Diagnosis without Insurance

[cristaljoy]

hi i found this board recently and have learned a lot from all of you

for the past year i have been fairly certain that i have pcos, but am reluctant to get diagnosed because i have no health insurance

has anyone here gone through all the intial doctor appt, referral, specialist, tests and everything without insurance?

and what did it cost you?

thanks

[pookiempr]

i am going through everything now.

my Dr's appointment was about $250
Bloodwork $185 ish i think
Internal US is way up there...i can't remember

Found out today that my pap came back abnormal (they ruled out hpv and other things that may cause an abnormal one)so back to the Dr. for another one in a couple of months and then biopsy if needed UGH

it is expensive, but it is so worth it for health reasons
trust me i did not want to go, but i talked myself into it and now i am happy that i went
i am finally getting the needed meds and treatment that i should have had years ago

[Eva37]

welcome to sc. Sory, I dont have any experience in insurance.#
eva

[bec415]

cristaljoy: i really feel for you, because i was in the same situation. but i didn't do the testing until i got my new job a few months ago - because i get health insurance. although some doctors will lessen the price if they know you're having to pay it out of pocket, it would be so expensive, the bloodwork alone would be a good $1,000. i knew i had pcos before i had all the testing done just based on my symptoms, seeing the bloodwork and cysts on my ovaries just confirmed it.

the only thing i would really be concerned about is if you are IR you need to get that under control - but again, i already knew this based on my symptoms. if you're already diabetic though, you've got to be on the appropriate medication, otherwise it can be very dangerous, you can damage your kidneys.

it might really be worth it for you to take out a month to month individual coverage policy just so you can get it all done. just make sure your health provider knows not to let them know (when they ask) it was a pre-existing condition that you already recived treatment for or they'll give you trouble processing the claim.

[JosieFB]

I'm not sure it would be any cheaper to pay for 3 months of individual insurance than to pay the doctors. You could try to negotiate the prices up front with the doctor's office. Trouble is the lab cost will probably be billed separately, and I wouldn't know how to begin to negotiate with the labs. There is a place around here (http://www.lifesignsmd.com/) that offers an all inclusive physical including all the labs. The website says they are in Nashville, Memphis, Atlanta and Las Vegas. It can include gyn work if you so desire. Also be aware that there are some doctors who offer lower prices if you pay cash up front. You just have to find them.

[cristaljoy]

just make sure your health provider knows not to let them know (when they ask) it was a pre-existing condition that you already recived treatment for or they'll give you trouble processing the claim.

what does this mean?

i've never recieved treatment or been diagnosed with pcos... but even if i wait to get insurance and get diagnosed after coverage begins, they might not cover it?

i though that if i remained undiagnosed that future insurance would cover me

i'm very ignorant of the healthcare process, and everyone has been very helpful

thanks

[BethV]

In most states, there is medical assistance for people without insurance. If you earn too much for free medical assistance, there is usually a "spend-down" where you pay for a certain amount, depending on your income, and the state will pay for anything above that each month. Most cities have free clinics or ones where charges are based on a sliding scale.

I've never had a problem with insurance not paying for pre-existing conditions, usually they only pull that with high expense problems. Either way, your health is too valuable to risk.

I hope you find a workable solution. It's just wrong when we have to stop and think if we can afford health care when we live in one of the richest countries in the world.

[cristaljoy]

i agree with you completely beth

my husband is from wales, where medicine is socialized, and at times, i'm sorely tempted to fly over there and get myself treated!

[Cameryn]

I have insurance, but I saw the bill before Blue Cross paid. My initial visit (regular gyn exam/Pap smear, plus the ultrasound) was just over $500 in rural Mississippi. I didn't have bloodwork done (ultrasound was definitive, self-treating for IR since I'm not overweight). Hope that helps.

[JosieFB]

If you try to get individual insurance, they will ask you some questions about pre-existing conditions on the application. They may make you get some basic bloodwork, but they should pay for it. I think they can pull your medical charts. Once you have insurance, it depends on the type of policy whether the company can non-renew when it or not. The policy contract will state whether it is non-cancellable (the company can't cancel) or non-renewable for stated reasons (the company can cancel for stated reasons). However, it you aren't diagnosed with PCOS until after you get insurance, you can't be denied the insurance because of a pre-existing condition and the treatment of that condition can't be denied (because it is not pre-existing). If you decide to get individual insurance, you need to read the policy contract carefully to make sure they cannot deny treatment and cannot non-renew the policy. A good insurance agent should be able to help you understand, but do not rely 100% on what they say. Read it for yourself!

[ranchelmarie]

my fiance has an individual insurance policy right now and it is definitly not worth the money if you're going to need multiple doctor's appointments and/or medications/treatments.