it's deplorable the way the richest country on earth treats her citizens.

.. every little bit is going to help now. I'm accelerating my sell off of my collection on eBay. 25 years of searching and ... well it's gonna be gone. Either way works out I guess. Either less to keep up with now or less for the wife to deal with later.

Thanks again.

This is making me more stressed out than I need to be I was talking with a friend last night that lives in Nice and she was just apalled. "I have had my doctors since I was 8 years old, there is never any thought if I can see them, my insurance covers my HEALTH, not which doctors I can see."

(shakes head) "... ghods let the tidal wave of sanity start washing across our political system this year."

.......and see if she can get that guy/woman to get you in to do what needs to be done while she waits to get her network participation set up. Often one physician can cut through the BS with another when you can't. It's certainly worth a try, anyway.

I sure hope things turn around for you soon.

.. but still may have the 60 day wait for an appointment. New one wasn't taking new patients but got around that. My current is trying to get in network but that still takes time. And the foot is still needing regular care. Till then, best I can do is try to pay the wound care myself. Try. Never mind the graft for now (will probably need 2 now later) Thanks to all those that have kicked some in, it it helping some.

For extraordinary circumstances (shortage of in-network physicians, ongoing care for an acute condition, etc.) you can often continue to be cared for until the resolution of the problem by out-of-network providers as if they are in network.

Review your insurance contract. Contact customer service & ask them how to appeal for out-of-network coverage. You will need the cooperation of your physician to appeal - to make the case that these are extraordinary services, and that the cost (in loss of the limb, if nothing else) will be more severe if you aren't provided with access to the doctor (I have had numerous doctors do this - either for out-of-network care, or for coverage of off-formulary prescriptions, or treatment considered experimental). I don't appeal everything - but I have yet to lose any appeal I seriously pursued. (One appeal I gave up, because at that time the additional cost of less than $100 wasn't worth the time it would have taken to appeal.)

Thanks to those that could spare some, it's helping.

Following some suggestions...

1. Out of network exemption: started it, but takes 60 days to do if they do. But trying.

2. Getting current foot surgeon (actually Podiatrist) to get with another one in network. Some positive things there, she's joining a new surgical group that IS IN NETWORK. But paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. 30 days minimum.

3. Eye surgeon... paperwork filed.

4. Primary Care Physicial: GOOD NEWS THERE. About 20 of her patients are in the same boat and SHE'S pushing the paperwork thru to get in network ASAP.

So, one and a half out of three. Still stuck on getting new graft and wound care, but progress. Going to go see footy tuesday and see how it's doing, and how much I can get away with for the graft.

Thanks, everyone not out of the woods yet but I think I can see a road thru the trees, so if you can, please do. Thoughts and positive vibes always welcome.

back in the main post. *sigh*

Like you, I'm also a diabetic and I've had five insurance companies over the last five years (United when I was still in school and a new insurance company with each of four jobs). They all have their preferred brand of insulin. I've used both Novolog and Humalog as rapid acting insulins interchangeably. I've used only Lantus as my long acting insulin, but I imagine it is Basaglar is interchangeable with it in most people.

I also have a story I can share about my brother. Two or three years back, my brother had a pharmacy basically tell him that United didn't reimburse them enough for insulin that they weren't going to fill his prescription. He called United and informed them what was going on, and they must have really lowered the boom because the pharmacy called him back later that day informing him that his prescription was ready. He says the staff were extremely apologetic when he went to pick it up.

Overall, I'd say I've had positive experiences with United Healthcare and Aetna, poor experiences with two small regional insurance plans, and I have no comment on the other.

I've been using Humalog and Lantus and neither one is covered by United. Neither are most of my other meds (blood pressure, etc) was on the phone with them for an hour and without new 'scripts, can't do anything. Going to try to get new ones tomorrow. It's the wound care that is killing me (no pun intended). The foot was almost done, needed one more graft of Neox and now I have to pay 60% of that ($700) even tho it's continuing care. So.. I dunno.