Why Try to Predict Alzheimer’s If You Can’t Do Anything About It?
The new brain scan technology, which went on the market in June, is spreading fast. There are already more than 300 hospitals and imaging centers, located in most major metropolitan areas, that are ready to perform the scans, according to Eli Lilly, which sells the tracer used to mark plaque for the scan.
It is no longer necessary to wait until the person dies and has an autopsy to learn if the brain was studded with plaques.
And get this:
Many insurers, including Medicare, will not yet pay for the new scans, which cost several thousand dollars. And getting one comes with serious risks. While federal law prevents insurers and employers from discriminating based on genetic tests, it does not apply to scans. People with brain plaques can be denied long-term care insurance.
More on Alzheimer treatment options vs. detection from Gina Kolata.
So you buy long term care insurance, go get the scan, and if it comes back negative you simply let the insurance lapse…
…and then use your negative result to shop for a better deal in LTC insurance.
This would be a difficult decision. If you got the test and had a positive diagnosis, you could not get long term care insurance (without committing fraud). You could get your affairs in order, but your quality of life would be very low.
Ideally, this scan technology will help increase the research and development for Alzheimer’s treatment options!
Thanks
Steve
http://audiblerx.blogspot.com/2012/04/alzheimers-disease.html
It is good to know where you go atleast you can be prepared when that time comes.