I am writing regarding Blue Shield of California PPO. I have thyroid cancer and had surgery at UCLA by a head/neck cancer specialist in 2005.
I have had a relapse so therefore I am in need of an additional surgery and radiation treatment. I contacted my renowned surgeon at UCLA and he informed me that Blue Shield dropped their coverage of UCLA. This surgeon has been my surgeon for over a year so I should be able to use him under the Continuity of Care agreement. I have contacted Blue Shield for this form 5 times and have yet to receive it.
Today September 12th I had my pre op visit with my UCLA surgeon (without the Continuity of Care agreement) and he requested at PET Scan and a CT Scan of my neck since additional cancerous lymph nodes need to be removed. I did a lose dose radioactive CT Scan which showed no cancerous lymph nodes. An ultrasound and biopsy showed cancer once again in the area. As a professional my surgeon needed a PET Scan in order to rule out cancer in any other areas of my body since my lymph system is affected. Without this PET Scan I could look at additional surgeries in the future that could be taken care of right now.
My surgeon ordered an expedited PET Scan and CT Scan to be done tomorrow September 13th. He spoke to Blue Shield doctors stating the urgency of this test. Dr. Lu (SP?)
denied my doctors pre-authorized request for the PET Scan. He stated that a PET Scan is "investigational".
Well speaking to my surgeon and my doctor at the South Coast Nuclear Facility several insurance companies use this PET Scan as preventative care.By having the PET Scan my doctors could find out if the cancer has spread to other lymph nodes. Blue Shield has now put my life in jeaopardy by uninformed negligent doctors, specifically Dr Lu
.
I have been out of work for a year due to the cancer and if I want my life saved I must pay for the PET Scan myself. I have no money and I am trying to borrow money in order to have this treatment tomorrow.
My life has been put at stake here because of an unethical insurance company like Blue Shield of California.
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