My health insurance company is killing me
I am experiencing almost crushing anxiety attempting to deal with my health insurance company.
When I was a kid I had ulcerative colitis, I had my large intestine removed, and I was re-hooked-up.
In graduate school I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and mostly dealt with it with medication with various success and lack of success.
Since just before Thanksgiving 2006, it seems that in the area where my intestines were re-hooked-up and scar tissue remains, I have formed stricture in my small intestine causing me ridiculous excruciating pain - getting progressively worse. I've had to have a number of iron infusions because I am losing blood. Other symptoms, etc.
My local gastroenterologist had referred me to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, which of course, my insurance company doesn't cover. They denied my referral, but I went in December and had my first consultation with a specialist who may be able to perform a strictureplasty to widen the stricture. My insurance company has denied to reimburse me for the $500+ for the consultation, but that's the least of my concerns.
That doctor had scheduled me for a follow up flexible sigmoidoscopy prior to being able to tell me if they could do the strictureplasty or if a resection needed to be done, etc, but of course my insurance company is not willing to cover it, even though it is medically necessary. This few thousand dollar procedure is the next step before the more expensive strictureplasty (and possible resection).
Of course the insurance company is spending substantially more money dealing with my iron infusions and other covered medical treatments needed for the additional symptoms that are caused by my current condition, but that doesn't seem to have yet factored into the decision making process.
I'm currently in hell appealing the insurance company's decisions about my medical treatment.
Bonus: Stress exacerbates my condition.
p.s., here's a website that make's those with Crohn's disease feel super-cool: http://www.crohnsandme.com/