Raytel no longer accepts insurance payments...

[JeanneImp]

I just got off the phone with Raytel (CT office) and was told that the compnay no longer accepts insurance...

Is there another place to order test strips that takes insurance, does anyone know?

Thanks

 

[geebee]

QAS - link is at the top of the page.

 

[Ross]

I just got off the phone with Raytel (CT office) and was told that the compnay no longer accepts insurance...

Is there another place to order test strips that takes insurance, does anyone know?

Thanks

You've got to be kidding me. Did you try calling and talking to someone else? Sorry, just hard to believe since that is really the way they make money.

 

[JeanneImp]

You've got to be kidding me. Did you try calling and talking to someone else? Sorry, just hard to believe since that is really the way they make money.

Nope not kidding! I talked to several people there. They said their company could not afford to hire enough people to do the claims.... I am shocked to say the least, since we have been doing business with them for a long time.

 

[JeanneImp]

QAS - link is at the top of the page.

Duh.... thanks Gina! I just called them.

 

[Ross]

Nope not kidding! I talked to several people there. They said their company could not afford to hire enough people to do the claims.... I am shocked to say the least, since we have been doing business with them for a long time.

Hmm, wonder if their about to go under?

 

[KathyH]

I just got strips from the Raytell Company in Windsor CT and didn't hear anything about that. Is that the same office you are talking about? I will be sure to call early before I run out. My insurance Company had told me Raytell would be the only company I could use. Thanks for the info.
Kathy H

 

[Karlynn]

I would think you could pay and then file your own claim with your insurance. It seems very sketchy to not be accepting insurance claims when this is a medical supply company that has to be doing most of their billing to insurance companies. Can't believe such a business would end up staying in business without dealing with insurance companies. Not to mention that it would be nice if they informed their current customers of the situation.

I had been ording my things through Raytel, because quite frankly, they were 1/2 the price of QAS. However, when I set about trying to get an INRatio machine they got very "hinky" and I got lots of conflicting information. Now QAS is handling my request.

 

[JeanneImp]

I just got strips from the Raytell Company in Windsor CT and didn't hear anything about that. Is that the same office you are talking about? I will be sure to call early before I run out. My insurance Company had told me Raytell would be the only company I could use. Thanks for the info.
Kathy H

Yes, Windsor.... I called today and was told and then one of my heart-mom friends called. She was told the same.... Being a single mom, she cannot afford to pay out and wait.

Now here is another question, the INRatio's are bought, not leased right?? Sandy thinks she should return her INRation andlook elsewhere. I think that is just crazy.....

 

[Cris N]

Puzzling indeed since United Health Care told me Raytel is their only in-network provider.

 

[Natanni]

I was on the phone all day yesterday with QAS and I believe we are in the same boat with our Blue Cross Blue Shield policy; We will need to purchase Nathan's supplies out of pocket and be reimbursed afterward. QAS could submit the claim to our insurance, but we would still need to purchase first. Nathan's INRatio was reimbursed immediately, however we have yet to get one box of his strips reimbursed yet.

 

[catwoman]

Puzzling indeed since United Health Care told me Raytel is their only in-network provider.

OK, I just spoke with someone at Raytel. He said that the company is STILL working with UHC.
He said that other insurance companies took so long in compensating Raytel that the higher-ups decided to drop all other companies. He suggested that people with other insurance pay Raytel directly and submit claims to their carriers.

 

[Blanche]

Sadly folks, this is the way of the future. More and more doctors and medical support companies are being dragged down in the costs of claims. Our doctor has stopped taking medicare assignments because he says he can no longer afford the staff necessary to process claims. The lab that I frequent has also done a similar thing. They are approved by my insurance, but they will only deal with me if I pay at time of service and submit my own claim. I have done this with no problems.

I don't know about Raytel, but I do know that if your insurance covers supplies from Raytel, you can pay at time of order and submit the bill to your insurance for payment.

Blanche

 

[Dennis S]

Doesn't make sense to me:

Doesn't make sense to me:

Assuming this to be true, I don't get the Raytel business plan. Right now they send me my strips, and fax to my Dr. the results I call into them. If I have to get my own strips, I don't think it is going to be too long before I get my strips, run my test and call my Dr. directly if I have an out of range reading. This would save the insurance companies a lot of money. We all know that things that save the insurance company money have a way of coming to pass.

 

[JeanneImp]

Just got off the phone with QAS, they did not have my first order in their system! *sigh* I did it all over again... I asked the cost of the strips and was told a box of 12 is 157.00!!!!

