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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Cancer / September 2006

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Changing Health Insurance...

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Mr_CNC - 28 Sep 2006 20:17 GMT
Hello All,

This is a generalized question, but I am a bit concerned. I will start
4 weeks of Radiation Therapy within the next 2 weeks (roughly the
middle of October). The company I work for MAY be switching insurance
plans as of Nov. 1, and one of the plans they are looking at, does not
consider the facility that will perform my radiation therapy a
"preferred" provider. Will I have to change to a "preferred" provider
in order to receive full benefits, or would the previous policy still
cover the treatments because of the date the treatment program began?

FWIW, I am in the U.S. Thanks for any insight thats provided.

Mr_CNC
Figgertoes - 29 Sep 2006 01:08 GMT
> Hello All,
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Mr_CNC

Chances are, you will have to change facilities - that's the way it
usually works.  You can sometimes have 'out of network' benefits, but
these tend to be not so generous & charges are often not discounted at
all as the insurance company has no agreement with them.

I don't know if the doctor is tied to the facility or if the doctor
could remain in network & you'd just have to go somewhere else for
radiation??

I've never seen an insurance that would keep you on past the
termination date of the policy.  I am not an insurance professional but
experienced a lot through my husband's odyssey.

We switched from a PPO to Kaiser just when Socks had been scheduled to
restart chemo.  Based on how well our transition worked, I'd suggest
you obtain the company's group # at the new company in advance (HR can
help).  Then call the new insurance company or provider & explain the
situation.  In our case, we had an appointment for Socks with his new
primary care physician the very day the new insurance went into force.
The primary care guy gave him an immediate referral to oncology & he
didn't miss a beat.  It was actually a very positive experience despite
some initial anxiety.

Best wishes for a seamless transition if your company changes.  Your HR
rep is your friend.  

Fig
alex - 30 Sep 2006 06:38 GMT
> Chances are, you will have to change facilities - that's the way it
> usually works.  You can sometimes have 'out of network' benefits, but
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
> Fig

You got some great advice, health insurance will not pay a dime when the
coverage is terminated.

My company changed healthplans just after completing my treatment, it was a
horrible plan but sometimes the new plans are better than the old plans.

Alex
 
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