United Healthcare Optum Cancer Resource Center ?

When I was DXed in 04 we had United Health and they contacted me. They had assigned a nurse coordinator who was very aggressive about offering her service. She wanted to make sure that I was getting appropriate care. I told her I was being cared for at one of the top places in the country but she kept asking a lot of questions and I could not understand her value added. I had concerns with talking about my health with someone who was writing down everything I said and it was before the health care privacy act, that may have been paranoia on my part but it worried me. I was a situation where she called often and I told her nothing. I finally told her I did not feel at ease talking to someone that was not part of my health care team about private matters and I did not wish her to call me again. Now looking back I still find the situation strange and intrusive. The bottom line is that it did not affect my coverage.

I sounds like they have changed the program and now you can chose to work with them. I think some people do need help when first DXed but others have it in hand. I am sure that the intent is to make sure money is not wasted on inappropriate treatment as well as to steer someone to appropriate treatment. I can't advise you on what to do but I thought I would share my experience even though I am sure things have changed since then.

Wow! John Hopkins is well respected on their bladder cancer. Strike any doubt I have might have fostered. Keep posting on any questions as someone will have "been there done that".

I know little about United Healthcare as I am BCBS except that United is a major (big) insurer. Many of us on this site encourage active participation in your care. The important item is how good is your urologist? And, will he/she see 100+ cases a years as many will see mostly prostatic cases! This is a sneaky cancer that while manageable, it has a high re-occuremt rate. Also, many of us will encourage a second opinion as so many things are overlooked or flat missed the first time. Personally, I want to deal directly with my URO and not a nurse co-ordinator if possible.