Re: Pricing Shoes

[Guest guest]

Okay kids, this is not what we do here. Everyone to their corners!

I think we can all agree that $300 IS expensive.

Donna, please know that if people were upset by your questions it is

only because we have this intense passion about Dr. Ponseti and are

very protective of anyone saying anything that could remotely be

construed as being derogatory about him (or in this case his " partner "

). Many parents here, regardless of the expense, owe

their baby's maintaining their correction without blisters or sores to

those shoes.

Now, in the other corner: I think Donna was simply trying to say that

$300 is expensive and we can all agree with that. It also upsets her

to think that there are people who do take advantage of others in

their time of need, read NOT .

Everybody okay now? Smiles everyone, smiles!!

> I just have to respond again. I went back and reread my original

> email, and I truly believe those of you who felt the need to " set the

> record straight " missed the whole point of the message and need to

> reread it. It did not imply that anyone has a 6 figure income, it did

> not imply that the shoes are wrongly priced, it did not imply that

> or Dr. Ponseti are trying to take advantage of us. Re

> read it with an open mind and you will hopefully stop being so harsh.

> And yes, your reply's were harsh. I will forgive and forget and move

> on now.

>

> Donna

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

As someone who didn't have the option of using the brace (my

son is 7 1/2 years old), I'm glad to see there is an option for those

kids who have had multiple problems wearing the Markell shoes.

Thankfully, my son didn't have problems wearing the Markell shoes. He

wore them for 3 1/2 years without so much as a red mark. However, there

are those kids who have so many problems with the Markells that I'm glad

they have an option.

As for the cost, the $300 I've seen quoted by most people really isn't

that much more expensive than buying the Markell setup. Yes, the

insurance is going to be more likely to cover the Markell setup since it

has been around a lot longer and the insurance companies have coding to

cover them. If I remember correctly (remember this has been almost 8

years ago now), our initial setup with the Markell shoes and the bar was

right around $190 before the insurance coverage and this is from the

orthotists in Iowa City. Luckily, my insurance covered 90% of the

cost. For what he's doing, I don't find the cost outrageous. Yes, it

is outrageous that if an orthotist were to order them for you, the cost

would double, or more. For that, I'd be much more likely to order them

direct from and pay the $300 out of pocket than hop my

insurance would cover twice that or more.

DZUHONE1@... wrote:

> This is the last time I am going to attempt to defend my position,

> which I should not really have to do anyway, but I am tired of it.

> Hear me out. If someone had a 6-figure income, the price of the

> 's would probably not present much of a hardship, unless they

> are overextended financially, which is correctible. I'm glad to hear

> I'm not the only one who is poor. However, that does make it near

> impossible to purchase the 's. That is it, that is my point.

> And, I do think it is a shame that some might have to be excluded

> because of that. $300 is a lot of money last time I checked. $300 is

> my food budget for my family of 6 for the entire month, so yes it

> would have a huge impact on my budget. Why do I have to defend that

> when you reply saying you are poor, too? Why do people feel the need

> to " put me in my place " ? Instead of attacking me, doesn't anyone agree

> that $300 is a lot to pay out of pocket for shoes?! I'm not asking if

> you will do what it takes for your child, of course we all will, but

> good grief, it is a lot of money. I'm not even saying it is an unfair

> price. I was referring to $1000 or $1600 being an unfair price. I'm

> simply saying, whether or not it is justified to charge $300, it is

> still going to add incredible financial stress for some of us, and the

> last thing we need to deal with right now is another stressor. Does

> anyone have a supportive word, or should I just forget trying to find

> support on this site? I have tried to be supportive and reply

> positively to every parent that I could. My comments were not directed

> at any other parent. I have said this in another email but it didn't

> get sent through for some reason. Am I being censored? I don't know,

> maybe that message will get to you eventually.

>

> I have nothing but care and concern for all of you and your children,

> so please stop trying to make me look like the bad guy. It is really

> getting old.

>

> Donna

[Guest guest]

As someone who didn't have the option of using the brace (my

son is 7 1/2 years old), I'm glad to see there is an option for those

kids who have had multiple problems wearing the Markell shoes.

Thankfully, my son didn't have problems wearing the Markell shoes. He

wore them for 3 1/2 years without so much as a red mark. However, there

are those kids who have so many problems with the Markells that I'm glad

they have an option.

As for the cost, the $300 I've seen quoted by most people really isn't

that much more expensive than buying the Markell setup. Yes, the

insurance is going to be more likely to cover the Markell setup since it

has been around a lot longer and the insurance companies have coding to

cover them. If I remember correctly (remember this has been almost 8

years ago now), our initial setup with the Markell shoes and the bar was

right around $190 before the insurance coverage and this is from the

orthotists in Iowa City. Luckily, my insurance covered 90% of the

cost. For what he's doing, I don't find the cost outrageous. Yes, it

is outrageous that if an orthotist were to order them for you, the cost

would double, or more. For that, I'd be much more likely to order them

direct from and pay the $300 out of pocket than hop my

insurance would cover twice that or more.

DZUHONE1@... wrote:

> This is the last time I am going to attempt to defend my position,

> which I should not really have to do anyway, but I am tired of it.

> Hear me out. If someone had a 6-figure income, the price of the

> 's would probably not present much of a hardship, unless they

> are overextended financially, which is correctible. I'm glad to hear

> I'm not the only one who is poor. However, that does make it near

> impossible to purchase the 's. That is it, that is my point.

> And, I do think it is a shame that some might have to be excluded

> because of that. $300 is a lot of money last time I checked. $300 is

> my food budget for my family of 6 for the entire month, so yes it

> would have a huge impact on my budget. Why do I have to defend that

> when you reply saying you are poor, too? Why do people feel the need

> to " put me in my place " ? Instead of attacking me, doesn't anyone agree

> that $300 is a lot to pay out of pocket for shoes?! I'm not asking if

> you will do what it takes for your child, of course we all will, but

> good grief, it is a lot of money. I'm not even saying it is an unfair

> price. I was referring to $1000 or $1600 being an unfair price. I'm

> simply saying, whether or not it is justified to charge $300, it is

> still going to add incredible financial stress for some of us, and the

> last thing we need to deal with right now is another stressor. Does

> anyone have a supportive word, or should I just forget trying to find

> support on this site? I have tried to be supportive and reply

> positively to every parent that I could. My comments were not directed

> at any other parent. I have said this in another email but it didn't

> get sent through for some reason. Am I being censored? I don't know,

> maybe that message will get to you eventually.

>

> I have nothing but care and concern for all of you and your children,

> so please stop trying to make me look like the bad guy. It is really

> getting old.

>

> Donna