@BlacknBlueSaint This waiting nonsense is for the birds. I understand the virtue of patience, but there is nothing virtuous when a person’s patience is stretched to the breaking point. That just becomes the definition of long-suffering.
In this instance, however, I recognize that Dr. Costantino has a full slate. He is taking good care of many people in this community, so I am happy to wait my turn to see someone, who I know is actually able and eager to help.
Absolutely no need to apologize, and I totally understand being fried by all the research investigating trying to get in touch with doctors coordinating tests. It’s a pain in the butt . Yes I will ask Andrea or Dr Lo about consulting without the Constantino as well. Thank you for your advice
Hey there!
Just wanted to check if you have a meeting scheduled with Dr. Lo soon. I’m really curious to hear how your appointments with them go, so it would be awesome if you could share an update after your visit.
Wishing you the best of luck!
Dr.Lo and his NP Andrea are great! Easy to talk to, they listen to what you have to say and they are taking the necessary steps in testing to get a better idea of what problems there are so far, also taking in consideration of all of my previous testing and symptoms. I have seen them twice so far and am in the process of scheduling a venogram. Fingers crossed everyone involved will be on the same page , so far I am comfortable with them and added bonus the are relatively local.
I did get my findings with Dr. Lo. Unfortunately Dr patsilades didn’t think the ijv compression was bad enough to do a venogram, so Dr Lo didn’t think I was a candidate for surgery. I’m just confused that the didn’t do a motion testing. When I turn my head things get worse?. My next step is trying to get approval out of network to see Dr Constantino.
I understand completely about being overwhelmed and not responding quickly…
Dr Lo didn’t think I was a candidate because ijv compression wasn’t bad enough. But sure if I agree. I have talked with Claudia and we are trying to get insurance to give me approval out of network. But I am going to ask to pay out of pocket to get the ball rolling in hopes that insurance will play nice🤞
@lilwider I didn’t wait for approval from insurance to see Dr. Costantino out-of-network. I chose to pay out of my own pocket for a new patient consultation. I figured it would be $350 well-spent, and thus far it has been. He ordered the imaging that other providers including my primary failed to order. I just had a CT without contrast and a CTV with contrast done on Tuesday, here at my local medical center, thanks to Dr. Costantino. Both were 3D and covered by insurance. Depending on the results of those images, he’ll decide whether I also need a dynamic MRI. If so, then I’ll travel to White Plains, because no one does them locally.
So don’t wait to schedule a consult. I’d recommend you go ahead and ask Claudia to get you on Dr. Costantino’s calendar. If he doesn’t believe you’re a candidate for surgery, then insurance becomes a non-issue. But if he does believe that you are, then you’ve got documentation from him to support your request for authorization.
Great advice @CoHDa!
I’m local to White plains so if you need anything, you can always contact me at sharon@bensfriends.org
Sharon from ModSuppport
@Isaiah_40_31 Thank you! Learning as I go, with the help of this forum!
@Mod_support Thanks so much for letting me know that.
It would also be nice to be able to meet some folks on the forum in-person at some point. Maybe in the hospital cafeteria post-op or even pre-op. 
Dr. Costantino has a revolving door of forum members, so it almost seems likely that a couple of folks would cross paths in the hospital at some point or another and not even know it.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I have scheduled an appointment with Dr. Constantino out of pocket pay. I’m hoping that my experience will be like yours🤞
Thank you so much for the offer, I’m relatively close by, we pass by his office 2x a week.
You’re very close by indeed!
@lilwider I hope all goes well.
Defeated again! I am still going to my appointment to Dr Constantino on Thursday as an out of pocket pay, which I am on with. But was hoping my insurance would give me an out of network exception. No luck. And it will probably be the same for it if state. Though they said we have Dr. Michael Persky NYU or Dr Scott Roof at Mount Sinai. Has anyone had any experiences with either. I tried to explain that I don’t want some random Dr to operate with little or no experience to eagles but they don’t seem to care. I guess I will have to try and get different insurance- going I can find a way to afford it.
I haven’t met him yet but my vascular neurologist works with Dr Mike Persky. I think he knows his stuff definitely worth a shot for an appointment. His father worked in this field a lot and trained him in it. He’s also aware of vascular ES. I know someone who is seeing him next month for c1 shave. Also, I had a surgery at NYU and for the most part it’s a great hospital and very reputable.
How long did it take you to get in to see him? Trying to find an eagles Dr that take fidelis has been a challenge. Im on Long Island and want to try and stay as close to home as I can. But from what I’m being told I may not have a choice because insurance will not accept out of state 
please keep in touch and tell me how things go.
I have not seen him yet, I’m awaiting the results of of upcoming venoplasty.
@lilwider I fully empathize. Medical insurance is such an evil entity. I appealed a denial for out-of-network authorization and was told that if I saw an in-network provider who agreed that Dr. Costantino is better suited to treat me, then insurance would authorize out-of-network treatment. My doctor made the referral to the in-network provider, who despite my follow-up calls to his office never bothered to respond to the referral. His staff told me that once he reviewed my medical records, I would be contacted. Never happened.
Ultimately, because the referral “timed out” through absolutely no fault of my own, I was told by insurance that I would have to make another request for authorization. But because I’d already appealed, I couldn’t make another request until December 18! In short, medical insurance is doing nothing for me other than insuring that I don’t receive care.
After telling the insurance company what I think about its policy that clearly doesn’t give a damn about the insured, I went online and learned that I still have the option of an external appeal. An external appeal means a third party reviews the request and if that third party sides with the patient, then the insurance company has to comply with the decision. There is a 4-month window to appeal a denial.
If you live in NYS, you can learn more about the right to appeal to the Department of Financial Services at dfs.ny.gov. They handle denials of health care services including requests for out-or-network care. You can also call the department at (800) 400-8882 or if you have a Medicaid managed care plan you can call (800) 342-3334.
Hopefully, after I call and have some questions answered, I’ll be able to start the external appeal process first thing on Monday. I hope this helps you and anyone else whose insurance carrier is denying care. And while I could be wrong, I don’t believe NY is the only state that offers this kind of resource for its residents.