Life for Lyme, a division of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce health and medical alliance, held a significant meeting today with Assemblyman David Weprin, Chair of the Committee of Insurance NY State, his Chief of Staff David Sperry, and Legislative Director Alejandro Avellaneda. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss introducing legislation to address the urgent need to make it mandatory for all insurance companies in NY State to cover extended testing and treatment for Tick borne infections. Families especially with breadwinners or children at home with chronic tick born illnesses cannot afford to pay out of pocket private care which accumulates in the thousands of dollars a month for private treatment.

 

During the meeting, the Life for Lyme team highlighted several issues that currently exist with the coverage and treatment of Lyme disease and other tick borne infections. One major concern is that insurers do not cover the necessary time required for diagnosis and treatment. This leads to doctors being unable to properly identify and treat patients, resulting in prolonged suffering and worsening of symptoms.

 

Furthermore, doctors are often hesitant to treat or report cases of Lyme disease due to differences in medical opinions and disagreements with medical boards. This reluctance stems from the fear of being penalized or facing consequences from the boards. As a result, patients are left without proper care and have to resort to traveling long distances to find doctors willing to treat them.

 

Insurance companies, being publicly traded corporations, prioritize profit over patient care. They often exploit legal and medical loopholes to deny coverage, particularly when it comes to the debate surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of tick borne infections. This leaves patients without the necessary coverage for tests and treatments, exacerbating their condition.

 

Life for Lyme proposes several key solutions in order to address these issues. Firstly, insurance companies should be required to cover the tests recommended by doctors, including multiple screenings to ensure accuracy. They should also be obligated to cover more advanced testing from reputable labs such as Igenex and Galaxy.

 

Additionally, insurers should not deny coverage for the time it takes for doctors to properly diagnose and treat chronic Lyme disease. This includes extending patient intervals and allowing for adequate consultation time. Insurance companies should also be mandated to cover long-term antibiotic treatment as recommended by Lyme experts.

 

In conclusion, it is crucial to enact laws that ensure insurance companies provide comprehensive coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease and other tick borne infections. By mandating coverage for extended testing, allowing sufficient consultation time for doctors, and providing coverage for long-term treatments, we can alleviate the suffering of patients and improve their overall quality of life.