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• medical insurance
• Posted: 2008-03-24 02:25:13 By randy m
• Hi All,
  
  I am visiting united states for 6 months from europe. my company has done my medical and vision insurance. I was wondering if i could consult a retina specialist in US while i am here and still be covered by my insurance.
  
  Do companies usually cover diseases that one has basically from birth? They did not ask me to declare it anywhere, i was automatically insured with any tests. Do i have to specially declare to the insurance comapny that i have RP?
  
  Thanks and Regards!
  

• Re: medical insurance
• Posted: 2008-03-24 09:32:01 By Kim V
• Not sure what you are asking here, but here is what I know....
  
  It all depends on your converage, some insurance companies provide eye coverage and some do not. Most will cover surgery (cataract etc.) also will cover if you need special testing (ie. retinal specialist) I suppose they could come back and say that this is a pre existing condition but most will not question it. Mainly because I don't think they understand what RP is.
  
  I would first make sure that the dr you choose to see will except overseas insurance, or if you are being covered by an insurance co. here in the States it should be no problem. The other thing you may be able to do is cover the cost of the visit and testing (which you can get a substantial break on if you pay on the day of service...40-50% if you negotiate) and then submit the claim to your insurance co. and get reimbursed that way. I recently did this and saved myself and my insurance co. a boat load of money. (negotiated a 900 dollar bill down to a 500 dollar bill)
  
  Where are you going to be in the states?? I saw a very good doctor in Syracuse NY, not very talkative but very thorough.
  
  Good luck to you, Kim Vogt

• Re: medical insurance
• Posted: 2008-03-24 17:05:07 By carolina s
• Randy
  IF you see an ophtalmologist here in the USA
  I would advise you to see someone that has experience with rp. You'll be surprissed how many Dr's know very little about this condition.
  carolina

• Re: Re: medical insurance
• Posted: 2008-03-25 01:25:41 By randy m
• Thanks for the detailed info, Kim and Carolina!
  
  I will be in portland, oregon. But if no specialist is available in this area, i am ready to travel too.
  
  I will be covered by vsp (www.vsp.com). Its a provider from united states. But i am not sure if they insure RP or not. I am also a little worried about what the insurance company will report to my employer here in states...about my competency to work and stuff...
  
  As Kim said, i might pay for it myself then. I dont really wanna wait and find out the reaction of insurance company...if they will cover the costs or not. Should i call them and ask? Or do all providers in USA insure for RP.
  
  Apologies for so many questons..i really need to figure this out.
  
  Thanks!
  
  

• Re: Re: Re: medical insurance
• Posted: 2008-03-25 10:41:41 By Kim V
• Randy,
  
  I think you will find that either they cover eye exams and testing or they do not. Your medical records are yours and the insurance co. I do not believe that your employer can look at your records unless you let them. You may want to check to be sure.
  
  I know that my health insurance will cover the visit to the rp/retina specialist because he is an MD. If I was simply going for glasses it would not be covered. The thing with RP is that there really is nothing they can do except tell you where you are at and try to help you cope with where you are at in the progression of rp.
  
  I really don't think that your insurance will give you a hard time, it never hurts to call and ask if they will cover a visit. As far as employment, I have had rp for 22 years and worked for the same company for 13 years and never had a problem. Just depends on what they actually cover for you.
  
  You should be able to see a specialist somewhere near you. I would think the right thing to do is ask if they are familiar with rp, most retina specialist will have the equipment for testing etc that you would need.
  
  Well hope this all helps...Kim

• Re: Re: Re: Re: medical insurance
• Posted: 2008-03-26 04:01:09 By randy m
• Thanks Kim!
  
  may i ask what profession are you in? I am in computer software development. And its fine for me so far, i need to lower the resolution a bit to be comfortable. I am sure there are some sort of aids to help keep working (for longer) if and when i need them.

• Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: medical insurance
• Posted: 2008-03-26 08:56:48 By Kim V
• Randy,
  
  I was in Agricultural sales/nutrition of High Producing Dairy Cows. I am currently unemployed but looking for a position in support of folks doing what I was doing. I am missing my farm visits alot, but know that I can't drive anymore and just am unable to do what I was doing. I really want to go into supporting people in the position I was in. I think that it is going to mean moving my family which is a huge thing.
  
  I did and will do computer work everyday. I had to go to the high contrast settings for my desktop. I also have cataracts so I have to have a bigger font setting for my desktop, and this has made life much easier. I will have cataracts removed in April, so I am hoping for a marked improvement in my central vision. I believe that alot of my struggle has come from the cataracts these last few years. My RP has progressed but very slowly so adjusting to it has been easier than dealing with the cloudiness and excess glare that comes with the cataracts. I hope that I can find work that will allow me to be affective and not travel so much, and if I have to travel allow me to do so through public transport. Will see if this is possible in Ag, just not sure yet.
  
  Well good luck to you and as far as I can tell there is lots of stuff to help you in the computer world, as far as software etc. I am sure you will be able to work for much longer than you think!!! Regards...Kim

• Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: medical insurance
• Posted: 2008-03-27 01:56:41 By randy m
• yeah, i am also starting to develop catracts. but the doc said they dont need to be operated yet. i do notice slight blurryness though. we'll see...
  
  but thanks so much for all the help, thanks a lot. I am sure you'll find a job very soon. Best Wishes!

• Re: Re: Re: medical insurance
• Posted: 2008-03-25 14:41:58 By Darran Z
• Randy,
  
  If you are going to be in Portland, Dr. Richard Weleber is who you would want to see at OHSU/Casey Eye Institute. He is an FFB clinician/researcher and the very best in the West! I've known him for 25+ years and he's my doctor.
  
  Please contact me privately and I'll give you the contact info darranzenger(at)yahoo.com.
  
  Darran

• Re: Re: Re: Re: medical insurance
• Posted: 2008-03-26 04:02:10 By randy m
• Thanks Darran! i'll shoot you an email.