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Dear Greg & Suzanne, My name is Paula (from PA) and I was diagnosed in May of 1992. I have had DBS and my first change of batteries this past Tuesday. First, I'm curious that BOTH your parents have PD. Secondly, will Tri-Care for Life take on people with pre-existing conditions? Personally, I would stay with Blue Cross/Blue Shield with Medicare being Primary. I would hang in there until we see exactly what changes the government has in mind. If you care to return this e-mail, my address is [log in to unmask] Good luck. Paula ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg & Suzanne" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2004 12:37 PM Subject: Urgent Question About Health Insurance > Hi, fellow list members-- > > I was a member of this list a couple of years ago, seeking answers to > questions for my parents, who have Parkinson's. I am returning with an > urgent question about health insurance. My parents want to terminate > their > secondary Blue Cross/Blue Shield (Medicare Primary) coverage and > substitute > for it Tri-Care for Life, which is available only to military veterans on > pension. > > What are list members' recommendations? Mom phoned me today and told me > that they were thinking of changing. Dad is a retired federal employee, > so > they must decide by November 15. Mom and Dad have phoned all their > doctors, who say they will continue treating them under Tri-Care for > Life. Mom and Dad tell me that they are tired of all the paper work > demanded by Blue Cross/Blue Shield. When I got them to enroll in Blue > Cross/Blue Shield about six years ago, it was the opinion of many on this > list serve that Blue Cross/ Blue Shield would be their best bet for their > situation. They had big problems with their previous HMO when they were > in > the hospital, so we would like to be careful. Please give us any advice > on > experience you have had. > > For background on my parents' PD: My parents, ages 86 and 79, have been > treated for PD for the past six and four years, respectively. My Dad has > been diagnosed with the tremor dominant-type PD, takes Sinamet, and is > lucky enough to still be able to swim regularly and drive some. Mom has > been diagnosed with PN; two neurologists suggested that she may have the > PD > variety, where the muscles stiffen. She does not wish to pursue further > diagnosis, because she has had great difficulty tolerating drugs and > prefers to stay on the least amount of Sinamet that her family > practitioner > prescribed. She is frail, has balance problems, and uses a > walker. Despite their health problems, they are very happy living > independently in an apartment in a continuing care retirement community. > > Thanks in advance for any advice list members can provide. > > --Suzanne > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn