Wednesday, January 30, 2008

CT scan estimates

Wow. Ok, today I actually made some calls to find out approximately how much the CAT Scan IAC#2 without contrast of both ears would cost. I First called Casper Medical Imaging/Outpatient Radiology via i711 Relay. They have 2 charges: the actual procedure is $1,582.80 and the reading is $440. Whoa, I thought that was pretty pricy.

So then I called Wyoming Imaging Center... oh, they don't do CAT scans, only MRI's. Oh ok.

Next was Central Wyoming Imaging. $306! Oh hey, now that is a reasonable price. But, they need a physician's order for the CAT scan. Ok.

I just sent off an email to Rocky Mountain CI Center and told them of what Central Wyoming Imaging told me. Hopefully I'll hear back from them soon of what to do about the physician's order bit.

Finally, I got these calls done. Next I will have to call the hospital in Denver where the Center does the CI surgeries, and find out approximately how much their bill would be, if the CNI CI Assistance Program is able to donate the implant. The CNI CI Assistance is still my best chance of getting the CI. My hours have been cut back (prepress job is done), so .... yeah. If I try to get personal insurance for myself, I wouldn't be able to afford it, unless I should get another job.

But hey, I'm slowly working on this. And next week there is a CI conference at the Holiday Inn here. And I am going. Yeah, sure, it may be more aimed for parents of deaf babies/kids, but.. it's still implant info! You never know, I might learn something new.

5 comments:

Abbie said...

Golly, that is a lot of cash for a cat scan. Does the CI assistance program also donate the processor as well?

CDM said...

the CNI CI Assistance Program donates the implant, but the patient has to pay the hospital bills, so that's still going to be pricy.

Abbie said...

Yeah, my surgeon and hospital got a total of 30 grand and that didn't include the charges for the implant.

deafcone said...

Meghan,

I sent you an email woth a link to Let Them Hear. They help people in your situation.

DC

CDM said...

Deafcone, Let Them Hear hasn't been of any help to me. According to the response I got from them, they only help those who HAVE insurance but have difficulties getting the approval for the implants; apparently they don't help those without insurance or funding sources.

Abbie: wow, 30,000 is a lot. whew.