Anesthesia for colonoscopy. Thanks, Cigna. NOT covered!

[CurtEastPoint]

If I had known this, well... I don't know if I would have had it done. I guess so but this is ONE MORE example of how they (Insur Cos) are telling doctors HOW TO PRACTICE MEDICINE.

I did some researching (today, after I got the EOB from Cigna) that when drs started using Diprivan as an anesthetic (which requires the use of an anesthesiologist) the insurers starting backing away from paying for it. They said 'use the old methods/drugs that you used to'. I read where some NY doctors rebelled, sued Aetna and they backed off not paying for it. So the medical people won a round.

I guess I'll wait to see what the actual bill from the dr will be before I go postal. I feel like telling the dr. 'YOU go argue w/the insurer. They should pay for it since you prescribed it.'

Thanks for letting me vent.

[monmouth]

1. The really sad thing about this is that it's is a very important and

difficult exam to begin with. When people are told their insurance won't cover the anesthesiologist, they won't get the exam. Another good preventive medical exam that could save thousands of dollars and a life down the road. I hope the bill is doable...

[SharonAnn]

10. It could save HUNDREDS of thousands of dollars. My spouse is getting treatment for colon cancer.

It's really expensive. Really expensive. H'es way over $200,000 in insurance payments right now.

[Mira]

2. I understand you fully - just had a colonoscopy a month ago - fully paid by

medicare.
Pray tell what difference does it make how high the bill is? The principle is at stake, and dollar amounts don't change that.

I raised perfect hell with my insurance company yesterday, and I'm not nearly done, for raising my principal for prescription insurance from $ 23.50 a month (agreed to SIX months ago) to $ 35 starting in February.

That is a 48.93 percent increase.

No notice, no apology.

In my screaming meemies with the poor slob on the phone, he told me that customer complaints are noted and discussed.

As you can see I'm still mad. Not the dollars in this case, the principle !
If we don't raise hell, how do they know we even care and count and pay attention?

K&R

[ChicagoSuz219]

13. Were you able to get 'twilight sleep' anesthesia with Medicare? n/t

[Mira]

14. Here's how it was:

Since I did not have to worry about money (I'm a new Medicare "customer" and still reveling in that I don't have to pay) I asked no questions.

The anesthesia I had was the kind that gets given intravenously, the doctor says "hello" and "how do you do and don't worry" and then he says: "turn it on", and I was gone so fast I don't remember anything after those last words.
And my body never felt like they had even visited.

I was so blissfully out I never knew anything, and came out of it in dire need of being driven and guided.
I am a person who when given anesthesia before threw up many many times when recovering.
They told me it was not that kind of "stuff". And it was not, no nausea at all.

[ChicagoSuz219]

15. Sounds like the 'twilight sleep'...

...think it's called Diprivan (the stuff that killed Michael Jackson, on top of everything else he was taking).

I had a colonoscopy 25 years ago & it was so painful I didn't have another one for 20 years! When I did, it was with the twilight which was f'n awesome... just like you described it.

Just wanted to make sure that Medicare pays for that if I have to go again.

Hope you're results were good!

[kirby]

3. Figure it this way...

After this health insurance reform passes, everyone will be taking it up the rear, so providing anesthesia to so many would be cost prohibitive.

[still_one]

4. That is strange, colonoscopies are usually done with locals like versad /nt

[katandmoon]

5. Not the two I've had. I had general anasthesia for both...thank gawd.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

7. I had to have my recent colonoscopy done under deep sedation

because of the medication I take for anxiety (Xanax). The last time I had it done, I woke up during the procedure. Not fun! It all depends on the person. I'm glad they did it under deep sedation this time. Didn't remember anything after, "Let's check your airway."

[Joe Bacon]

6. Send you bill to LIEberman

I'm sure LIEberman will stand up to the racketeers at CIGNA! :sarcasm:

[Cronus Protagonist]

8. Was the doctor hot?

Might be a contributing factor as to how enjoyable it is...

[Warpy]

9. Whoever came up with that policy needs to have them daily

until he reconsiders. Those things HURT.

[benld74]

11. We'd been gettin the shaft for so long now, they did not think we would notice this

[thecrow]

12. Blame the "hospitalists"

These are the people who decide what the doctors are allowed to do in insurance.
They are a growing breed, too.

I have great empathy for you in the procedure....
I was promised by my doctor that I would be anesthetized.
They gave me some little dose of something and I woke up in the middle of the exam.
HUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTTT!
I reamed the doctor out so bad! I told her the exam was over. NOW!
She was this little Indian doctor at Kaiser.
My personal Dr. wasn't pleased to learn of this.
I have to have it I think every five years.
Hopefully her visa will expire by then.

[dflprincess]

16. My friend just discovered the same thing with United Health Group

they covered her husband's colonoscopy, except for the anesthesia. She sent a nasty letter to the CEO asking him if he'd have one done without drugs. She has not received a response.

I have Cigna, with a $1,200 deductible - though they made a big deal that preventative tests including "colonoscopy" are not suject to deductible or coinsurance and are covered 100%. Fortunately, I don't need to have one for another year but I'll remember to check this out before I schedule one and let the doctor fight it out with them first.

[hedgehog]

17. I think that if you get an intravenous relaxant (valium?) and

maybe Novocaine (?) that technically that isn't anesthesia. The insurance companies will pay for that. What they won't pay for is a general anesthetic that would require a doctor or nurse standing by just to monitor your vital signs and make sure you keep breathing.

The issue of who pays is iffy. I would say that the insurance contract is between you and the insurance company. That's the way it used to be. The doctor got paid in full by you and you then fought it out with the insurance company to be repaid. Most doctors and hospitals have some sort of side deal going with the insurance companies now, so I 'm not sure how that works.

FWIW, I've been engaged in a sleep study since August. It took a few weeks to get the insurance company to approve the study, then a couple of months for the appointment for the study, then a wait for someone to read the study, then another wait for a second study to prescribe C-pap treatment. So last week, 5 months after the doctor initially ordered the study, I was picking up my C-pap machine and had to wait an hour while the receptionist/clerk worked her way through the insurance company switchboard to confirm that I was covered.