another insurance question

[bosco]

Especially for the folks who have any type of Blue Cross & Blue Shield plan, how have they been to deal with? About getting meds? Having so many Doctor appointments? Again any input or personal experiences would be great!

[Miss Philicia]

I was on Blue Cross when I was first diagnosed 15 years ago.  They never questioned the frequency of my doctor's visits -- it's a chronic disease you're dealing with.  I was going EVERY month at the time too.  The only lab snafu I ran into was when viral load testing first came on the scene, and that's just because it was new.  I think at first they limited it to 3-4 test per year.  I doubt you'll run into that though because now VL testing is a good decade old.  You've not even obtained your first set of tests since turning positive, so you don't even know how often you'll be going to the doctor.

I realize that you're new to all of this but I'd strongly advise against inventing worries in your head in advance of them happening, or you will quickly become unglued and a mental mess.  My other recommendation, if you wish to assuage your insurance fears, is to sit down one-on-one with someone at an ASO that deals with this issue, take them your Blue Cross policy information, and have the look it over for any red flags.  I kind of doubt there will be any.

[bosco]

I was on Blue Cross when I was first diagnosed 15 years ago.  They never questioned the frequency of my doctor's visits -- it's a chronic disease you're dealing with.  I was going EVERY month at the time too.  The only lab snafu I ran into was when viral load testing first came on the scene, and that's just because it was new.  I think at first they limited it to 3-4 test per year.  I doubt you'll run into that though because now VL testing is a good decade old.  You've not even obtained your first set of tests since turning positive, so you don't even know how often you'll be going to the doctor.

I realize that you're new to all of this but I'd strongly advise against inventing worries in your head in advance of them happening, or you will quickly become unglued and a mental mess.  My other recommendation, if you wish to assuage your insurance fears, is to sit down one-on-one with someone at an ASO that deals with this issue, take them your Blue Cross policy information, and have the look it over for any red flags.  I kind of doubt there will be any.

Thanks...thats good advice! BTW what is an ASO?

[bear60]

ASO= Aids Service Organization
As a lawyer, bosco, you might be able to volunteer for an ASO. Or perhaps for an organization that does "Legal Aid" work for PWA's...thats People With Aids.
Or depending on the type of lawyer you are, you might find serving on a Board of Directors a way to serve the HIV community.

[Miss Philicia]

Indeed, good point Joel.  I didn't know that bosco was a lawyer.  I see you live in the Atlanta area bosco -- someone might be able to point to an ASO for you to go to for intake procedure so that you can obtain a case manager.  It's always good to have someone kind of look over your situation at the beginning.  Like I said, I'm sure you really won't have insurance issues.  But at least they can tell you how yours is structured, go over expected co-pay costs, in network issues for an HMO... all that stuff that would be specific to your policy, which we can't evaluate here because we can't see how your policy is written up.

But indeed, it's an excellent way to also see what you might be able to offer in terms of your own time and expertise.  Also, you can locate some local support groups if you wish to explore that route at the beginning of your diagnosis.

[bosco]

ASO= Aids Service Organization
As a lawyer, bosco, you might be able to volunteer for an ASO. Or perhaps for an organization that does "Legal Aid" work for PWA's...thats People With Aids.
Or depending on the type of lawyer you are, you might find serving on a Board of Directors a way to serve the HIV community.

I'm very interested in doing volunteer legal work. I signed up to be a mentor but only in the workplace catagory. Since that was something I can probably help with. Also when I go back to my I.D. Dr. on February 15 I was going to check out support groups. Now I'll look into an ASO! Thanks for the great suggestions.

[Esquare]

I've yet to exprerience a problem with BC/BS. The only policy issue that bothered me at one point was that you had to put up the cash for your meds before receiving your non-copay payment for them. The online pharmacy that handles my meds negotiated that with them and now they handle that part for me and bill me after each shipment for only my copay.