[russiasux]

There isn't a ton of boiler plate here. I was pretty lucky in that unlike most patients I actually felt better when something was working.

That didn't mean it solved the problem but it did mean I had some hints as far as what might work and feed back to pass to my second, third and fourth opinions.

That said insurance hides behind "medically necessary" procedures and medications.

In the real world if you are a tech founder (I was) you are betting on your self and hoping to make the right decisions. I made just about enough to stay alive and not go bankrupt but no where near good decisions to give you or anyone else any advice on what might work (you could have any number of different co-infections which each would change the calculus on which drugs might help).

[anjel]

The medical insurance racket has everyone hypnotized into following their financial interests. Go to a new doctor and say the magic words "no insurance, im paying out of pocket" and suddenly a new, often times very affordable hidden cost menu appears, a menu doctors are contractually prohibited from showing you if you are insured. It's the reason the first question you're asked at the front desk is "do you have insurance." Out-of-pocket, office visits are 150 to 300, follow ups are 40 to 75 procedures are a fraction they quote when youre insured and copaying costs, and most importantly, your doctor is free to treat you, without insurance cost restraints bending his medical judgement. Its a whole new ballgame.