This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

This made me sad:

Butler's surgery in Mexico cost her around $25,000 and her house, which she had to sell to pay for the treatment.

Hoping not to go hopelessly into debt, Andries has found a clinic in New York State that will perform the surgery for about $6,000.
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/ ... ?e=2846301

Please, anyone considering paying over $20,000 for this, know that you might be able to get it elsewhere for half that. And probably the people here already know this. But this woman sold her house for this. (She did get improvements to show for it, thank goodness. This was also last year, so the prices might have been higher all around then? But they aren't anymore.)

OMG I made a HUGE mistake, the procedure was $10,000.00.......not $20,000.00 like I originally posted! I am so sorry for the mistake, thank you CeCe!!!!!! I guess I meant I would like to know where the procedure is $6,000.00 because that sounds too low to me for what the procedure is.

It would be interesting to know where in Mexico is charging this sort of amount for the treatment, and what exactly they are supplying for this sort of money. My wife went to Cabo San Lucas where the
procedure including Doppler and MRI, copies of U/S , MRI and DVD of the veins opening and flowing cost $10,500 US. Of course we had to pay for airfare, hotel for week and meals etc, but that would have been the cost of a vacation anyway. Obviously people are not doing their research in their eagerness to get the treatment, and because of that it would be very easy to get screwed by some unsrupilous outfits (which is one of the criticisms of "medcal tourism" as a whole - but in Canada we don't have a lot of choice, so we really need good research and not be afraid to seek advice).

soapdiva, I sent you a pm.

Here is a good reference thread ("Cost of liberation procedure"):
http://www.thisisms.com/ftopict-13717.html

I looked into the self pay cost of things this week, in case insurance is beginning to push back. The three places I investigated ranged from $7,500 to $10,000. (Chicago, MN, and NY.)

I wanted to mention that most hotels near a major medical center will have a lower medical rate if you know to ask. You can check with the medical center to find out which hotels. The one I stayed in cut $200 off the nightly rate.

And if you travel by Amtrak (in the US) there are good discounts for people who use wheelchairs, as well as one companion traveling to assist you.

Maybe that will help someone!

Essential Health Clinic in Glasgow for Scans (treatment in Edinburgh).

Totaly cost around £5,800 - that's consultation, scans, procedure, follow up consultation, plus 6 month check up.

Equates to approx:-

6,800 Euros
9,150 USD/CAD

soapdiva884 wrote:OMG I made a HUGE mistake, the procedure was $10,000.00.......not $20,000.00 like I originally posted! I am so sorry for the mistake, thank you CeCe!!!!!! I guess I meant I would like to know where the procedure is $6,000.00 because that sounds too low to me for what the procedure is.

I've seen that number for Dr. Siskin at the clinic where it's self-pay but don't know if that's the final cost number.

Soapdiva, glad that was a mistake, I didn't know what to think!

VeeBee wrote:There was a post the other day about a woman selling her house to pay for an unsucessful treatment.

Just to clarify, this was a post about a woman selling her house for a SUCCESSFUL treatment.

Cece wrote:

VeeBee wrote:There was a post the other day about a woman selling her house to pay for an unsucessful treatment.

Just to clarify, this was a post about a woman selling her house for a SUCCESSFUL treatment.

Sorry Cece I stand corrected. Wasn't meant to mislead. Cant edit it, thread locked. I get worried when I hear of talks about selling homes for treatment.

The article got a little confusing when it was playing off the 2 women for pricing, I misread it for 2nd treatment.

Im aware of the re-stenosis rate but wasnt a year ago. It's a huge exclusion even to success stories and needs to be added regardless.

The ad is "Trying to create awareness" so although it might not sell CCSVI as well as I think it should be mandatory to explain the possibilities otherwise we're getting into dangerous territory.

Awareness groups seriously need re-training. People are being mislead by marketing teams. A few in particular should be fired on the spot.

The brand link was mis-spelled "LiberationTreatmentCVSI.com" cutting into much valued profits.

Could someone write to

michael.peeling@sunmedia.ca

..and ask him to correct it along with some stats on success/re-stenosis rate. I'm not interested in being the skeptic that some business entities are trying to label me as but I'm not keen on misleading awareness groups.

Hopefully you can understand my point of view this time

Cece
Thank you for providing this. It's important that patients know what procedures are going to cost ahead of time. As far as I know the price for the procedure ranges from about $7000 to $40000. In a free market system the guy who is charging $7000 would get all the business and the guy charging $40,000 would either have to lower his price or go out of business. But because of insurance many people don't worry about the cost because insurance is paying it. But that cost still goes into the healthcare system and results in higher insurance premiums. This isn't just an issue with Liberation but with the whole US healthcare system.

David1949 wrote:Cece
Thank you for providing this. It's important that patients know what procedures are going to cost ahead of time. As far as I know the price for the procedure ranges from about $7000 to $40000. In a free market system the guy who is charging $7000 would get all the business and the guy charging $40,000 would either have to lower his price or go out of business. But because of insurance many people don't worry about the cost because insurance is paying it. But that cost still goes into the healthcare system and results in higher insurance premiums. This isn't just an issue with Liberation but with the whole US healthcare system.

With some insurances, people are paying a portion (80%/20%?).

I started thinking about this after the report of Mr. Mostic's death, when it kept getting repeated that he'd paid $30,000 in June for the CCSVI venoplasty procedure. Does anyone know of any places currently charging that amount? Or even $20,000?

Last time I checked the doctor in South Bend charges $40,000.

David, that's exactly what I was looking for! Got any more?

This came up on a google on Facebook from two weeks ago:

Does anyone know the costs of the procedure here in the US. I had my first procedure in South Bend Indiana. The insurance covered it, but I have since restenosed and they are baulking at covering it again since I have MS and it is considered experimental. The hospital I had it done at in Indiana quoted me at $20,000... without insurance. They had quoted me at $37,000 with insurance and it ended up being around $48,000. I can not afford that kind of money without insurance. I have heard a wide array of prices without coverage and am looking to go elsewhere if it is close and costs less.

Cece I ran a thread on Liberation costs a while ago. It's here;
http://www.thisisms.com/ftopict-13717.html

David1949 wrote:Cece I ran a thread on Liberation costs a while ago. It's here;
http://www.thisisms.com/ftopict-13717.html

That was a great thread, I even linked to it about ten posts up in this thread! It was good just to see each amount laid out right after the other. I like forums but one thing that is unfortunate is that information like that does get buried.