Update 3 on Health Insurance and Treatment

Ali shares an honest update on where she stands with her health insurance and her treatments. Her insurance stopped covering her infusions, and she hasn't had a treatment since April. Her symptoms are flaring just as the colder season approaches. She explains how a monthly cycle of buying new plans, waiting weeks for pre-approval and being denied left her without treatment for long stretches. Then she tells the part she hasn't talked about before. At a recent appointment she learned she could have taken her medication as an at-home injection for years. She also learned the manufacturer has a patient assistance program, and that approval took about 12 hours and delivery took under 48. Ali talks about why nobody mentioned it, her frustration with how the medical system communicates, and her own part in not being more upfront with her doctor. Original Episodes on Heath Insurance: https://www.theautoimmunemom.com/my-i... https://www.theautoimmunemom.com/upda... What you'll hear Why her insurance stopped covering her infusions, and the surprise of a balance of around $82,000 How the cycle of switching plans, waiting for pre-approval and getting denied left her without treatment Managing a flare with prednisone while waiting Learning about the injection option and the patient assistance program Why she was told the infusion is weight-based, and her doubts that weight is the whole story A tip: if you have an insurance problem, your doctor may not know about it, so tell them Her thoughts on cash-paying for routine care and looking at catastrophic-only coverage Coming next week: Ali's conversation with Jessica, a personal trainer living with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis._Ali isn't a doctor, and this isn't medical advice. Talk to your own care team about your treatment options._