Hi All,

Did anyone have any insurance issues when they wanted to go and see Dr. Steinberg?

Currently, I have been back and forth with my insurance company (PacificCare) hoping to get approved to go and see him, but to my dismay they are unwilling to approve me since they do not have a contract with Stanford. Recently I have been feeling worst and worst I started to suffer from numbness in my thigh that moved up to my hip,  and I have been in contact with Dr. Steinberg over the past couple of months and he says that I probably am not getting enough blood flow. I have already had the EDAS surgerys performed by Dr. Martin at UCLA. And I want to go up and see Dr. Steinberg now to get a second opinion, and see what he recommends, but my neurologist is telling me that he does not see the need  to see Dr. Steingberg, that because I already had the surgery that there is nothing else for them to do.

I just wanted to know what insurance everyone has, and the steps they went through to get to see Dr. Steinberg.

Thanks,
Doug.

Doug, I was VERY lucky because my school's ins. had just changed to Blue Cross (of TX), but its a PPO, so it will work for any hospital/dr. in their networkin the USA.I was thrilled when I checked and Dr. S. and Stanford was listed in the network when I wanted a 2nd opinion. So, I just had to pay for the travel/boarding to CA-which was enough!   Thankfully my school district will have the same ins. again this year.  i'm sorry you are feeling bad, andI hope your ins. will work with you so that you can get the treatment you need.  You're in my prayers.  Tricia

Doug,

A little off the subject of insurance, but you said that you had EDAS with Dr. Martin at UCLA.  I know Dr Martin is a good surgeon, but I am curious about the reason why Dr. Martin did a EDAS instead of a EC-IC?  I believe that Dr. Martin will perform the EDAS if you do not need blood soon or if your other ateries are not large enough to do the bypass.  I could be wrong, but it seems you have researched it.  The reason I am asking is because my wife had a EC-IC with burr holes from Dr. Martin.  She only had the left side done and will be going in for the right side in the future.  Dr. Martin may perform an EDAS because the right side with moya moya has not progress as fast as the left side.  Have you heard any information that that tells you that a EDAS is not the way to go for moya moya patients if the arteries fully develped?  If so I am curious what you have found.  EDAS is a shorter surgery, but it takes 6 month to 1 year to take the full effect.  I also heard that you will need the burr holes and put your self on a high protein diet to develop those arteries.  This is what I have heard from another Doctor.  The doctor also said the key to artery development is to have high levels of protein in the spinal fluids.  I only heard this so I do not know for myself.  Anyway good luck with you insurance and please take care of yourself.

Wayne