Insurance For Cancer: Make Sure Plan Includes Comprehensive
The team at Comprehensive Cancer is constantly relied upon to provide quality care, not only for existing or established patients, but also for those who wanted a second opinion. Second opinions are critical when facing a challenging healthcare diagnosis, but what’s equally important is being set up with the right medical team from day one. This is why making sure you understand your insurance and what options you have for care is so important.
The options for selecting insurance plans and coverage tiers can be challenging. Once a plan is selected, many people aren’t fully aware of what options are available to them through their insurance. It is important when selecting a plan to make sure your providers are part of that plan, especially specialists.
No matter how you access your options for care, it’s important when in a new plan, or even in an existing one, to take control of your care, and deciding who provides that care. This starts with getting the right primary physician for yourself and/or your family members. Do your research and ask others for referrals.
When looking at physicians and specialty groups to use with your plan, there are a few simple things to look for when making choices:
- Check out the online review sites, make sure to check out a few. Not all of them are used as much as others, so look to get as broad-based a set of data as possible.
- Amount of experience both in their field and in Las Vegas/Southern Nevada. This is important as for many physicians, the longer they practice the more experience they gain, and more of their patients can offer insights into their care.
- Check out your doctor’s website to learn more about them and their practices. You can see if the doctor, or their group, is larger, medium or small. While different sizes offer different advantages, for a specialty like oncology, a practice like Comprehensive Cancer Centers can offer vastly more resources than others. Comprehensive, for example, has access to dozens of clinical research studies which, if your cancer proves difficult, offers many options for treatment that might not be available here in Las Vegas. What you can get at Comprehensive, might only be available out-of-state, for other plans.
- Ask friends who they use for their care and their experiences. Not only are other opinions helpful, but from friends who have similar personalities as yours could lead you to better confidence in finding good fits with care providers.
There is, indeed, a lot of information to consider when making a choice for who will initially provide you or your family care. It is worth it to spend some time, when selecting providers, as that can save you a lot of stress later, if you look to find other options after a diagnosis. Should you get a diagnosis that’s challenging, or feel like a care plan a provider has placed you, or a loved one on, is not getting results then it’s worthwhile to find other options.
If the insurance plan you chose does not offer Comprehensive Cancer Centers for your oncology needs, you can ask your HR team or insurance broker if a different plan offered does, and you can switch to that plan during an open enrollment period. And during open enrollment, be sure to ask about what options you have for selecting plans, and what specialists you can access through those plans.
How to Get a Second Opinion at Comprehensive Cancer Centers
The physicians at Comprehensive Cancer Centers regularly provide second opinions for patients interested in finding out more information about their diagnosis. Since most insurance plans cover a second opinion examination (check your plan), taking time to find out more about your specific case is worth the effort.
When considering whether to get a second opinion, the question becomes whether there is enough time to get one. With some cancers, especially ones diagnosed in late stages, treatment decisions should be made quickly. If a second opinion is desired, it should be done immediately. With most cancers however, there is typically some time available to think about options. While there may not be immediate urgency for some cancers when diagnosed at an early stage, it is a patient’s right to get a second opinion and anyone should talk to their doctor right away.
How to Start the Second Opinion Process
Before looking for a second opinion, make sure to contact your insurance company to learn about what the insurance policy covers. In some cases, you may have to get a second opinion from another doctor who is part of your health plan before the plan will pay for your treatment
It’s important to be able to give the new doctor the exact details of your diagnosis and planned treatment. Make sure you have the following information handy and always keep copies for yourself:
- Patient demographics
- Insurance cards
- Diagnostic tests
- Pathology
- Medical records
- Most recent notes
To recap, it’s highly recommended by Comprehensive Cancer to select the right insurance plan, with the right provider, from day one with your plan. If you do find yourself in someone else’s care, and are not happy, don’t hesitate to contact us to get another opinion.
Comprehensive Cancer Centers Can Help
Physicians at Comprehensive Cancer Centers provide a variety of treatment options for patients looking for second opinions. To schedule one with the team at Comprehensive, please call 702-952-3350.
The content is this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.