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4 Year NED and Question on Follow-up Scans / Insurance Issues
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4 Year NED and Question on Follow-up Scans / Insurance Issues

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › 4 Year NED and Question on Follow-up Scans / Insurance Issues

  • Post
    • December 5, 2023 at 3:06 pm
    Steve33
    Participant
      Hi All,

      Writing here today as I celebrate 4 years NED! (Stage 3B). I pray for those on this forum who are fighting and hope this message brings hope.

      I’m curious what others have been doing in terms of scanning frequency after 3 years NED. There is a growing disconnect between my doctors recommendations and what insurance will cover.

      After 3 years NED, My doctors recommended 9 month frequency for CT scan With brain MRI. Insurance will cover CT scans every 12 months and will not cover brain MRI after 3 years NED without symptoms or CT scan showing recurrence. They won’t cover CT scans after 5 years. I feel like I have good insurance coverage, but frustrating that they won’t cover everything recommended my doctors.

      The NCCN 2023 guidelines for melanoma seems to align with insurance.

      What frequency / scope of follow up scans are others doing after 3 years?

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        • December 16, 2023 at 11:58 pm
        JudiAU
        Participant
          At stage 4 with a brain met and NED since immunotherapy, I was still getting brain MRI and and CT scans every four months until I just hit four years. Then I switched to six months. Occasionally the doctor switched to PET from CT.
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