CarolynandBob
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2016
- Messages
- 2,487
- Reaction score
- 4,400
So I have (according to the gov) high cholesterol. Not really that bad. Goes between 220 and 240. When I got out of the Navy at 22 they said I had high cholesterol. They didn't tell me the number, but I let it slide and didn't worry about it. When Obummer care started they have you get a yearly check up. My Dr was bugging me about my cholesterol and I told him it always is between 220-240. He said that must be your number and don't worry about it. His PA did try to push Statins on me a few years ago when Dr was on vacation and I told her to have the Dr call me when he returned. He never did.
Then he retired.
So now the new doc is bugging me to go on statins and I keep saying no. She says well then you need to change your diet. I eat pretty healthy, mainly fresh fruit, veggies and lean meats. Very little processed food, rarely have soda and drink socially. She says you need to get a calcium score done.
Here is the point of this thread. My insurance doesn't cover the test. It is only $99 here, so not a big deal. It is a CT scan of your heart to see how much plaque there is. So I went and the best score you can get is zero. Well that is what my score was, so at 57 and "bad" cholesterol for 35 ish years I have no plaque and a very low risk of heart disease.
So my question is why? Why doesn't insurance cover this test? Seams pretty simple way to determine if you need drugs. Would be cheaper for the insurance company over the long run. Is it just Dr's and big pharma pushing pills?
I told my wife I am going to get a scan every 2 years and not worry about the cholesterol number. She went and had her scan and it was zero also. After talking with friends about this some have some pretty high scores. One had 450 and one had 1200 and needed some stents.
Then he retired.
So now the new doc is bugging me to go on statins and I keep saying no. She says well then you need to change your diet. I eat pretty healthy, mainly fresh fruit, veggies and lean meats. Very little processed food, rarely have soda and drink socially. She says you need to get a calcium score done.
Here is the point of this thread. My insurance doesn't cover the test. It is only $99 here, so not a big deal. It is a CT scan of your heart to see how much plaque there is. So I went and the best score you can get is zero. Well that is what my score was, so at 57 and "bad" cholesterol for 35 ish years I have no plaque and a very low risk of heart disease.
So my question is why? Why doesn't insurance cover this test? Seams pretty simple way to determine if you need drugs. Would be cheaper for the insurance company over the long run. Is it just Dr's and big pharma pushing pills?
I told my wife I am going to get a scan every 2 years and not worry about the cholesterol number. She went and had her scan and it was zero also. After talking with friends about this some have some pretty high scores. One had 450 and one had 1200 and needed some stents.