Where to start - insurance or doctors?

[geggie]

My Dad was just diagnosed last week with a 1.4cm AN.  We are now in the process of doing research.  In your opinion, is it best to start with the insurance company and get that process going, see what doctors they will cover, etc  OR research and interview doctors until you decide how to proceed and then get the insurance co. involved?  TIA!

[ppearl214]

Hi geggie and welcome

Ya know, that is a fabulous question as many don't know which approach to take.  Bruce has many wonderful notations/suggestions and a terrific start.

I know, for me, I met with my primary care physician (in network), she made the surgeon recommendation, in which I called my insurance provider, and they confirmed the dr and location of possible treatment was covered on our plan.  So, knowing financial weight was off my shoulder from the onset helped me to keep in focus for discussion treatment options.

Yet, Bruce is right as well.  Finding out the most qualified person to treat your dad's AN, taking into consideration your dad's location, plan of treatment, etc, all need to be taken into consideration.  Some may say "heck, just get in great hands and we'll deal with the money issue later, as the health is the priority".

Going to sit back with my virtual martini to see other others chime in as well... great topic.  I'm sorry you and your dad are going through this journey, but know we are all here for you and hope you find answers, comfort, friendships and yes, a bad drink or joke on occassion, to help you.

Again, welcome!
Phyl

[Dealy]

I am going to chime in with my input sonce I recently went through treatment. A 1.4 CM is considered small as size goes but can still be damaging depending where it is located. Go see a specialist first that has knowledge of working with AN's. Some doctors will try to push you only towards surgery because that is all they do. However-considering your dad's age-medical condition etc. you may want to opt for radiation. You-  never mentioned what insurance you had. I had Blue Cross and Blue Shield. If you have a good insurance company most like BCBS are across the nation in network. However if you have an HMO or Medicare that story may be different. Some will dictate to you where you need to go. I went to Baltimore ,Maryland for radiation and I am from Kansas. No problems with insurance. If you choose a medical facility for treatment you can always go into Iternet and check type of insurance they accept or check with them first. I got all my ducks in order before contacting insurance company. When you contact insurance company make sure you get name of who you talk too. Our insurance reps were nice but other people sometimes end up with a snotty rep. We always call them to make sure they know what is going on. I hope this helps. Ron

[al]

Hi,

My AN was 1.2cm and I researched numerous doctors to see who specialized in this field.  It is so important to find a doctor who has done many of these surgeries.  I interviewed 3 different doctors and also spoke to people who had used two of them.  As the surgery is very expensive I believe you still have to make sure the doctors you pick are in your medical plan, unless you can afford to pay out of network.  One of the doctors was not in my plan, although he was a top ranking one.  I was lucky though, the team I did pick took my coverage and were in the top of the field and were recognized as such in magazines.  All 3 doctors, however did agree that surgery was the answer for me.     Although my tumor was small, I did have a great deal of hearing loss and personally I also wanted it out as soon as possible. They considered my surgery "as easy as pie" because of the size of the AN and it's location.  My surgery went very well and I'm 5 months post op now.  Everyone's situation is different and that's why it is so very important to see different doctors, get their opinions and then weigh what they say.  Good luck in whatever decision you make.     

[macintosh]

My advice is (1) do research (2) find the most experienced AN doctors in your area and then (3) tell the insurance company what you want to do. A good research site is <www.pubmed.gov>. If you use the search strings <acoustic neuroma radiosurgery> and <acoustic neuroma microsurgery>, you'll find indexes to articles in peer-reviewed journals. I found the articles by Friedman and Pollock and the editorial in the Nov. 2006 Journal of Neurosurgery by Sheehan very useful. I had radiosurgery last week, and I feel fine. In fact, I started feeling better as soon as I found those articles and had a sense that I was in control of my situation.

Good luck, Hope your dad's case tunrs out as well as mine has (so far, anyway).