Comments on: Tell Your BCBS-HMO Story Here http://negacancerstory.com Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:21:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Laurel Alberty http://negacancerstory.com?cpage=1#comment-16 Laurel Alberty Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:21:20 +0000 http:/?page_id=2#comment-16 I am very glad that I attended the hearing. Had I known the situation, I certainly would have prepared a statement and would have made arrangements to stay through the entirety of the hearing. There really aren't words for my disdain for the situation with BCBS. They are the providers for our family, but we are fortunate enough to be on the PPO. As a full freight premium paying customer, I was really disgusted by the politics at play. I took a night to sleep on my thoughts about all of this so that I could tone it down. But, there is no other way to say it than BCBS will have blood on their hands for shutting you out. I know there are a great deal of people in the NEGA area that will not seek help without coverage and as you know so many of those people can't even afford to drive long distances to receive treatment and will likely die as a result. As a survivor, I just feel sick about what it would have felt like to be as scared as I was, not have coverage or the means to be treated and to have to drive hours or more for my 8 hours of treatment. As I sat in the hearing, I thought of all of the patients that weren't being seen by 3 physicians who had to be out of the office for an entire day to fight for their right to care. I thought of all of the treatment that could have been provided to sick people with just the one day's expenses associated with everyone in that room. I really could not have been more frustrated. As a business woman, I realize that money and politics dictate the policy. Still, it is really a rude awakening to watch it all play out. I am very glad that I attended the hearing. Had I known the situation, I certainly would have prepared a statement and would have made arrangements to stay through the entirety of the hearing. There really aren’t words for my disdain for the situation with BCBS. They are the providers for our family, but we are fortunate enough to be on the PPO. As a full freight premium paying customer, I was really disgusted by the politics at play.

I took a night to sleep on my thoughts about all of this so that I could tone it down. But, there is no other way to say it than BCBS will have blood on their hands for shutting you out. I know there are a great deal of people in the NEGA area that will not seek help without coverage and as you know so many of those people can’t even afford to drive long distances to receive treatment and will likely die as a result. As a survivor, I just feel sick about what it would have felt like to be as scared as I was, not have coverage or the means to be treated and to have to drive hours or more for my 8 hours of treatment.

As I sat in the hearing, I thought of all of the patients that weren’t being seen by 3 physicians who had to be out of the office for an entire day to fight for their right to care. I thought of all of the treatment that could have been provided to sick people with just the one day’s expenses associated with everyone in that room. I really could not have been more frustrated. As a business woman, I realize that money and politics dictate the policy. Still, it is really a rude awakening to watch it all play out.

]]> By: Candy Todd http://negacancerstory.com?cpage=1#comment-15 Candy Todd Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:32:43 +0000 http:/?page_id=2#comment-15 I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990 and it returned as Secondary Metastic Breast Cancer on the pleura of my lung in 2002. Dr. Glen Wiggans has been my oncologist since 1990 but I almost had to change Doctors when BC/BS decided not to honor any more HMO policies. Fortunately, I work where I have been provided a PPO but it is costing me $1,200. per year. I am thankful that I am able to pay the out-of-pocket expense but there are many who cannot. My cancer is incurable and I am concerned as to how I am going to afford my cancer care when I have to quit work. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990 and it returned as Secondary Metastic Breast Cancer on the pleura of my lung in 2002. Dr. Glen Wiggans has been my oncologist since 1990 but I almost had to change Doctors when BC/BS decided not to honor any more HMO policies. Fortunately, I work where I have been provided a PPO but it is costing me $1,200. per year. I am thankful that I am able to pay the out-of-pocket expense but there are many who cannot. My cancer is incurable and I am concerned as to how I am going to afford my cancer care when I have to quit work.