I then called Raytel to overnight the box of 12 as we need them ASAP! Cost? 84.00

Strange, eh?

 

[Karlynn]

I can't figure out why Raytel charges 1/2 of what QAS does for testing supplies. When I switched from QAS to Raytel for my ProTime cuvettes it was 350 compared to 187?????

 

[Guest]

I have been wonderiing about Raytel, too. At first I could not figure out how their plan was going to work. Then they decided to advertise on my website (so I quit wondering). Then when it was time for renewal the VP told me that he was sure that they were going to continue advertising so I submitted an invoice. But it never got paid. So I am taking their ads off my pages as I go along. No I am back to wondering if they are going to make it. The Medicare rules are so complicated that I wondered how it would ever work. I'm not surprised that some doctors are balking at the Raytel plan. Some doctors have told me that their malpractice insurance companies are telling them that they want patients to go to Coumadin Clinics because we do the best job of managing it.

 

[Cris N]

I am still in limbo with UHC & Raytel... got approved for the service plan but that's not my first choice. Sent Raytel back to UHC to inquire about purchase & supply out-of-pocket cost. In talking with my Coumadin clinic nurse I'm not sure how cooperative the physician community will really be on the 'service plan'. Insurance company pays Raytel for the lease of the equipment & supplies, patient self-tests & phones in the results. Raytel faxes info to doctor's office who is then supposed to adjust the dosage. Only problem with my coverage & the contract that have with my medical group is that the doctor's office cannot receive any compensation from insurance company for a phone call to me. Not that I would want them to but the theory is there. Can't see the doctors wanting to keep that up for very long. As is it now, the insurance company is paying the Coumadin clinic roughly $40/week for my visit. Now that money will go into Raytel's pocket. Dr. office & affiliated Coumadin clinic is more than happy for me to self-test & self dose but I wonder how they'd feel about taking the responsibility for dosage management without getting paid.

I will probably be having a conversation with UHC next week about the concern of Raytel's viability in this market.

 

[Karlynn]

When I first explored getting a new machine (I've home tested for 4 years and my old machine is in need of refurbishment.) I started with Raytel since that's where I had been ordering my supplies. After much run-around, they told me they no longer sell the machines outright, they only do the service plan. I was told by a believable party, that this was not the case. So my thought was that Raytel was just trying to get me onboard with their service. No thanks, been doing it on my own too long.

You may want to get a firm, in-writing, statement from Raytel that they no longer sell the machines and only do service plans. Then get a statement from your doctor that he does not want you on the service plan and wants you to home test and deal directly with the clinic without the 'middile-man' service Raytel provides. If Raytel still refuses to sell one outright, then make a request to UHC to go out of network to purchase one. Such as with QAS.

QAS is now, supposedly, pursuing a new machine for me, but I have had some uncharacteristic poor service. The woman handling my case left. I've had 3 calls from 3 different women saying they are now handling my case. The last was a month ago asking me to fax my INR record chart to her because the insurance company wanted it. I heard nothing, so I called BC/BS and talked to the nurse managing my case. My case had been closed because they'd received no response or action in at least a month. She never received my INR record chart that I faxed to QAS. She was also unware that I've been home testing for 4 years, there was nothing in her information on that. She thought it was a request to begin home testing. She said replacement is a whole different issue than someone wanting to begin testing at home. She said it should be less of a formality. She had me fax my chart directly to her, along with an explanation of why I was seeking a new machine and for what reason (mech mitral valve). She seemed to have high hopes she could get this taken care of.

I originally got my machine through QAS with fabulous service, so I'm pretty confused as to why this is happening. But I would still recommend going to QAS to get a new machine, if UHC lets you.

 

[Cris N]

I had a conversation with Raytel today... they finally got an answer to my purchasing machine with my UHC. It was as I expected, UHC 80%, me 20% on machine & supplies. But UHC will cover 100% for the service plan. My out of pocket on machine would be $400. So I opted for the service for now... just can't shell out $400. It should arrive next week. While I was on the phone I asked about the whole insurance thing. The answer I received was the only company they currently have a contract with for purchase was UHC. Everyone else was too slow pay. She said they're working with "all" the insurance companies with the service plan. So, I guess, they're just trying to make it more difficult for people to go the purchase route... making them shell out the money up front and then try to collect from insurance. So, until UHC no longer contracts with Raytel for the service this is the way I'll go. Just because I have to call in the results doesn't mean I have to count on the dr office to tell me what my dosage should be. I've spent the last 8 months working with the coumadin clinic nurse ... I've decided the dose & she's concurred.