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Joined: Nov 2002
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Dental trays are primarily used for cosmetic purposes, such as teeth whitening so I haven't heard, yet, of any insurance co., dental or medical paying for them. Unfair - yes, but much of life is. Like John above my dentist made them for me gratis. Small reward for not referring me sooner to an ENT after my repeated requests of "What the hell is this large tan rubbery blob in my throat, pushing my uvula to the side?"...

They were 200 bucks (if I had to pay for them) at the time and they had to do a full mouth impression. They should be stored on the full mouth impression mold(s) to keep their shape. I still use mine 7 years post Tx. Your gums are going to take a beating from the radiation you will need them.

Look on the bright side - at least he has his teeth. Trays are very cheap insurance. You can write them off.


Gary Allsebrook
***********************************
Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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andys were $300. $150 down, and $150 when they came in. ins didnt cover them. good luck.


Teresa
-----------
CG to ANDY. Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC)
T2N2cMxG4 stage 4. 43 @ dx 8/31/09
tx 9/21/09-11/06/09 cispatin/docetaxel/5-FU X3
PORT 9/9/09, PEG 12/07/09
35 IMRT-1/wk carbo 11/30/09-2/3/10
tx stopped due to complications
IMRT BOOST 3/08-3/12/10
PET 4/12/10 CLEAR!
PEG out 4/14/10
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When my husband received his trays they were not covered on my medical or dental insurance. That was a cost that we had to pay out of pocket


Crgvr to Husband 55-yrs, surgery to remove cyst-diagnosed as SCC, 4/3/09 CT & Pet Scan showed more cancer in left lymph node and primary at the base of the tongue.TX Radiation 7 weeks 5 days a week last day is 6/25/09
Chemo completed 6/19/09
Peg Tube 5/22/09
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Mine was covered by medical insurance (as it should be) as Cancer is a medical condition. Appeal the decision by the medical insurance company and copy the insurance commissioner of your state.


Stage 4 squamous cell tonsil cancer. Two lymph nodes involved surgically removed before source found to be tonsil. Implant radiation right on tonsil, regular mask radiation therapy for two months and a final Implant radiation. All clear confirmed by PET scans for 6 years.
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Chris, this is an old post, I doubt Elizabeth is able to go back 15 months to make an appeal. Please watch the dates when responding to posts and giving advice.

Ex.... I just had to move a post to put it where it was more relevant. The original post was a few years old. Sadly 3 of the members who commented on the thread have passed away. So please watch the dates, as not to upset any family members by giving advice to someone who is no longer with us. It hurts reading the words of my deceased friends!


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
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Whatever happened to Brian's' plan to lock down down old posts . It's not only annoying but distressing when they resurrecting a three year old post from dead members we knew like another poster just did with Pete D. ( I complained about that one too) But since this post is still here, let me disagree

Gary is right here that most insurance companies will not and do not pay for flouride trays. If you read your contract, dental expenses like this are usually excluded from health benefit coverage even if they are now required as a consequence of having cancer.
Perhaps you might have some luck in California where the state is very active (gift cards that expire in the other 49 states don't expire there) in regulation but I know that the fluoride trays are not reimbursed under the Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance plans.

Last edited by Charm2017; 04-22-2011 05:02 PM. Reason: toned it down

65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin

Passed away 4-29-13
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[quote=ChristineB]Chris, this is an old post, I doubt Elizabeth is able to go back 15 months to make an appeal. Please watch the dates when responding to posts and giving advice.

Ex.... I just had to move a post to put it where it was more relevant. The original post was a few years old. Sadly 3 of the members who commented on the thread have passed away. So please watch the dates, as not to upset any family members by giving advice to someone who is no longer with us. It hurts reading the words of my deceased friends! [/quote]

Sorry. I didn't even notice the date. I'm still fairly new here.
Have a good weekend,
Chris


Stage 4 squamous cell tonsil cancer. Two lymph nodes involved surgically removed before source found to be tonsil. Implant radiation right on tonsil, regular mask radiation therapy for two months and a final Implant radiation. All clear confirmed by PET scans for 6 years.
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I think Fluoride trays are critical for many folks who are having RT, and they can be the difference between saving teeth vs not, since Radiation caries can be rampant.
I agree with trying to have medical insurance pay for them, since they are primarily for dealing with effects of Tx from RT

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Sameh

Welcome to OCF. Well said. Your profile says you are a dentist. Has it been your experience that your patients can get reimbursed by their insurance? My impression was that most posters had difficulty or total refusal by their insurance company to pay for the trays. It was so strange to have my insurance deny payment claiming I don't have the optional federal dental insurance, but still pay every month for the prescription flouride gel.
No body disagrees with trying, but the question is whether the effort is futile or fruitful. As a dentist you would be a good position to share with us your experiences with whether insurance pays for the flouride trays you make for your patients.
Charm



65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin

Passed away 4-29-13
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 440
ESikon Offline OP
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WOW! So much time has past since this post and I never got reimbursed!!LOL I tried and tried but gave up. In my case the effort was futile but if you don't ask and try you will never know.


Dx 3/27/09 @ 28 years old with High Grade MEC T4N2M0
Elizabeth, 33, mother of 3 girls (4,7, &8yrs old)
3 rds of chemo(Carbo/Taxol)
Rt Mandibulectomy, rt fibular flap,& rt ND with trach, picc,& g-tube.
30 rds of rads with weekly cisplatin
SCANS ALL CLEAR!
OCF Regional Coordinator of San Antonio Walk
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