohio, 54, IPF '09, Sjogren's '95 Insurance can be a pain!!

Hi gang,

A few weeks ago we were notified that Ford Motor Co. (Joanie is retired) was changing from United Health Care to Blue Cross Blue Shield. Shortly after we were sent a letter we had to do a self assessment of our health. After several rounds of being deleted and stopped on the computer while doing so we finally completed the form. Joanie received a response in the mail they received her report. We did not hear about me. Joanie called a couple of weeks ago and they said we were OK and nothing more had to be done. A couple of days ago we got a call saying they needed our reports. After Joanie had a heart to heart with the caller she said she would put in that our reports were completed. Maybe they are in space.

In the meantime we contacted our O2 , c-pap, and concentrator supplier and he said he was approved for Blue Cross and Blue Shield. (no problem right?) We received a bill for over $350 for O2 and they said we were using a company out of network and they would not pay. We took a copy of our bill to our supplier and he said he would find out what the problem was. After a couple of weeks he said Blue Cross Blue Shield had different groups and ours was out of Michigan and we could not use him as a provider. We then went on the Internet and found 5 providers in network. Unfortunately the 3 closest are 23 miles away and our current provider is about 5 miles. Joanie called the provider in Fayetteville and they said they needed new prescriptions for for O2, c-pap, and concentrator. We went to our local pulmo and he wrote a prescription for O2 therapy and c-pap supplies as I own the c-pap. After faxing the prescription the called and said they could not provide the O2 without a current 6 minute walk (last 90 days) test results. I called Emory and a wonderful Tech (Mari Hart) said to come up at noon today and she would slide me in. I did a 2 minute walk and she stopped me after I dropped to 80%. She then went to the Dr. and he wrote a prescription for O2 and all of the supplies,concentrator, bottles, etc. I returned home faxed the prescription to the new provider.

They now want me to come over and be fitted for the c-pap mask before providing one. This is 23 miles, Emory was about 40 miles and I have to pay for the gas not to mention the aggravation. Emory was kind enough to give me a token for parking otherwise it would have cost me another $4.00

If I need extra bottles in a hurry at a late time I am screwed., and the owner of my present provider gave me his cell # and I did call him once when on vacation and he responded quickly giving me a great feeling of security.

This is the type of insurance help we need. Stop the harassment. If a person has been on O2 for over a year and a half and has IPF, do you think a miracle has happened and it suddenly has disappeared.

This also raises my BP too.

Joe

  

JOE & JOANIE LAMENSKIE

IPF JAN. 2008