Why won't insurance pay for proper adrenal testing?
I think I may have adrenal fatigue, but I just found out insurance won't pay for the saliva test, they only pay for bloodwork, which my chiro said comes up normal most of the time. He said the saliva test is usually over $100. I can't afford that without insurance, so how do I get properly diagnosed so I can be treated right?
Re: Why won't insurance pay for proper adrenal testing?
I have BCBS they paid for mine. Do they allow for the 24 hour cortisol urine testing? This is not as good as the saliva, but it can show if you are working at a cortisol deficit. The other test that they might approve if your MD will request it is the ACTH stim test. This test is MUCH more expensive than the saliva test, but it can tell you some key information as well.
MG
__________________
If we learn by our mistakes, I am working on one hell of an education.
Re: Why won't insurance pay for proper adrenal testing?
That's good to know. I do have BCBS. It's the state government type, but it may still pay for similar things.
I just started reading the book Adrenal Fatigue and it says that unless there's an insurance code for something, most endo's and MD's won't deal with it. There's no code for adrenal fatigue, so the book says that's why most doctor's won't treat it. I think that's absurd!!! If there was no code for cancer, would they not treat that??
My chiro says the endo I'm seeing is the best in the area, but she'll only treat traditional medicine. If I want further treatment of adrenal fatigue, I'll need to see a holistic doctor. That book says they don't even mention adrenal fatigue in medical school. That's really scary.
Re: Why won't insurance pay for proper adrenal testing?
Mine was tested in conjunction with a code for just fatigue, low vit D, AND Hashimoto's/hypothyroidism. It was to test for hypoadrenalism.. not adrenal fatigue. Adrenal fatigue is not a recognized disorder nationally yet. The insurance companies can still ignore it. They can not ignore an evaluation for hypoadrenalism. That in severe form is Addison's Disease and it can be lethal. Codes and number pushing.. if you find the right ones.. you can get through the door. I have a PPO BCBS of TN policy.
MG
__________________
If we learn by our mistakes, I am working on one hell of an education.
Codes and number pushing.. if you find the right ones.. you can get through the door. I have a PPO BCBS of TN policy.
