Originally Posted by
datlas
I will stay out of it due to the details,, but IMHO the vast majority of patients who get "annual" stress tests don't really need them. The system is kinda broken, though. Patients LOVE stress tests because it reassures them they are well...cardiologists LOVE the tests because it makes them lots of money and also protects them from lawsuits...but the problem is that insurance pays the costs so we all end up paying.
We can talk offline if you wish, but honestly if you trust your cardiologist go by what he/she says and ignore so-called internet experts.
Well, I just got off the horn with the gal at the office that was doing some insurance legwork for me, and this year they might have ordered a nuclear stress test as opposed to the non-nuclear version, I guess? I just got back into my patient portal and verified that this upcoming one will be nuclear (thallium).
If my insurance was paying the cost I'd be much less pissed right now. Insurance is sticking to their guns, so Christmas this year is looking bleak.