Still able to manage all the medical expenses
I just found out today that my insurance is questioning my IV antibiotic treatments for Lyme. My doctor wants me to start paying cash per visit in order to continue treatment. Thankfully, we are still able to manage the costs. My husband and I, continue to pray about it and just trust that the Lord will provide. I will, however, try to file these out-of-pocket-costs on my own with my insurance company.
Why the government won’t allow treatment for Chronic Lyme disease
I think my improvement on my health is all worth the costs
Although I got sick during my last infusion, the last few days I have felt really good. Since lowering my dosage from 2 grams per treatment down to one gram, I am starting to walk better again and I’ve also noticed that the joints in my hands are not as achy. I still have the numbness in my hands and can tell that I’ve lost some grip strength. So, despite the increase in personal costs, I do see some improvement in my symptoms. My prayer now is that I won’t have to do the IV treatments for an extended period of time.
More about Lyme disease
Lyme disease is an infectious auto-immune disease caused by bites of deer ticks infected with the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. This type of illness is an endemic in the Northern Hemisphere or in temperate regions. In the United States, Lyme disease is one of the common tick-borne diseases. Almost every state have reported cases of Lyme disease, and as of 2012, ninety-five percent of reported cases of Lyme disease came from thirteen states such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.
The all-time high number of Lyme incidences in the United States occurred in 2009, where both confirmed and probable cases reached their peak. Confirmed cases shot up to 30,000 (estimated) and the probable ones increased close to 40,000 (estimated).
Effect on a patients’ medical costs
Whether the expenses are shouldered by the patient himself, the insurance companies or the taxpayers, the cost of Lyme disease treatment can be exorbitant. Depending on the gravity of the disease and duration of the treatment, the costs of the consultations and medicines vary. At most, Lyme disease treatments can cost up from $20,000 to $70,000 — as much as the cost of treating more serious diseases like cancer or even AIDS.
That amount may not even count treatments for post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) as well as the controversially-named chronic Lyme disease.
If you’re not feeling well and believe you’ve got a tick bite, it’s very recommended that you should have a checkup as early as possible especially if you live near the woods or in a tick-infested area. Not only it will save you from worse symptoms, but an early checkup will also save you a lot of medical bills.
What Lyme cost
Related links
- How much does it cost for treatment for lyme disease
- ‘Nothing we can do’ for Lyme disease as costly treatment option denied
Scores of local victims of a disease they say makes them so weak they can’t drive, think clearly or make tea without laying down are being denied insurance payments for treatment of that disease. - Economic Impact of Lyme Disease – Volume 12, Number 4—April 2006 – Emerging Infectious Disease journ
To assess the economic impact of Lyme disease (LD), the most common vectorborne inflammatory disease in the United States, cost data were collected in 5 counties of the Maryland Eastern Shore from 1997 to 2000. Patients were divided into 5 diagnosis