January 2002 meeting notes Bergen County

[Guest guest]

APRAXIA NETWORK OF BERGEN COUNTY

PO BOX 1142

PARAMUS, NJ 07653-1142

Every day is a new beginning

Voice Mail 201-741-4035 ~ E-mail jbmistletoe@...

http://community.nj.com/cc/apraxianetworkofbergencountyro

WED. JAN. 9TH, 2002

Hello all,

Meeting was convened at Hillcrest School, at 7:25pm by Jeanne Buesser,

President. She

Introduced Doug Vogel, an estate planner and spokesperson for SNAP, Special

Needs Advocate

For Parents.

His topic today involved getting the best benefit you can get from your

health care insurance

policy for the treatment of your child's disorder. Mr. Vogel itemized a

number of suggestions.

1. Read your insurance policy carefully in detail. Get your own copy if you

don't have one. Know

your benefits and exclusions. You can't get benefits if they are specifically

excluded.

2. If you feel that you are being denied, maintain a written record of every

phone call, every

letter written, every interview, concerning this denial.

3. Try to deal with the same person each time. Establish a pleasant friendly

, but firm,

relationship with him/her. Be focused, gain rapport. Use certified, return

receipt requested mail, if

you are being stone-walled by the insurance company.

4. Get letters from your pediatrician, neurologist, etc. to establish Medical

Necessity for the

therapies you desire. Avoid phrases like " educational benefits " Insurance

companies do not pay

for your child " s education.

5. Keep medical records of all your child's visits.

6. Suggest, but do not threaten, that if the therapies that you feel are

needed are not

forthcoming, you child's problems may increase in severity, causing the

insurance company to

incur even greater expense in the future.

7. Maintain good relations with your doctor. If necessary, offer to write a

draft of what you need

to have your " busy " doctor write in letters of appeal to the insurance

company.

8. Follow up with the human touch, pictures of your child, if appropriate,

and always a thank you

note of appreciation.

The meeting ended with a question and answer period. Our Annual Picnic is

Scheduled for May

4th 2002, at Van Saun Park in Paramus. Details to Follow.

REMINDER TO ALL MEMBERS:

January is the beginning of a new fiscal for the Apraxia Network of Bergen

County. Please send

in your annual dues of $10 per family , so that we can continue to provide

you with informative

speakers and an opportunity to share your concerns with other parents.

Thanks

Sincerely Yours,

Jeanne Buesser

President- Apraxia Network of Bergen County