Legal and Financial Information for Patients

CHAMPUS coverage for Bone Marrow Transplants Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," CHAMPUS initially said they do cover bone marrow transplants for some conditions but not for metastatic breast cancer. Does anyone know of a way to "get around" the bureaucracy? It is...
Coverage for Child Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," To what entity or person can I appeal that has higher authority to help press my case for psychological counseling as part of my cancer therapy? I thought somewhere that HMO's were obliged to go outside...
Dealing with Outstanding Medical Bills and Coverage for Screening Procedures, and Preexisting Conditions Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," I am a 33 y/o white male with a history of testicular cancer treated with chemotherapy followed by lymph node dissection. I have been in remission since Dec. 1993. At the onset of my disease, I did not...
Extending Medical Coverage Upon Relocation Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," My father has lung cancer and lives in New York with my mother. He has been out of work for two years. My mother is employed and has insurance that covers both of them. My wife and I and their only...
Financial Issues Pertaining to Chemotherapy and Testicular Cancer Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," I am currently entering chemotherapy for early Stage III testicular cancer. There will be some days where I will have to take a private service to and from therapy sessions. I would like to know if...
Finding Medicare RBRVS (Resource Based Relative Value Scale) Information Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," Hello. I am in search of the Medicare reasonable and customary fees. I have called everyone under the sun and surfed till I can surf no more. Can anyone please help me find the Medicare reasonable &...
Getting Insurance to Pay for Screening Procedures Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," My family is being followed by two universities for Hereditary Non-polyposis Colon Cancer (Lynch Syndrome II). My insurance will not pay for the screening colonoscopies that are recommended yearly. They...
Hospital Bills for a Stereotactic Biopsy Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," I was diagnosed breast cancer last month. They performed a stereotactic biopsy. The hospital told me that the procedure was a minimum of $1150.00. When I received my bill it was for $2209.00. Since I do not...
Insurance Change and Pre-Existing Conditions Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," I am considering changing from my current health insurance coverage (BC/BS of the National Capital Area) to my husband's insurance (BC/BS government employee) coverage during open enrollment. Since I was...
Insurance Changing from BC/BS to HMO Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," In a few months my Blue Cross & Blue Shield insurance policy will change to a BC&BS HMO policy. The policy I am holding now will no longer be offered by the company I work for and as I understand it, by...
Insurance reimbursement for peripheral stem cell transplants Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," I am interested in finding any information re: insurance reimbursement for peripheral stem cell transplants. In general, what oncologic diseases are usually covered? What about coverage for "experimental"...
Obtaining Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions After Insurance Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," I was diagnosed two year ago in April with AML (M3). I have been in remission since July of that year and have been out of treatment since November of 1994. Due to the situation (I am in Graduate...
Obtaining Financial Assistance Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," My sister has cancer and needs financial aid, how does she go about it? We recommend that your sister inquire as to her eligibility for Medicaid in the state where she lives. The physician...
Obtaining Financial Assistance for Cancer Therapy Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," A doctor has asked, on behalf of a patient who cannot afford treatment for diagnosed cancer, where to apply to find financial assistance. If the patient is being evaluated by a physician...
Obtaining referrals for providers outside HMO networks Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," To what entity or person can I appeal that has higher authority to help press my case for psychological counseling as part of my cancer therapy? I thought somewhere that HMO's were obliged to go outside...
Oopherectomy and Insurance Coverage Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," My present health insurance company will not cover a proposed bilateral oopherectomy even though my mother and mother's mother died from ovarian cancer. They did cover one lady's surgery in this area, then...
RBRVS Listing from the Federal Register Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," How can I obtain the RBRVS listing from the Federal Register? Can I download it off the Internet? Can you give me the URL to accomplish this? Regards, DR, PhD (Houston) The...
Switching from COBRA to individual coverage Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," My mother was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer in January 1996 and underwent lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. During the process, she was covered by the HMO plan provided by my father's...
Usual, Customary or Reasonable? Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," Hi and thanks for offering this most useful service. My husband has lung cancer, Stage IV adenocarcinoma. He was diagnosed in mid-September, largely by accident, and has since been treated with 3.5...
What is the cost of cancer therapy in the US? Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," It is difficult to provide cost estimates for the treatment of cancer without having a more definitive idea of where and how a patient will be treated. The charge structure for medical services varies...