Michael Ray Watts Operation Fund
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In September of 2016, we heard the word that can scare you to the very core. CANCER. Mike was diagnosed with prostate cancer after a routine blood test found a high PSA count and a biopsy was conducted. We have seen the tragic results of this disease before. Both Mike's father and grandfather had suffered and died from it. We were terrified, and hoped that it had been caught early enough.
After a follow up MRI and lymph node biopsy, we were relieved to find that it was still localized. The recommended treatment was immediate removal of the prostate through surgery. Mike's urologist recommended that the procedure be done at the University of Chicago because of the unusually large size of his prostate. Plans were on track to have the surgery done. The doctors had made the recommendadtion to the health insurance company for the special surgeon at the University of Chicago. Both doctors' offices had been in communication. Approval from the health insurance company seemed assured. A date was set, November 30, 2016. A follow up visit with the surgeon and anesthesiologist in Chicago on November 21, 2016 showed no reasons to complicate the surgery beyond a larger incision than normal for the successful removal. Plans were being made for travel to the University of Chicago hospital, care of the house in our absence, and follow up care support from family and friends. Then the unthinkable happened. The health insurance company denied coverage of the surgery by the out of network doctor. It was November 23, only days before the surgery, and Thanksgiving weekend.
After many frustrating phone calls to both doctor's offices and the health insurance company, we were told that the surgery had been denied because it was by patient request and NOT by doctor's recommendation. This was ludicrous! The ONLY reason we had pursued the surgeon at the University of Chicago was upon the recommendation of the urologist who claimed that the surgeon in Peoria could not do the surgery. It was the urologist's office that was now claiming it was Mike who had done this. The surgery in Chicago had to be canceled. There was no way we could afford to pay for it out of pocket.
What are our options now? One surgeon in Peoria who is in the health insurance network. She met with us on November 28, and assured us that even though she has not operated in the removal of a prostate this big before, she feels confident that she can do it safely. But when can it be done? Not until February 17, 2017. This is getting dangerously close to the four month "safety" window of time they recommend from biopsy results to surgery to catch it before it spreads to other parts of the body.
Since the surgery is now after the beginning of a new fiscal year, the maximum deductible will now reset and it will cost us $7,000 out of pocket for the surgery. Oh, and by the way, that biopsy of his lymph nodes that was supposed to be covered is now being billed to us for $1500 as well as $800 for the ten minutes we had with the anesthesiologist in Chicago.
My father, Mike, is retired and has a fixed income. He and my mother are only 64 years old. He already has high medical costs to maintain stability with his diabetes and high blood pressure conditions. I want them to have many years together to enjoy retirement. This can't happen if we don't get the cancer removed in time. Please consider giving towards the cost of the surgery.
After a follow up MRI and lymph node biopsy, we were relieved to find that it was still localized. The recommended treatment was immediate removal of the prostate through surgery. Mike's urologist recommended that the procedure be done at the University of Chicago because of the unusually large size of his prostate. Plans were on track to have the surgery done. The doctors had made the recommendadtion to the health insurance company for the special surgeon at the University of Chicago. Both doctors' offices had been in communication. Approval from the health insurance company seemed assured. A date was set, November 30, 2016. A follow up visit with the surgeon and anesthesiologist in Chicago on November 21, 2016 showed no reasons to complicate the surgery beyond a larger incision than normal for the successful removal. Plans were being made for travel to the University of Chicago hospital, care of the house in our absence, and follow up care support from family and friends. Then the unthinkable happened. The health insurance company denied coverage of the surgery by the out of network doctor. It was November 23, only days before the surgery, and Thanksgiving weekend.
After many frustrating phone calls to both doctor's offices and the health insurance company, we were told that the surgery had been denied because it was by patient request and NOT by doctor's recommendation. This was ludicrous! The ONLY reason we had pursued the surgeon at the University of Chicago was upon the recommendation of the urologist who claimed that the surgeon in Peoria could not do the surgery. It was the urologist's office that was now claiming it was Mike who had done this. The surgery in Chicago had to be canceled. There was no way we could afford to pay for it out of pocket.
What are our options now? One surgeon in Peoria who is in the health insurance network. She met with us on November 28, and assured us that even though she has not operated in the removal of a prostate this big before, she feels confident that she can do it safely. But when can it be done? Not until February 17, 2017. This is getting dangerously close to the four month "safety" window of time they recommend from biopsy results to surgery to catch it before it spreads to other parts of the body.
Since the surgery is now after the beginning of a new fiscal year, the maximum deductible will now reset and it will cost us $7,000 out of pocket for the surgery. Oh, and by the way, that biopsy of his lymph nodes that was supposed to be covered is now being billed to us for $1500 as well as $800 for the ten minutes we had with the anesthesiologist in Chicago.
My father, Mike, is retired and has a fixed income. He and my mother are only 64 years old. He already has high medical costs to maintain stability with his diabetes and high blood pressure conditions. I want them to have many years together to enjoy retirement. This can't happen if we don't get the cancer removed in time. Please consider giving towards the cost of the surgery.
Organizer and beneficiary
Melinda Watts-Ellis
Organizer
Urbana, IL
Michael Watts
Beneficiary
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