Looking for an LLMD in the Boston area

[Jenn1302]

I'm looking for an LLMD who takes insurance in the Boston area. I absolutely can't afford to see a doctor who doesn't take insurance. I know they're difficult to find, but I've heard they exist. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[mojogal]

I would email ILADS.org. There are some LLMD that do take insurance although not many. If you tell them where you live they will send you a list of doctors that you can call. I have heard on another support site where a patient called the insurance and got them on to accept their insurance.its just not very common.

[JackieCalifornia]

There are some organizations that can help pay for the cost.  LymeTAP and LymeLight Foundation are the two that come to mind.  I haven't looked into any of them, but it's worth a look.

Also consider asking family to kick in for diagnostic funding; then if it comes back positive, you may have the possibility of additional funding. Ask for the funding as an advance on future birthday and holiday gifts. The Lyme environment is odd and squirrely in some ways, due to the still-developing understanding of the illness(es) and appropriate treatment, so a little snooping around local Lyme groups might give you some leads to good docs who don't cost an arm and a leg, and also labs as mentioned.  

Look at the LymeLight Foundation and LymeTAP websites:  they specializing in helping people with funding.  Bottom line:  don't assume you can't afford the tests and the docs.  You don't ask, you don't get.

Also, if you have a friendly doc in your network who would order the tests, then once you have a positive test result in hand, your insurance may kick in.  Insurance cos. don't like to advertise that they will pay for out of network/out of spec tests, but you may be able to get a friendly in-network doc who can make some maneuvers.  

[Jenn1302]

Thank you for your response. Unfortunately, seeing an out of network doctor would cost me hundreds of dollars, which I absolutely can't afford. I fully understand the importance of a solid work up, that's really not the issue. I would do it if I could, but I can't. I simply don't have that kind of money.

[JackieCalifornia]

My Lyme doc didn't take insurance, and he's not unusual in that way, from what I hear.  I think it's because the docs don't want to have to spend a lot of time and hassle and expense (like hiring a battalion of billing clerks) arguing with the insurance companies about what is or is not appropriate testing and treatment.

I understand from what others have said here that, like my experience, it's not uncommon for a patient to see an LLMD, pay cash (maybe the doc takes credit cards too), and then take the detailed receipt the doc gives the patient to submit to the patient's insurance company.  

In my experience and in what I have heard and read elsewhere, the insurance company will reimburse the usual rate for an out-of-network doc and also for prescriptions without any problem, and that is usually a substantial reimbursement.  It sounds odd, but it works and keeps there from being a confrontation among the various parties concerned.  

And if all else fails, nothing is more important than getting a solid work-up and diagnosis from a good doc, and whatever you have to charge, borrow or spend is money well spent.  I've heard others say the same, so I'm not alone in this.  Lyme is expensive, but untreated Lyme is way worse.