Does anyone know is Dr Kaufman's labs will be covered by medicare?

[Mouse girl]

Hi!

I've been sick for 21 years now. I was thinking of trying to see Dr Kaufman to see if I could try some anti virals but couldn't risk being stuck with huge debt from lab work.

I could swing the cost of the visit at this time with help from family but just wonder if labs would be covered or the anti virals themselves would be covered. I'ld love to check it out as I've never been able to try the anti virals but the cost of the trip and visits alone is pretty staggering for me. Wish I had knew of these docs before I went bankrupt. LOL Gotta have dark humor to survive this long with SEID/CFS/ME

Any ideas would be so appreciated.

I saw Chia last year and that blood work was covered. The labs had to get some notice from Chia in order to get paid. I wonder if the OMI is willing to do that sort of thing as I know lots of cash doctors won't do a thing to help patients with billing. Would love to try but scared and when i called the office the woman had no idea if the tests would be covered.

Thank you!

 

[minkeygirl]

Im in a medicare hmo and it covers AVS and so most likely they wll be covered for you. Cost depends on your part d Plan. I also get my labs paid for.

If you want to try antivirals you can get them without seeing a doc. I got acyclovir in my own and it wasn't that expensive. Famvir and valtrex is more.

PM me if you want info

 

[Gingergrrl]

@Mouse girl Call OMI and tell them your insurance and they should be able to tell you re: appt and lab costs. I am guessing insurance will only cover the generic meds but you never know!

 

[Mouse girl]

@Mouse girl Call OMI and tell them your insurance and they should be able to tell you re: appt and lab costs. I am guessing insurance will only cover the generic meds but you never know!

I did call them and the lady had no idea which scared me a bit. The docs I have liked who really care about their patients always know costs and such as they get how poverty stricken many sick people are in this country.

She only had office visit cost and the tests they might do while I'm there.

Im in a medicare hmo and it covers AVS and so most likely they wll be covered for you. Cost depends on your part d Plan. I also get my labs paid for.

If you want to try antivirals you can get them without seeing a doc. I got acyclovir in my own and it wasn't that expensive. Famvir and valtrex is more.

PM me if you want info

Did they cover Dr Kaufman's lab work and anti virals? Just not sure if you saw him and had it covered or saw another doc.

I wouldn't take meds without a doctor's supervision. Anti virals are dangerous and cause permanent damage or be lethal even when working with a doc. Most docs won't touch em because they are dangerous and considered completely experimental. Please be careful if you are ordering meds from online sources, you may not know what you are getting.

Thank you both so much for your imput. Very kind of you both.

 

[Mouse girl]

Oh, also I have the PPO version of medicare plus a medical secondary (yes, I am that broke, lol, I got sick very young). Medicare has been really great so far, best coverage I've ever had but I've never seen any of the CFS specialists except Chia.

 

[Gingergrrl]

I did call them and the lady had no idea which scared me a bit.
She only had office visit cost and the tests they might do while I'm there.

@Mouse girl This makes sense as until the doctor meets with you, examines you, and reviews your specific history, they really cannot tell you exactly which tests he will run. This was certainly true in my own case. They can definitely tell you the costs of all office visits.

They also cannot predict which medications your insurance will cover as even if a patient has "Blue Shield" there are a million versions of Blue Shield and I have had three different versions myself just in the last year due to losing employment and switching to Obama Care plan.

Your best bet might be to call Medicare (your specific plans) to find out what they cover.

 

[minkeygirl]

I don't need lectures about what I choose to do. Some of us are sick enough that we have nothing to lose by trying things on our own. I don't know where I'd be if i sat around waiting for a doc to help me.

Call medicare with test numbers and they can help.

There is a thread here with recommended tests.

 

[minkeygirl]

Look at your formulary. That will tell you what antivirals they cover and what cost