Co-Pay of CAT Scan

Until last year, I had no co-pay once I hit my deductible. This year the copay has jumped to $500!!! until I hit max out of pocket. I have never hit max out of pocket, but now I might! I feel very lucky that my tumor markers are so accurate so that I don't need to have scans at often. My copay, however, doesn't vary based on who or where I have my scan. That I find unusual.

Being sick ain't cheap, eh?

*susan*

BlaineJennifer, I am not sure what insurance you have but your copay should be the same irregardless. I think I would question that.

It is mind boggling when one sees the amount charged for scans. I hesitate to answer your post, but I have a 0 co-pay on my PET scans and no deductible. But...because I belong to a completely self contained HMO (every aspect of my medical care is provided by the HMO. Kind of like a medical all inclusive resort.) I am not covered at all for anything outside of their system. I belong to a union and, as a teacher, am considered a state employee. As a result, I have been rather sheltered from the huge financial toll bc can take, but G-d help me when I retire!

My insurance is through husband's employer. He pays a weekly premium for the health care out of his pay. That part costs a little over 4,000 a year. The insurance seems to change every year or two. When I was first diagnosed, we had a plan that had a deductible of probably $250 (that was over five years ago so my recollection is fuzzy) and then a 10% copayment up to a certain amount, maybe it was something like $1,000. Then, each year it seemed the insurance changed and the costs increased. They no longer offered 10% copay, and I had to pay 20% copay up to two thousand or two thousand five hundred dollars.

The PET scan was a little over $10,000, but the hospital cuts the insurance company a deal so they pay less. I paid 10% of what the insurance company was billed. I cannot recall what that was. I got PET scans twice a year for several years. Then the insurance company would not approve them merely for monitoring, so the onc has me get bone and ct scans. Here's the ridiculous part. Together, they are almost the same cost as the PET. Go figure.

This year, I got a reprieve from all the hefty insurance copays. Now I have a $500 deductible and pretty much all testing is 100% covered, no copay required. Before, my doctor office visits were free, now I pay $30 a visit. The weekly premium husband has taken out of his pay has increased slightly, but we are paying a lot less in copays, which was a couple thousand each year.

I hope you don't mind my mentioning this, but talking about hospitalization shouldnt be considered a private matter. There should always be room for discussion about medical costs, I don't understand any reasoning behind not being open about it.