Looking to getting an implant soon, but can't sort of..

[TB0711]

Hey, I live in DC and just turned 30. Never thought I’d be on a forum like this but here I am. I had bad priapism about three years ago that lasted a couple of days. I have had two failed blood release operation when it first happened and now it appears my penis is severely damaged and still kinda swollen in the middle.

I've seen about four urologists, three at HU hospital, one at Chesapeake Urology. I've been given an injection in my penis but my penis would only get partially hard and not really fully as I couldn't get it as hard on demand. I've taken pills but just make my penis warm and my pockets empty. I've been told I have really bad scar tissue after the operation (to release the priapism). I also tried to use a penis pump for a month with no real progress. My penis is wider flaccid than it was before the OP, but the head of my penis does not get hard. If yall want picks. I can show post some.

Unfortunately my insurance through my job, Cigna, simply does not cover them. I plan on switching my insurance and now is the open enrollment period, but I'm lost. I've lost a lot because of my ED and am ready to move past this stage. I've heard of great urologists like Dr.Kramer, but he seemed to leave the area. Dr Tak seems a great alternative. I’m making about $18hr, but that’s too much for Medicaid and too little for decent insurance that’s not covered through my job. I am willing to get on a payment plan if I must. Any suggestions?

[frwmw1]

That sounds terrible, I hope you stick around and get the support you need.

I would recommend keeping up with pills and VED to avoid penile atrophy, until surgery.

[Comebackkid]

How do you know Cigna will not cover it? Are u a federal employee? If you are only going by what the insurance coverage booklet says, have a surgeon run it through Cigna. I have Cigna and thought it would not be covered but JOhn Hopkins ran it through Cigna and I was good to go and I’m now 2 weeks post op

[TB0711]

How do you know Cigna will not cover it? Are u a federal employee? If you are only going by what the insurance coverage booklet says, have a surgeon run it through Cigna. I have Cigna and thought it would not be covered but JOhn Hopkins ran it through Cigna and I was good to go and I’m now 2 weeks post op

I tried twice with the response "we simply do not cover that operation". I have mail for proof.

[Comebackkid]

Again, did the request for the surgery come from a surgeon? Surgeons have different medical explanations that make it medically necessary for you to receive the surgery . You must go to an experienced surgeon and have them evaluate I have Cigna as well

[abhishek26]

Hey, I live in DC and just turned 30. Never thought I’d be on a forum like this but here I am. I had bad priapism about three years ago that lasted a couple of days. I have had two failed blood release operation when it first happened and now it appears my penis is severely damaged and still kinda swollen in the middle.

I've seen about four urologists, three at HU hospital, one at Chesapeake Urology. I've been given an injection in my penis but my penis would only get partially hard and not really fully as I couldn't get it as hard on demand. I've taken pills but just make my penis warm and my pockets empty. I've been told I have really bad scar tissue after the operation (to release the priapism). I also tried to use a penis pump for a month with no real progress. My penis is wider flaccid than it was before the OP, but the head of my penis does not get hard. If yall want picks. I can show post some.

Unfortunately my insurance through my job, Cigna, simply does not cover them. I plan on switching my insurance and now is the open enrollment period, but I'm lost. I've lost a lot because of my ED and am ready to move past this stage. I've heard of great urologists like Dr.Kramer, but he seemed to leave the area. Dr Tak seems a great alternative. I’m making about $18hr, but that’s too much for Medicaid and too little for decent insurance that’s not covered through my job. I am willing to get on a payment plan if I must. Any suggestions?

How did you end up getting priapism if I may ask?

[newbie443]

If you are not getting normal nocturnal erections I would suggest using your VED for therapy. You can do a search or look in the general section of this forum under the documents worth reading thread. This is not using a VED for sex but rather using it to pull blood into your penis to stretch the tissue in place of the missing regular erections healthy men get. When these nocturnal erections stop or greatly diminish size loss occurs. So I would say to start this now and keep it up until you are able to get your implant. Next is you should be able to get a copy of you Cigna Insurance policy. What you will be looking for is an employer exclusion in the policy for Penile implants. Some employers do this to save costs as they are paying for some or all of the insurance cost. There have been others who have tried to fight this and most have lost. But I think there may have been one or 2 who have won coverage for injury coverage or something.

As far as buying insurance that has coverage I do buy my own and pay about 1275.00 a month for a BCBS Gold exclusive provider plan. Or just over 15K a year and then I have a 1500 deductible and 3500 max out of pocket. So 19K for the insurance and my part. And last I checked there were parts of this surgery with my approved providers that insurance did not cover. You can check your states health care market place for Obama Care plans and see if you qualify for reduced rate on the insurance. But it sounds like you will either not qualify or just get a 10% reduction.

Another thing you can do is to pay out of pocket and ask Dr. Tak if he has a cash price for this. Then start saving or even get a second source of income (2nd job or on the side business).

You can even do both and start saving a out of pocket fund while you fight this with help hopefully from your doctor. But the cost for a health insurance policy will be basically the same as paying out of pocket. Thing is if you pay out of pocket and need a repair then will your insurance pay for it. Lots to think about and will take some time to get there so in the mean time you should be doing VED therapy to reduce size loss. You may even consider a loan for this and your doctor may have information on this or try contacting Coloplast or AMS. Or you may want to contact your own financial companies. Secure loan on a retirement fund, or equity of real estate or other personal property.

All the best going forward with this.

[TB0711]

Again, did the request for the surgery come from a surgeon? Surgeons have different medical explanations that make it medically necessary for you to receive the surgery . You must go to an experienced surgeon and have them evaluate I have Cigna as well

Cigna told me that, but are urologists willing to do the OP not considered surgeons? I didn't request it, they did. Dr.Melissa Mendez is an experienced surgeon. I'm will to make appointments with Dr.Tak too though. Not all Cigna plans are the same though, couldn't it be different because it is with my employer, maybe like a watered-down plan?

[TB0711]

Hey, I live in DC and just turned 30. Never thought I’d be on a forum like this but here I am. I had bad priapism about three years ago that lasted a couple of days. I have had two failed blood release operation when it first happened and now it appears my penis is severely damaged and still kinda swollen in the middle.

I've seen about four urologists, three at HU hospital, one at Chesapeake Urology. I've been given an injection in my penis but my penis would only get partially hard and not really fully as I couldn't get it as hard on demand. I've taken pills but just make my penis warm and my pockets empty. I've been told I have really bad scar tissue after the operation (to release the priapism). I also tried to use a penis pump for a month with no real progress. My penis is wider flaccid than it was before the OP, but the head of my penis does not get hard. If yall want picks. I can show post some.

Unfortunately my insurance through my job, Cigna, simply does not cover them. I plan on switching my insurance and now is the open enrollment period, but I'm lost. I've lost a lot because of my ED and am ready to move past this stage. I've heard of great urologists like Dr.Kramer, but he seemed to leave the area. Dr Tak seems a great alternative. I’m making about $18hr, but that’s too much for Medicaid and too little for decent insurance that’s not covered through my job. I am willing to get on a payment plan if I must. Any suggestions?

How did you end up getting priapism if I may ask?

Sure, I have Sickle Cell and that can cause it. Unfortunately, I found out about it the same time it happened and it changed my life.

[RoboCock69]

How do you know Cigna will not cover it? Are u a federal employee? If you are only going by what the insurance coverage booklet says, have a surgeon run it through Cigna. I have Cigna and thought it would not be covered but JOhn Hopkins ran it through Cigna and I was good to go and I’m now 2 weeks post op

Cigna blows a pair of nuts. You're the only person I've ever heard of whose implant they covered.