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Colorectal Cancer Patient Support: Working With Your Health Insurance Company

Undergoing treatment for colorectal cancer is demanding enough without having to deal with your health insurance company at the same time. That’s why it’s a good idea to ask someone close to you to assist you with your health insurance issues during treatment. Designate yourself or a caregiver to keep track of all your healthcare information.

Insurance considerations — some basic questions

Ask yourself these questions before you get started:

  1. Which health insurance provider do I have?
  2. What does my coverage include?
  3. What are the payment and billing procedures?
  4. How do I keep all my paperwork organized?

Learn what your coverage includes before beginning treatment

You might be responsible for payment of fees and services if you do not follow your insurance plan’s guidelines.

  • Is preauthorization required for some surgical procedures or treatments? If this is the case, ask your doctor for the CPT codes for colorectal cancer and find out if the treatment is covered. If it isn’t, you can appeal, usually with assistance from your doctor explaining why the procedure is necessary.
  • Does your coverage have any exclusions — items or services for which benefits are not provided. For example, some plans that cover cancer therapy do not cover the expensive growth factors often required to replace blood cells depleted by chemotherapy.
  • Are second opinions covered? Or, are they required for certain procedures such as surgery?
  • If you are covered by an indemnity plan, what are the amounts of your yearly deductible and the percentage of your co-payment? Cancer therapy is expensive, so you should also find out whether your plan has a maximum calendar year out-of-pocket expenditure.

Get organized. Get all your paperwork together and keep it in one place

You can use a three-ring binder or file folders to organize your papers. Store your “Explanation of Benefits” here, as well as bills, statements, and payment records. Then, whenever you call your insurance company, hospital billing department, or doctor’s office, you can easily refer to your records.

  1. Basic information
    • Personal information: date of birth, Social Security number, work phone numbers for you and your spouse or other person you designate.
    • Insurance information: policy numbers, addresses, phone numbers.
    • Physician information: names, addresses, phone and fax numbers for all your physicians, past and present.
  2. Reports
    • All surgery and pathology reports.
  3. Consultations and letters
    • Letters from physicians and written second opinions.
  4. Test/lab results
    • Blood work, X-rays, bone scans, etc.
  5. Calendar
    • A record of appointments and schedules to track your treatment.
  6. Log
    • A diary of events related to your treatment.
  7. Insurance/financial data
    • Bills, statements, explanation of benefits, payment records, etc.

Learn about employment rights and colorectal cancer.

Important Safety Information

Anaphylactic-like reactions to ELOXATIN have been reported and may occur within minutes of ELOXATIN administration. Epinephrine, corticosteroids, and antihistamines have been employed to alleviate symptoms.

  • Do not take ELOXATIN if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in ELOXATIN or other medicines that contain platinum. Tell your doctor right away if you feel like your throat is closing up, have shortness of breath, a flushed face, a rash, itching/hives, swelling of lips or tongue, sudden cough, dizziness, sweating or chest pain.
  • ELOXATIN can cause nerve problems. Tell your doctor right away if you become sensitive to cold temperatures and cold objects; have trouble breathing, swallowing or saying words; experience jaw tightness, odd feelings in your tongue, or chest pressure; pain; tingling or burning in your hands, feet or around your mouth or throat.
  • Tell your doctor if you develop a dry cough or have trouble breathing; these may be signs of serious lung disease.
  • ELOXATIN can cause liver problems (hepatotoxicity); your doctor will do blood tests to watch for this.
  • Because of the potential risk of fetal harm, pregnant women should not receive ELOXATIN. Women of childbearing potential should avoid becoming pregnant while receiving ELOXATIN.
  • ELOXATIN can cause a decrease in white blood cells, which can lead to infections. Tell your doctor right away if develop any of the following signs of infection: fever, chills, or shivering; cough that brings up mucus, burning or pain on urination, pain on swallowing; sore throat; or redness or swelling at injection site.
  • Other common side effects of ELOXATIN include a decrease in white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and tiredness.
  • Tell your doctor about all the medications you take, including prescription and non-prescription medications, vitamins and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of ELOXATIN. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

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