PET vs. CT

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Fearless_One
Fearless_One Member Posts: 3,300
edited June 2014 in Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues

My insurance now requires a 10% co-insurance on scans.   For a PET in my city, that means several hundred dollars out-of-pocket for me, and I have no money.

It is my understanding that CT's are much cheaper.   My question is, if my onc ever wants to scan me for mets, will a CT suffice?  

Hopefully, I am okay, but anything is possible and I was curious.   My MRI was 6K, so I assume a PET is much more.

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  • Fearless_One
    Fearless_One Member Posts: 3,300
    edited August 2011

    anyone have any info on this?   I am not scheduled to see onc for awhile...thanks :-)

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  • cycle-path
    cycle-path Member Posts: 1,502
    edited August 2011

    Fearless_One, I don't know the answer to this but I think you might get a response if you go into one of the other threads, like "Just Diagnosed" or something along those lines.

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  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited September 2011

    Fearless: does this mean that the insurance company will pay 90% and you are liable for the rest. If that's the case and the hospital is at least getting most of the cost, maybe they might waive your portion.

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited September 2011

    Hi fearless one. Many hospitals /MRT/PETC CT clinics will write off what is not covered by Insurance. They also will set up a financial needs test to see if you qualify for any waivers. Call their financial assistance /billing department and ask if there is any program for you. Most big companies will have something in place.  Good luck to you.

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  • Fearless_One
    Fearless_One Member Posts: 3,300
    edited September 2011

    Ok, thanks - I don't think they will write it off (they wouldn't even write off my $250 co-pay when I had surgery), but it can't hurt to try.

    Can a CT scan detect mets?   CT's are much cheaper.

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited September 2011

    They can, I have had a few CT's for that purpose and one combined Pet/CT which is preferred method. Good luck, I would definately ask. you're right, it cant hurt to try and they can only say "no", so give it a shot.

    bevin

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  • Fearless_One
    Fearless_One Member Posts: 3,300
    edited September 2011

    Thanks, Bevin...yeah, I figure PETs really have not been around that long and it's not like cancer is new, so they must have used CT's for many years....but i'm not sure how new PET scans are.

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  • Chickadee
    Chickadee Member Posts: 4,467
    edited September 2011

    I asked a while back at MD Anderson why they always did CT scans on me as I had read on here that PET scans seemed more common.  The answer from the trial nurse was that they preferred them and felt the results were more reliable......don't ask me why, I don't remember what she said, but I think it related to the additional detection of soft tissue mets.  I've never had a PET and my new Onc closer to home also has me scheduled for CT in a couple weeks.

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited September 2011

    HI fearless one- yes the most effective now is the combined CT/PET - they do them at the same time. It allows them to match up the structures with the PET enhancements that may show and more definitively shows what the problem area is.  The combined PET/CT is relatively new technique and as I understand preferred.  Good luck, I hope everything goes well for you.

    I know you mentioned concerns about payment.  With medical bills, If you even pay 5$ per month, they must accept the payments you send and as I understand cannnot send your account to collections as long as you pay something toward the bill each month. I used this method when I went to fertility treatments for years and didnt have issues.  I am so sorry you have to struggle and worry about paying for needed medical tests.  I hope they can work something out for you.

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  • Fearless_One
    Fearless_One Member Posts: 3,300
    edited September 2011

    Yeah, that is what they use at my facility, too - PET/CT together.   Chickadee, very interesting about your onc preferring CT's.   I did have a clean PET/CT when first diagnosed, but that was when my insurance covered it at 100%.   I think it was around 10K....

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  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited September 2011

    Good question. Yeah, I'd be curious to hear what your onc prefers and if there is a difference in resolution on the scans. For example, can one detect smaller tumors? Would learning of something earlier make a difference in treatment?  This isn't the same, but I had a digital mammogram and it barely caught my 0.5 cm tumor. I know several women whose much-larger tumors were missed by the older non-digital mammograms. In terms of payment, I wonder if there are any groups that can help. (?)  I like bevin's suggestion of being on the payment plan. Good luck. I can't believe you have to deal with insurance BS on top of BC. arg!

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