Hi All,
My husband's commercial insurance is changing. We previously had Anthem Blue Cross and they have been great paying for a stem cell transplant, multiple bone marrow biopsies, and all meds. We use a high deductible plan with an out-of-pocket maximum.
The company is offering Anthem Blue Cross or Cigna. Anthem is $6000 more per year. But I am leery of changing carriers because Anthem has been so good.
Does anybody have any experience, positive or negative, with Cigna? I am looking in particular at coverage of a second stem cell transplant, annual bone marrow biopsies, coverage for Revlimid and Ninlaro, etc.
Thank you,
HG
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4 posts
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hykergirl - Name: Hykergirl
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 45
Re: How is Cigna for multiple myeloma patients?
Hi HG -
I don't have answers to your question - and we're in a similar boat with open enrollment changes. In our case, Anthem Blue Cross bought out of pocket vs. my employer's Blue Cross of California as a high deductible with an HSA. We've also had great coverage with minimal hassle with Anthem. But if we change, we will save $8000.
Last year at this time we were Kaiser patients; i purchased the Anthem Blue Cross plan during open enrollment when, at his diagnosis, our friend and internist – and the local chief of staff – hinted "have you shopped other insurance options yet?"
Might I suggest you call your myeloma specialist's office and ask both your doctor and his or her billing team if they have problems with Cigna?
When my husband was first diagnosed, we chose his insurance after asking our specialist, "Which of these plans is most likely to let you do everything you want to do?". This was before induction and stem cell transplant and biopsies with minimal residual disease (MRD) testing and now maintenance. It's what we'll be asking him and his billers at our appointment next week.
In our case, the major Anthem loss is the "out of network" option, which seems like something we hopefully will not need in 2017. Still, I find the idea that an insurance company could mess with a plan that is working, anxiety provoking.
Wishing you both a good outcome and affordability.
rick
I don't have answers to your question - and we're in a similar boat with open enrollment changes. In our case, Anthem Blue Cross bought out of pocket vs. my employer's Blue Cross of California as a high deductible with an HSA. We've also had great coverage with minimal hassle with Anthem. But if we change, we will save $8000.
Last year at this time we were Kaiser patients; i purchased the Anthem Blue Cross plan during open enrollment when, at his diagnosis, our friend and internist – and the local chief of staff – hinted "have you shopped other insurance options yet?"
Might I suggest you call your myeloma specialist's office and ask both your doctor and his or her billing team if they have problems with Cigna?
When my husband was first diagnosed, we chose his insurance after asking our specialist, "Which of these plans is most likely to let you do everything you want to do?". This was before induction and stem cell transplant and biopsies with minimal residual disease (MRD) testing and now maintenance. It's what we'll be asking him and his billers at our appointment next week.
In our case, the major Anthem loss is the "out of network" option, which seems like something we hopefully will not need in 2017. Still, I find the idea that an insurance company could mess with a plan that is working, anxiety provoking.
Wishing you both a good outcome and affordability.
rick
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rick - Name: rick
- Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: nov 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 50
Re: How is Cigna for multiple myeloma patients?
My husband was diagnosed December 2015. We have Cigna thru his work. They have been unbelievable. Everything he has needed has been approved, no questions. I think it may be the best insurance we have ever dealt with.
I wish you and everyone on this journey the best. By the way, my husband had a stem cell transplant and we have never seen a bill. When you're dealing with all this disease puts on you, that's a major blessing.
Best wishes
Debra
I wish you and everyone on this journey the best. By the way, my husband had a stem cell transplant and we have never seen a bill. When you're dealing with all this disease puts on you, that's a major blessing.
Best wishes
Debra
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nanaofbkma - Name: Deb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 65
Re: How is Cigna for multiple myeloma patients?
Thank you Rick and Debra for your responses. I am always nervous about change because what we had was good. I don't want to rock the boat. I guess there's more research to do, but come Friday we're done, one way or another.
Best of luck on you journeys.
hg
Best of luck on you journeys.
hg
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hykergirl - Name: Hykergirl
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 45
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