Re: UHC Insurance Coverage

[Guest guest]

>

> Good morning:

>  

> I am also new to the group...so I am not real familiar with the site or

posting messages.

> I have just gone through the frustration of  dealing with my insurance also

denying the claim.  Though, when calling the insurance co., 3 people said the

DOC band was covered and one said " no " .  My HR gal at work tried her

hardest..and after many phone calls and a few days, was also told the claim was

denied.

> It is an orthotic device.....and is considered 'cosmetic'.  We went ahead and

had our daughter casted last week and this Thurs. she will be fitted with the

band.  The original cost $3,000.  We were given a 15% discount if paid in full

at the first visit...$2,550.00 out of pocket.  I guess I will attempt the appeal

with the insurance company.  But, reading other postings, it does not look

good.  It can be written off of your taxes.  In WI. if your health care bills

exceed 7% of your income for the year, you can.  I fit in that catergory since I

had a longer maternity leave......hope this helps?!? 

>

Our UHC policy has a specific exclusion for cranial banding, so I'm feeling very

pessimistic about our chances with them. We are gonna have my husband's

company' HR rep call, but I expect we'll get the same results you did.

Are the costs you quoted for a DOC band or a different brand? Yesterday I was

quoted $3300 for the DOC band if we paid it all up front, or $3600 if we did

payments. She said the price will be going up to $3800 in January, but I'm not

sure if that's the price for all up front (an increase of $500 over the 2009

price) or for people doing payments (an increase of only $200 over the 2009

price.) Those prices were for Pasadena, CA, but I thought they were the same

regardless of location. I'd be interested to hear if you're getting a DOC band

for only $2550. When you're paying out of pocket, every little bit helps!

[Guest guest]

I also have United HealthCare and while they approved the DOC band, I'm being

told that Cranial Technologies is out of network and, thus, the cost goes

towards our $5000 family deductible. So basically we have to pay the entire

$3600.

I just applied for a Care Credit loan and am praying that Cranial Technologies

will OK a no-interest 24 month line of credit. I guess I'll find out when the

coordinator calls me back.

Not sure if I can fight this or do anything else.

>

> Good morning:

>  

> I am also new to the group...so I am not real familiar with the site or

posting messages.

> I have just gone through the frustration of  dealing with my insurance also

denying the claim.  Though, when calling the insurance co., 3 people said the

DOC band was covered and one said " no " .  My HR gal at work tried her

hardest..and after many phone calls and a few days, was also told the claim was

denied.

> It is an orthotic device.....and is considered 'cosmetic'.  We went ahead and

had our daughter casted last week and this Thurs. she will be fitted with the

band.  The original cost $3,000.  We were given a 15% discount if paid in full

at the first visit...$2,550.00 out of pocket.  I guess I will attempt the appeal

with the insurance company.  But, reading other postings, it does not look

good.  It can be written off of your taxes.  In WI. if your health care bills

exceed 7% of your income for the year, you can.  I fit in that catergory since I

had a longer maternity leave......hope this helps?!? 

>

[Guest guest]

welcome to the group. UHC seems to be one of the ones most reluctant to pay for

bands. Let us know how your daugther does with her band.

-christine

sydney, 3.5 yrs, starband grad

>

> Good morning:

>  

> I am also new to the group...so I am not real familiar with the site or

posting messages.

> I have just gone through the frustration of  dealing with my insurance also

denying the claim.  Though, when calling the insurance co., 3 people said the

DOC band was covered and one said " no " .  My HR gal at work tried her

hardest..and after many phone calls and a few days, was also told the claim was

denied.

> It is an orthotic device.....and is considered 'cosmetic'.  We went ahead and

had our daughter casted last week and this Thurs. she will be fitted with the

band.  The original cost $3,000.  We were given a 15% discount if paid in full

at the first visit...$2,550.00 out of pocket.  I guess I will attempt the appeal

with the insurance company.  But, reading other postings, it does not look

good.  It can be written off of your taxes.  In WI. if your health care bills

exceed 7% of your income for the year, you can.  I fit in that catergory since I

had a longer maternity leave......hope this helps?!? 

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, our cost for the DOC band is $2550.00. This is the discount the doctor at

this clinic offers. We go tomorrow to have our daughter fitted and I will ask if

different States charge different prices.

My HR gal said this morning, it's worth a try to appeal it...at least that does

not cost anything!

