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PET SCAN. Will most health insurance pay for a PET Scan?

By admin on February 27, 2011

Also, how difficult is it to scedule one? I have had melanoma before and I think this would be a good way to ease my mind as far as having cancer is concerned. Do I just request one?

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5 responses to “PET SCAN. Will most health insurance pay for a PET Scan?”

  1. sunshine
    sunshine
    February 27, 2011 at 7:20 am |

    you have to get your oncologist to request one. if not the insurance company wont pay anything on it. i had 5 scans done on the same day. it took 8 hours to do all of them. they prefer not to have any other scans the same day. but some one screwed up and scheduled all of mine the same day.

  2. zrepmd
    zrepmd
    February 27, 2011 at 7:49 am |

    Most insurance companies will cover PET scans for melanoma, but not for screening. It is not an “ease your mind” test. A normal PET scan does not mean you are free and clear of melanoma. A PET scan can miss at least 10 million cancer cells all grouped together. Unless you have symptoms/signs to suggest recurrence or are being staged, a PET would almost assuredly be denied in this situation.

    God bless, best wishes

  3. John
    John
    February 27, 2011 at 8:10 am |

    A PET scan can be organised and happen fairly quickly, provided it goes through your oncologist or appropriate caring physician. This would usually be covered for an existing condition, but not just for screening purposes.

    Keep in mind however that PET scans are only used to detect the activity of cancerous cells in a known mass/tumour. As such, they are a very accurate means of identifying the presence and activity of some cancers, within limitations. A PET scan would normally be used in conjunction with a CT scan to obtain an effective overlay of the images. As the CT will show any abnormal growth the PET scan would reveal if there are any live cancerous cells in the given area.
    However, PET scans are not full proof as they may not accurately identify cancerous growth that is less than about 8mm in size. This equates to approximately 1 million (1×10^6) cancerous cells that may go undetected. Therefore, to ensure the accuracy of a PET scan, the active cancerous growth would need to comprise of 1×10^9 cancerous cells. This would equate to a tumour size of between 1-2cm.

  4. Jaime
    Jaime
    February 27, 2011 at 8:21 am |

    I am going for one on Tues. My insurance pays for it. You need your oncologist to write you a prescription to have one.

  5. michelle m
    michelle m
    February 27, 2011 at 8:39 am |

    positron emission tomography otherwise known as the (PET)scan is used to detect different types of cancer/ heart desease ,a whole body PET scan may be used to detect wheather the cancer is isolated to one specific area or not. you can chat with an oncology speacialist online now at cancercenter.com
    locate a medical imaging or radiation oncologist provider here is an web address

    www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=pet
    here is a site prepairing for a PET scan
    www.insighthealth.com/patient_faqs.asp?mid=4
    a pet scan usually last about 2-3 hours they will inject you with a glucose (sugar solution) that contains a radioactive tracer the onocoligist can help you please get that check out love ya my prayers and best wishes to you and your family if i can help in any other way let me know my email address is michelle_moore07@yahoo.com good luck email me any time

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