]]> By: Jerry Bradley Daves http://negacancerstory.com?cpage=1#comment-14 Jerry Bradley Daves Thu, 18 Feb 2010 02:09:46 +0000 http:/?page_id=2#comment-14 My name is Jerry Daves in 2005 I was diagnosed with Lymphoma. Since that time Dr.Wiggans has been my oncologist, having taken chemotherpy and radiation treatment under his care. I continue to have follow up appointments with Dr. Wiggans with out of network expense after it was decided that BCBS HMO would not pay Dr. Wiggans for these crucial appointments. Due to these cost I have not followed up as often as I should. It is important to me that Dr.Wiggans continue my care. My name is Jerry Daves in 2005 I was diagnosed with Lymphoma. Since that time Dr.Wiggans has been my oncologist, having taken chemotherpy and radiation treatment under his care. I continue to have follow up appointments with Dr. Wiggans with out of network expense after it was decided that BCBS HMO would not pay Dr. Wiggans for these crucial appointments. Due to these cost I have not followed up as often as I should. It is important to me that Dr.Wiggans continue my care.

]]> By: Judy Jerald http://negacancerstory.com?cpage=1#comment-12 Judy Jerald Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:57:05 +0000 http:/?page_id=2#comment-12 I am a Register Nurse employed as a hospice nurse in the city of Athens,Georgia, when I was informed by my primary care physician that I needed an oncologist/hemotoligist, I, of course wanted the best available to me in Athens. Imagine my shock when I was informed that my current Blue Cross/ Blue Sheild HMO would not cover any expenses if I chose the best the area had to offer. The office was very informative and explained this to me prior to my seeing Dr Wiggins, even so I found this totally unreal. Why would my insurance be so short sighted and refuse me the care of the very best Dr in my area, it didn't make sense to me and I called and checked and was advised that if I wanted to see the best I would have to pay my own way. My health meanig everything to me, as I am sure the same would apply if the situation was presented to those in control of my BC/BS HMO, I wanted the best . Thus, for the first five months of my care I paid out of pocket for the services of Dr. Wiggins and I am doing very well, thankgoodness. As of January 1,2010 I changed my insurance so that his services would be covered at last. I am one of the fortunate ones who could afford to pay out of pocket for the very best care in my area, but, I know that many in my area could not do this. They have either had to go 50 - 60 miles each way to get good care or settle for less than the best. The third option being do without care at all. This problem must be resolved for those who need the best care in Athens and presently are not able to get it. Traveling 50-60 miles each way for good care may not seem like much to a healthly person but to a person with cancer it is not a reasonable answer and usually an impossible endeavor. Please resolve this issue and allow those of us in the Athens area to be able to get the best possible care by the NEGCC right here in our city. Judy Jerald RN I am a Register Nurse employed as a hospice nurse in the city of Athens,Georgia, when I was informed by my primary care physician that I needed an oncologist/hemotoligist, I, of course wanted the best available to me in Athens. Imagine my shock when I was informed that my current Blue Cross/ Blue Sheild HMO would not cover any expenses if I chose the best the area had to offer. The office was very informative and explained this to me prior to my seeing Dr Wiggins, even so I found this totally unreal. Why would my insurance be so short sighted and refuse me the care of the very best Dr in my area, it didn’t make sense to me and I called and checked and was advised that if I wanted to see the best I would have to pay my own way. My health meanig everything to me, as I am sure the same would apply if the situation was presented to those in control of my BC/BS HMO, I wanted the best . Thus, for the first five months of my care I paid out of pocket for the services of Dr. Wiggins and I am doing very well, thankgoodness. As of January 1,2010 I changed my insurance so that his services would be covered at last.
I am one of the fortunate ones who could afford to pay out of pocket for the very best care in my area, but, I know that many in my area could not do this. They have either had to go 50 – 60 miles each way to get good care or settle for less than the best. The third option being do without care at all. This problem must be resolved for those who need the best care in Athens and presently are not able to get it. Traveling 50-60 miles each way for good care may not seem like much to a healthly person but to a person with cancer it is not a reasonable answer and usually an impossible endeavor.
Please resolve this issue and allow those of us in the Athens area to be able to get the best possible care by the NEGCC right here in our city.

Judy Jerald RN

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