TCI appt.

[flcrakar]

Woo Hoo! finally got my appts.  8/14 for testing and 8/17 for the doctors. Just to let anyone who is considering the trip. The neurosurgeons do not contract with any insurance. The facility and neurologist do though. But the kicker is that the NS fee is a $550 out of pocket expense (cash, certified check or credit card). Thought I would share this so others can plan if needed.

[flcrakar]

I will be contacting Angel flight on Monday. Hope they can help! As for travel/traffic, I kinda have no choice...it's that darn funds thing again! such a tight budget to do this with. I even made they CS reps @ humana make sure I didn't have any kind of hidden benefits since I had to travel so far for a doctor.

Oh well, see how it goes!

[plumsaki]

I'd definitely follow up the email to Dr. Oro's office with a phone call.  They get sooooo many calls and emails daily from all over the country!  You have to be peristent, but once you are in, you are golden!  Plus, Dr. Oro does work with most insurance carriers so that is an advantage.  Either way you go, with TCI or with Dr. Oro, you are the best of hands!  Best of luck!

[alexiwildchild]

hey all! i'm so excited you get to see the pro's at this! and having family close by should help out too in one way or another :)  i know it's hard to come up with the funds and be able to actually get up there.  i will be in the same boat if it turns out i do have it lol.  i hope all goes great for you and things will work out==there's always a way!

hey selma! well, i actually sent my emails to the main email at both websites, i wasn't sure if i could send them to a specific doctor at the TCI.  i didn't know either if i should list all my symptoms or not.  just wasn't sure. but i sent them thurs night, and haven't heard back yet...but i figured it would take a while.  i just hope they can give me the correct answer...since my guy changed his mind all of a sudden just cuz one radiologist..weird.

[selmaS]

DId u look into angelflights? there is info on this in our Health Pages in a page titled links.

NJ is close, but u may want to be even closer depending on the time of ur appointment...and keep in minf for when u r in the hosp....it isi basically across the street.....and the hosp security picks up and drops off at no cost.

Traffic into Long Island is rough, so being on the Island will be easier....I found that out...my DD lives 30 mins from The Hosp and we thought it would be easy to stay with her....not with the traffic u face.....so do consider for the appointments to be a bit closer.

AS to being bullheaded, join the club....I too have refused disability bcuz I just was not ready, now that I need it, I am having trouble getting it.

Alexi -
do let us know what u hear...may I ask which dr ur e-mail was directed to at TCI??
"selma"

[flcrakar]

When I asked them how far back for med records to bring or send, they said just the last 6 months.

Sorry to hear your NS has no clue, if it is any consolation, my neurologist sat and told me that he really didn't know anything about chiari except what he has done for me already and then preceeded to ask me if I wanted him to make my short term disability paperwork permanent? I was mortified! So I preceeded to tell him."NO, temporary" I told him I wanted to know all my options before I made that kind of decsion. He nodded and continued my paperwork until October. Makes me wonder....I guess I am just one of those bullheaded type people that must continue to try and tough this out, no meds except the occasional Ibuprofen, sometimes I question why I put myself thru so much pain when there are options. Then I realize that if I do not take the stuff now, when I really need it later I wont have to take so much. That stuff wipes me out, not able to fuction at all, just sleep. OK...now that I just totally got off subject...lol...

As for Varitety house, fortunatly my husband is from NJ and has family there that welcomes us with open arms. Thank goodness! I am still trying to figure out how I am gonna get the funds to get there and pay for the NS. Too much stress!!!! but no other option.

[alexiwildchild]

thanks for the info Selma!  that's good to know.  even though i'm so far from gettin there at this point lol.  i sent them an email to see what i can send for the doctors to review, and i sent dr.oro's office an email as well.  it's apparent i must have a specialist go over my MRI's since my NS has no clue even how to measure the herniation etc.  

[selmaS]

The surgery is covered thru the hospital.....I did not get a bill form the Dr.

I just had my surgery at TCI in May.

[alexiwildchild]

That's great you got the appt's coming up!!

The $550 fee makes me wonder....what do they charge for the surgery since they don't accept any insurance for their fees?!!???

Just curious....any ideas?

[selmaS]

Congrats!!...Yeah...that fee is for the NS bcuz they do not participate in the insurance programs.

And something they didn't mention u must pay the co-pay for ur insurance for the NL....mine is 35$ .....I didn't have enuff cash to pay it, so I had to put it on my credit card.

Did u ask about Varitety house?...TCI must referr u and u should do it right away...it is only 25$ a night- u will need to take a cab or rent a car to get to the diagnostic labs and to TCI, but they r very close to the House.

"selma"