Health Insurance Changes

I have no experience with these companies, but have Medicare and a supplementary plan. My supplementary plan covers anything that Medicare covers, and pays the part not covered when Medicare does not pay the full amount. A policy of this type would pay the balance of IvIg treatments if Medicare paid part of it. I signed up for the maximum supplemental plan with Blue Shield of California, because I had Blue Shield before going on Medicare and they took good care of me.

Best to study the plan descriptions and ask questions of the plans’ representatives. You might also look into alternatives. You should be able to pick any supplemental plan if you are retired and paying for it yourself. If you have a group which is paying for it, then I suppose you must take what they offer.

If you live in California you should read this recent LA Times article about the insurance changes going into effect next month: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-insure-doctor-networks-20130915,0,2814725.story I don’t know if NY insurance companies are up to the same tricks, but probably so.

Medicare Advantage Plans are discussed here in some detail: http://www.medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/medicare-health-plans/medicare-advantage-plans/medicare-advantage-plans.html

I have Medicare as my primary carrier and Anthem Blue Cross PPO (ABC) as my secondary (Medicare Advantage Plan) insurance carrier. ABC will pay my medical bills (parts A & B) and receive reimbursement directly from Medicare for the portion covered by Medicare. All my medical bills go to ABC’s claims department, none go directly to Medicare.

I had home IVIG while under Medicare (ABC). Medicare/ABC did not cover all the costs and I had to negotiate with the home health agency to reduce and write-off the several thousand dollars they wanted me to pay. Letters went back and forth for many months before they finally wrote-off my balance. If I had to use home IVIG again, I would make sure they were a “contracted provider” and pre-negotiate the costs, then pick a provider I could afford.

I hope you get the coverage you need.

Mentioning about the home infusion sysytem its better to turn digital in this feild also.
Call Bell, a home infusion support solution, increases patient satisfaction while reducing provider costs. Call Bell aims to provide superior remote patient support by incorporating instant communication capabilities with clinicians and providing expert instructions and advice seeking facilities with reduced waiting time and anxiety to the patients.

Call Bell is ideal for…
1. Patients – Call Bell equips patients with the guidance and instruction they need to troubleshoot any infusion concern. 

• Patients can be confident that an answer is just a login away.
• Patients need not worry that they will never be able to perform processes, related to operating infusion equipment, on their own.
• Empowers patients go through the infusion process independently from admission to discharge.
• Provides real time messaging 24/7 with the clinical staff so that patients feel supported and connected all the time.

2. Healthcare Providers – Call Bell modernizes the way providers and clinical staff connect with their patients.

• Healthcare providers can submit verbal orders and sign them digitally.
• Nurses can take accurate inventory counts of patients’ supplies reducing the chronic waste that costs the industry millions.
• Eliminate hours spent calling patients/physicians and sending/receiving faxes.
• Reduce call center costs.
• Decrease in unscheduled nursing visits.
• Reduction in clinician on-call hours.
• Reduce hospital re-admissions.
• Reduction in supply costs.
• Increase in patient satisfaction.