Winter 2010-2011 Cycle Board

[Tiger04]

alright ladies, I went in for the beta. I know it's going to be negative. I think I just wasted $200 on the stupid test. But, they will call between 2-4 CST today. No need to refresh the screens today...

Carol, when I get my negative today, I'm going to schedule an HSG. You are totally right. Is there a certain day of the cycle that you need to do it? I'm hoping I don't have to wait a month if I want to have it done?

Lauren - Did you not go in for your beta? What's up beta sister?

[Lauren1171]

Tiger - yes I went today. She usually calls me around 2 eastern time. I know it's a BFN. I can't believe they charge $200 for a blood test. My insurance is a PPO, so they can bill whatever, but INS pays a lot less and they adjust difference. They only end up getting 35 for the blood tests. Crazy how they rip off the self pay people! I have to check out what they accept for the IVF. I don't get why they can't give the self pay ppl a break. Especially when they are repeat customers.

[Tiger04]

Riogirl – thank you so much for the BFP dust! How is your pregnancy going? I agree, I think I am going to request further testing. I think they are idiots. Very interesting. I had no idea about hydros…adfjk. Haha! Yet another reason to check it out.

Jeib – thanks for the advice. I don’t know why they didn’t do that test on me to begin with. I’m going to be upset if they find something blocked!

Lauren – sorry, I missed this post! I am still on the suppositories, my way of holding on to the hope. Although I know it’s a negative too. I’m so sorry that you have AF. Can you just start BCP without the approval?

Margi – That’s what I am saying! I feel like another misstep from my clinic. If you know your patient is spending thousands of dollars each month on donor sperm, don’t you think they would just double check? Ugh, I’m so frustrated with the constant negatives. What’s up with the long wait times on the phone. So frustrating! Can’t wait to hear about your SnS today!

Amanda – you never know. Look at what happened to Lou! She received a negative HPT and received a very positive Beta and 2nd beta! I have everything crossed for you!

Anton – I’m so glad that you found out relatively early about the issue, but so frustrating that you spent all of that money on the first IVF. 2/24 will be here before you know it! How exciting!

Wannabeamum- how awesome! Congrats on your 20 follicles! When are you going in for another SnS? We’ll be able to tell more about the ones on your right. We’ll all do that dance for those suckers to catch up!

Carol – very interesting. I think I need a cleaning out. I mean seriously! With the sample we had last time! My gosh, if one of those darn sperm couldn’t get there, I just don’t know what else to do!

[Tiger04]

Lauren - got it. I will be looking out. You should be getting the call soon! Yes, I totally am getting riped off. Seriously, a blood test is $185. I am going to hold out hope for you. Lots of love to you.

[nwquiz]

Sdtrying- Girl you are so brave. i would have transfered on day 3 if i was i your shoe. but hey you might have 3strong army of fighters on day 5. all the best. fingers crossed they keep dividing and growing strong for day 5 transfer.
Lauren- i hear you on that one. This clinics take advantage of self pay patients. I have looked at the breakdown of what insruance pays and what they charge it makes no sense. I even asked my doc one time why they cant reduce the amount the charge self pay and all i got is we give a break. yeh 10bucks come on now.
Tiger-fingers crossed for a bfp beta
Caro- Wish i had words of advice to give. but whatever you just dont give up yet coz it may be your lucky cycle for that BFP.

[Lauren1171]

She called...negative. Started birth control pill. They can not send prior authorization until I meet with RE. He has to give to orders to send (IVF, assisted hatching etc). Maybe I should have taken the appointment they had tomorrow. But I hate to miss 2-3 hrs of work when we are busy. Or I should have gone in at 5 lol. I hate to wait another whole week!

[Tiger04]

Lauren, I'm so sorry, I know this sucks so much. I'm hopeful for your next cycle. Maybe you could call them everyday and see if they have any cancellations?

[CJinNC]

Tiger, I think they recommend the hsg on CD6-10, no later so as to not interfere with ovulation. As for bloodwork - if you have a LabCorp nearby, you can order your own bloodwork and it costs about $40-$45

Lauren, sorry about the bfn... onto the next cycle.. I am sure it will be better this time around - calling for MORE eggs this cycle!

[Lauren1171]

I was looking at my insurance claims online. It shows prices and what was paid but not the procedure name, so I had to call. On December 4 and January 25, my clinic submitted $5,000 for cancelled IVF. They were paid $744.00 each time. The INS co girl said that Tufts counts cancelled cycles as a cycle so I should have none left. I used 4, so if I only had 5 then I don't get how Januarys cycle got approved. Anyway I have to wait and see if it does get denied for sure and then file an appeal. What aggravates me is that I use appx $15,000 in meds per cycle, so my clinic lost me a $30,000 cycle so they could get paid $744?I also looked back at a previous iui cycle. Total billing for blood, us, beta, Fu, and iui was $5,275. They got paid $1,974. All they get for a beta is $24.99! They also charge more for the monitoring that went with iui than they do with ivf.

[nwquiz]

lauren am so sorry for the negative beta. better luck next time.
That is insane how much they charge and what is actually billed. then look at cash pay girrrr big protest. Yes since they billed it as a cancelled ivf cycle then they used the ivf code to try and get more pay from insurance. i would appeal if its denied coz that should be coded as an iui. look at 0the CPT codes.

[to_have_fun08]

Lauren - when i had coverage, my insurance considered it a full cycle if I went to retrieval, didn't matter if I had anything to transfer or not. if not retrieval it didn't count towards my cycles. Sounds like someone has something screwed up somewhere. Good luck with fighting with the insurance. I am so sick of insurance companies though I am happy that i did have coverage.

Talking about insurance vs self pay -- my 5th cycle went through my insurance, the Dr.s office billed over $17,000 and the insurance paid $4,000. The next cycle, went though my insurance again but I only had $800 in infertility coverage left. I was billed $16,000 for the remainder. So one cycle the office is fine with a full payment of $4,000 and the next cycle they want $16,000. no rhyme or reason except they can do whatever they want.

[Lauren1171]

Ya it is ridiculous! I asked if I could just do my WTF consult over the phone. I mean seriously, why do I need to go in person? He knows me by now and what I want. I don't need to go look at the numbers on his computer. She said INS does not pay for phone consults and it would be 160.00. I think she knows I am moving into the poor house soon and she is testing me. I am contemplating taking her up on her 11 AM tomorrow appt offer. My boss may get pissed because I have a lot of work to do for the accountant. I work for a dentist and he calls ever patient that he does a root canal, extraction or surgery on every night. If a patient calls and asks to speak to him or has an issue he calls them. If someone wantscto discuss their tx over the phone he will call. No charge for his calls! Don't these doctors get paid enough?

[to_have_fun08]

lauren - I agree, you would think that all you have been though they would give you a freebie and have a phone consult. at this point really how long is the consult going to be. You know the ends and outs, just need to know what the next step is.

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate RE clinics too. there getting to be in my book with insurance companies. Too bad we can't live without either one right now.

[sunshine.12]

Lauren- I am sorry to hear about your result. I did not go for the WTF consult after my last cycle...they said I can't have a new cycle without that and all other excuse. But in the end I finally convinced them and since it is a group practice i have seen my re only 3-4 times for my entire 2 cycles and there is no other means of contacting them. I heard from my friend that in SIRM, you can directly email your re and you get a response pretty quickly..if this cycle don't work I might consider that as I feel it is very important for us to have good relationship with our re when we go through this tough process..good luck for your next cycle!

[sunshine.12]

I'm updating my post.. I mixed up result of Lauren and tiger. Sorry!!