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Suzanne - Welcome back. Be sure to check with the new insurance coverage before dropping the old. Many companies have a standing rule that pre-diagnosed diseases have to wait a long period of time before becoming eligible for any coverage. I've never heard of Tri-Care for Life, but there are so many new ones now, that that doesn't mean anything. And since it may be new, please check to see how stable they are. Good luck. Jo Ann from Houston On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 12:37:56 -0500 Greg & Suzanne <[log in to unmask]> writes: > 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