Hi, Kendall,
I went through the insurance bit with my second cochlear implant- the
first was a pretty straightfoward approval process but the second was
a rockier path. I had to have a team of doctors submit medical
reasons why it was necessary and had to appeal their initial denial.
Fortunately it went through but it was scary there for a while, and I
thought I was going to be one-sided in my hearing for the rest of my
life.
So don't give up! Appeal!
Kat
On Tue, Jul 21, 2009 at 2:44 PM, Kendall D.
Corbett<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Anyone out there have any luck getting insurance to approve a stander
> or a standing wheelchair? About a year ago, I started the process of
> looking for a new wheelchair. I first tried an IBOT, and loved it,
> and wasn't able to get insurance to approve it. Independence
> Technologies then went under at the first of the year, and so I
> started looking at other chairs that could do some of what the IBOT
> did. I tried a Permobil C500 VS, but it was pretty gutless as
> configured - wouldn't climb an inch and a half threshold. I then
> tried a Levo C3, which had good power, good climbing capabilities, and
> good options for seating and positioning. Submitted it to my
> insurance which declined it as not medically necessary, although my
> doctor wrote an extensive letter outlining the health benefits on at
> least three fronts that a stander would have, in addition to the
> benefits it would have in accomplishing ADL's. Basically the
> insurance company is questioning the benefits of standing, or at least
> that there are lower cost options out there that would do the same
> thing,. If I got a static standing frame, It would be more difficult
> for me to get into it, and I would therefore use it less. Here are
> links to the two chairs I've tried, so if anyone has any ideas, I'd
> appreciate any feedback.
>
> Peter told me that he/they had had problems with a Permobil, which is
> part of why I went for a Levo.
>
> If Ginny Paleg is still around (I remember her from 8-10 years ago,
> and came across a couple of articles she's written on the benefits of
> standing), I'd really love to hear from her.
>
> I had my neurologist write the letter of medical necessity, and wonder
> if it would be helpful to get corroborating letters from my primary
> care doc, my urologist, and other doctors/physical therapistsd I've
> seen in the las couple of years. The woman at the insurance company
> didn't think so, but I think she's got a different corporate agenda,
> if not a different personal agenda.
>
> http://levousa.com/c3/c3.html
>
>
> http://www.permobil.com/USA/Products/Rehab/C500-VS-/
>
> --
>
>
> Kendall
>
> An unreasonable man (but my wife says that's redundant!)
>
> The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one
> persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all
> progress depends on the unreasonable man.
>
> -George Bernard Shaw 1856-1950
>
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