Today (Tuesday) at 11 Ricky had a follow-up visit with the CF doc. I needed to do something quickly at work, so I took him there with me for just an hour. Right before we left the house, he started complaining of a headache, chest tightness, dizziness, and a stomach ache (the last one being a new thing). When we got to my work, it started to get worse and by the time we left there, he was hobbling along unable to stand. At one point he even lay down on the floor. I limped him out to the car and we drove up to the CF clinic. He had his seat back and looked like death warmed over. He was pale and looked terrible. I debated about whether I should take him to the ER instead but he started to come around as we got closer to the clinic and he was finally okay. I took him inside in his wheelchair because he was a bit unsteady, but soon he was back to himself. It sure was scary.
The CF clinic visit went fine. He has lost a little bit of weight, about 3 pounds. Not good. :( However, his lungs sounded crystal clear and his spirometry was "stellar"... Some of the numbers the best they've seen in years. His vital signs were all great too. It was interesting to have his vitals checked right after one of his dizziness episodes... Proves the lungs basically have nothing to do with what is going on. Still don't know what does, though! We do go to the neurologist next month.
We are still waiting for the Seroquel that I posted about last week. The psychiatrist's insurance auth person was supposed to fax in the prior auth form (AGAIN) today but I didn't hear from her that it was done, and she didn't return my call. I checked with the pharmacy and the prescription still isn't going through. I tried to refill his 25mg Seroquel prescription today and found out that that one had been revoked as well. ARGH!!!!! When I got home I downloaded the form to file a grievance with the insurance company. If that doesn't get us anywhere, I go to the Department of Managed Health. I had to do that two years ago when Blue Cross was denying and/or not paying for all of Ricky's hospital and ambulance bills.
I hate insurance companies. Have I mentioned that lately? Oh, probably. :)
That's it for now...
Showing posts with label anthem blue cross. Show all posts
Showing posts with label anthem blue cross. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
little update
Most of what we have been dealing with this week is Misty's illness (a stomach virus combined with pneumonia) but I did want to update about Ricky.
On Saturday he had a rage at a baby shower we were at because of a misunderstanding. I managed to get him to the car and calm him down eventually. It didn't even require extra psych meds. But it was scary. And frustrating because it was the first rage in a LONG time.
And then there is MORE stupid insurance company BS. And I am going to call these jerks out by name in this blog entry so that anyone who is considering signing up for this company through Healthy Families will think twice.
Tonight Misty and I went to Walgreens to fill her antibiotic prescription (Amoxicillin) and pick up several of Ricky's prescriptions. Guess what? The insurance company decided to REVOKE or CANCEL the prior authorization for one of Ricky's psych meds, Seroquel 100mg, that was issued in March. They say he should only take 30 pills per month. He takes four per day. The insurance company (Anthem Blue Cross) is power crazy and out of their heads. The representative of Anthem Blue Cross told the pharmacist on the phone that they WOULD pay for 400mg tablets, since he takes 400mg per day. If only it were that simple! He takes 250mg in the morning, 150mg at noon, and 150mg at dinner. The 50mg each time is made up by two 25mg tabs that we also get. 400mg tabs would not work. And with the prior auth revoked, we have to jump through the same hoops we jumped through in March, all over again. That took three weeks. If it takes that long again I'm going to write to the California Department of Managed Care. No, screw that. I'm going to write to them anyway. This is ridiculous. And you know what else? We were never treated this way by Blue Cross when we had them through Dave's employer. I am just about convinced that all of the hoops they've made us jump through since January are because the kids are covered under a state-sponsored plan. In my eyes, that is discrimination, and it's a big load of BS.
I feel a lot better having gotten that off my chest. And now, it's bedtime.
On Saturday he had a rage at a baby shower we were at because of a misunderstanding. I managed to get him to the car and calm him down eventually. It didn't even require extra psych meds. But it was scary. And frustrating because it was the first rage in a LONG time.
And then there is MORE stupid insurance company BS. And I am going to call these jerks out by name in this blog entry so that anyone who is considering signing up for this company through Healthy Families will think twice.
Tonight Misty and I went to Walgreens to fill her antibiotic prescription (Amoxicillin) and pick up several of Ricky's prescriptions. Guess what? The insurance company decided to REVOKE or CANCEL the prior authorization for one of Ricky's psych meds, Seroquel 100mg, that was issued in March. They say he should only take 30 pills per month. He takes four per day. The insurance company (Anthem Blue Cross) is power crazy and out of their heads. The representative of Anthem Blue Cross told the pharmacist on the phone that they WOULD pay for 400mg tablets, since he takes 400mg per day. If only it were that simple! He takes 250mg in the morning, 150mg at noon, and 150mg at dinner. The 50mg each time is made up by two 25mg tabs that we also get. 400mg tabs would not work. And with the prior auth revoked, we have to jump through the same hoops we jumped through in March, all over again. That took three weeks. If it takes that long again I'm going to write to the California Department of Managed Care. No, screw that. I'm going to write to them anyway. This is ridiculous. And you know what else? We were never treated this way by Blue Cross when we had them through Dave's employer. I am just about convinced that all of the hoops they've made us jump through since January are because the kids are covered under a state-sponsored plan. In my eyes, that is discrimination, and it's a big load of BS.
I feel a lot better having gotten that off my chest. And now, it's bedtime.
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