Linda,
Usually, when doing annual insurance shopping, since I don’t go to the doctor that often, I spend more time on hubby’s insurance needs. Since he has no idea of his family medical history, because he was adopted at birth, more and more things are beginning to appear as he gets older. Shopping the past two months has been been for me, too. Last year I discovered my optic nerves are large. Apparently, they’ve been large for a number of years, but first time eye doctor has ever said anything. It’s a sign of possible glaucoma. Insurance has always paid for the “air shots” but she did 3 more specialized tests which measure and take photos of the backside of my eye. One takes photos of layers of my eye. Very colorful and expensive— $1,000+. Even though doctor accepted my policy, United said they wouldn’t pay because she wasn’t in my network area/proximity. They told me I needed to go to someone closer to me. Been using this eye doctor for 30 years. She knows our eyes. If I’m going to be dealing with a possibly of glaucoma, I want someone I know and trust. Medicare covers the specialized tests, BUT Medicare Advantage is primary and needs to be who pays. It became a Pi$$n’ match with each pointing the finger saying the other was responsible, all the while, doctor not getting paid. I broke down and paid her myself. Yearly now, I have to have these specialized tests/pics of my eye so she can keep an eye on my optic nerves. So, new policy doesn’t care how far away she is and will cover all tests. |
