Jane, An experience I had (not specifically myself) and I worried that scheduled surgery would not be covered because the day before surgery, a letter arrived in the mail that the need for surgery did not confirm to the defined need within the medicare/medigap so we were ready to cancel the surgery at the last minute.
  Then, the physician apparently was able to redefine the need and the decision was reversed and surgery would be covered which was confirmed by another letter arriving the next morning.
  Happy for us-but certainly makes one feel like the entire dealing with our precious health which could be that getting the right treatment could be a matter of life or death is dependent on a system based on something like playing a game or a strange complicated dance involving ourselves, physicians, lawyers and insurance companies. Isn't there some better way? -CK

Jane Granitzki <jng1@...> wrote:

>I just had what I consider to be a rather strange experience in comparing prices for a bone density scan.  I never compared prices before because I never paid out of pocket for it.  I want a bone density scan because I have been taking a different med. the past year after others were not effective.  Medicare only pays for it every two years and I had one a year ago.  Given that I do not want to take a medicine that is not effective, I elected to pay for the scan.  One place (progressive radiology) charges medicare and insurance about $126.00.  However, if I pay cash the cost is $63.39.  They knock off 70% for cash because they do not have to deal with insurance companies.  Another place charges $160.00, but when I told him I could have the bone scan for $63.39, he agreed to do it for $60.00.  No wonder medicare is running out of money.  I just got the final cost of $60 today and still have not gotten my head around such radically different prices.
>Jane