On Monday, I had women exam ( breast,pelvic and pap smear) done. The clinician said that there's a cyst and she referred me to 5 clinics I can choose, she wanted me to have an ultrasound. She also said that my irregular period, pelvic pain may be because of PCOS. I think she is right, because I have moustache, not many though. She prescribed me with birth control pill to regulate my period, it will help my pelvic pain, too.
Now, because I just paid a lot to Planned Parenthood, I delayed buying the pills. I planned to get it on Wednesday, but then I got my period yesterday. So I am not sure what to do now.
Also, I have an issue here. Based on my income, actually PP would cover all of my tests. But, because I have an insurance, I can't apply for that. Our insurance, is bought biweekly, and sometimes my husband buy sometimes not depends on money we have at that time. When I went there on Monday, I wasn't insured but PP asked the insurance termination letter and I can't provide it. But, because it was so painful and the journey to the clinic was long, I agreed to pay cash, no insurance. It costs quite much but at least I am quite relieved that it wasn't a pregnancy.
Now, the 5 clinics I am referred to. 4 of them are located way way too far, there's one that is reachablewith public bus but it doesn't accept my insurance ( my husband just bought them yesterday). But, they will accept me if I am not insured and put me in the sliding fee scale program. What to do now? I don't know about insurance termination card, because as far as I know, our insurance is not a contract. It just like a prepaid phone, like Cricket. We are not billed automatically.
What would you do if you were me?
My husband said that just wait for papsmear results, if it is abnormal then I should go to the clinic. But what about the insurance and how do I pay?
First of all, get the BC pills - you can still start taking even if you started your period. Secondly, you need to get the cyst taken care of. If an ovarian cyst ruptures it is very, very painful and you will end up in the ER. It can also be dangerous. Whether or not the pap is abnormal has nothing to do with the cyst so that is irrelevent when it comes to deciding on going to the clinic. I had to have an ovarian cyst removed before and it is no fun, but better than the alternative of having it rupture. I have a friend who just had one rupture and she was in the ER and in lots of pain for several days. Maybe you have a friend who can drive you to one of the clinics that is far away that will accept your insurance? Or call the one that is close and ask to speak with the billing department and explain your situation and they may be able to work something out with you. I seriously recommend you get this taken care of asap.
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C.O.
answers from
Washington DC
on
What **I** do??? I would figure out a way to pay my insurance and use it.
I'm glad it wasn't a pregnancy either. However, you have insurance. USE IT. if you have the money to pay PP upfront, then you should have had the money to pay your insurance bill.
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J.W.
answers from
St. Louis
on
Why didn't you just give them your insurance information, they would have submitted you claim and it would have been denied.
I don't think the type of insurance you carry will offer you a termination letter because it says that you are no longer insured with them. You are insured with them, when you pay. Even though you are not they are going to see this as you trying to game the system.
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M.P.
answers from
Portland
on
You need to do some figuring of costs on paper but perhaps it would be more cost effective to not have insurance. Much depends on what your insurance covers and whether or not you'd be eligible for assistance with medical coverage at places other than Planned Parenthood.
I've not heard of the type of insurance that you're describing. With regular insurance you can be late with payments and still be covered. It depends on the company how late they will accept payment before discontinuing coverage. Read your insurance policy and call a representative to be sure you understand it's coverage.
You definitely need to go to a clinic. You can make arrangements to pay if your insurance won't pay or you've missed a payment and are not covered. As Jo suggested, give them your insurance information. If they don't pay then ask to make payments. The payment part is handled by a billing office and shouldn't have anything to do with whether or not you're seen. I suggest that when you worry about payments ahead of being seen for something as serious as a cyst and PCOS you're making life more difficult than it has to be.
Considering the complications of your insurance and the seriousness of your condition, I'd go to the clinic closest to you and make arrangements to pay on a sliding scale and with payments.
I'm glad that you went to Planned Parenthood and are receiving some help.
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D..
answers from
Charlotte
on
Can you provide the receipt from the clinic and file it with your insurance company so that you can be reimbursed? I've done that before. Find out if you can do that.
You would start the pills on the Sunday after you start your period. So if you started yesterday, you would start taking the pills this Sunday.
Though I don't know anything about PCOS, I know that cysts are way painful. I hope that they give you some good help and that you will be alright. See about getting reimbursed from your insurance. They might not pay you as much as if the place is in network with them, but they should pay you back something.