> >

> > Good morning:

> >  

> > I am also new to the group...so I am not real familiar with the site or

posting messages.

> > I have just gone through the frustration of  dealing with my insurance also

denying the claim.  Though, when calling the insurance co., 3 people said the

DOC band was covered and one said " no " .  My HR gal at work tried her

hardest..and after many phone calls and a few days, was also told the claim was

denied.

> > It is an orthotic device.....and is considered 'cosmetic'.  We went ahead

and had our daughter casted last week and this Thurs. she will be fitted with

the band.  The original cost $3,000.  We were given a 15% discount if paid in

full at the first visit...$2,550.00 out of pocket.  I guess I will attempt the

appeal with the insurance company.  But, reading other postings, it does not

look good.  It can be written off of your taxes.  In WI. if your health care

bills exceed 7% of your income for the year, you can.  I fit in that catergory

since I had a longer maternity leave......hope this helps?!? 

> >

> Our UHC policy has a specific exclusion for cranial banding, so I'm feeling

very pessimistic about our chances with them. We are gonna have my husband's

company' HR rep call, but I expect we'll get the same results you did.

>

> Are the costs you quoted for a DOC band or a different brand? Yesterday I was

quoted $3300 for the DOC band if we paid it all up front, or $3600 if we did

payments. She said the price will be going up to $3800 in January, but I'm not

sure if that's the price for all up front (an increase of $500 over the 2009

price) or for people doing payments (an increase of only $200 over the 2009

price.) Those prices were for Pasadena, CA, but I thought they were the same

regardless of location. I'd be interested to hear if you're getting a DOC band

for only $2550. When you're paying out of pocket, every little bit helps!

>

[Guest guest]

Cranial Tech. was out of network for my UHC coverage. So, then the coverage

would go to 60/40 for out of network..IF UHC would cover the band!...your

insurance won't do that? The cranial clinic here does offer a payment plan.

But, I guess each location is different. The dr. was burned by people in the

past, so I guess I can't claim her for having to collect up front. But, yes it

is a financial burden, especially at this time. I am going to work on the appeal

process and keep that progress posted for people.

> >

> > Good morning:

> >  

> > I am also new to the group...so I am not real familiar with the site or

posting messages.

> > I have just gone through the frustration of  dealing with my insurance also

denying the claim.  Though, when calling the insurance co., 3 people said the

DOC band was covered and one said " no " .  My HR gal at work tried her

hardest..and after many phone calls and a few days, was also told the claim was

denied.

> > It is an orthotic device.....and is considered 'cosmetic'.  We went ahead

and had our daughter casted last week and this Thurs. she will be fitted with

the band.  The original cost $3,000.  We were given a 15% discount if paid in

full at the first visit...$2,550.00 out of pocket.  I guess I will attempt the

appeal with the insurance company.  But, reading other postings, it does not

look good.  It can be written off of your taxes.  In WI. if your health care

bills exceed 7% of your income for the year, you can.  I fit in that catergory

since I had a longer maternity leave......hope this helps?!? 

> >

>

[Guest guest]

You may be going to one of their Licenced Centers that can set their own prices

(they have 3 I think). Otherwise official Cranial Tech centers charge the same

price across the board.

Jake-3 (DOCBand Grad 9/08)

> > >

> > > Good morning:

> > >  

> > > I am also new to the group...so I am not real familiar with the site or

posting messages.

> > > I have just gone through the frustration of  dealing with my insurance

also denying the claim.  Though, when calling the insurance co., 3 people said

the DOC band was covered and one said " no " .  My HR gal at work tried her

hardest..and after many phone calls and a few days, was also told the claim was

denied.

> > > It is an orthotic device.....and is considered 'cosmetic'.  We went ahead

and had our daughter casted last week and this Thurs. she will be fitted with

the band.  The original cost $3,000.  We were given a 15% discount if paid in

full at the first visit...$2,550.00 out of pocket.  I guess I will attempt the

appeal with the insurance company.  But, reading other postings, it does not

look good.  It can be written off of your taxes.  In WI. if your health care

bills exceed 7% of your income for the year, you can.  I fit in that catergory

since I had a longer maternity leave......hope this helps?!? 

> > >

> > Our UHC policy has a specific exclusion for cranial banding, so I'm feeling

very pessimistic about our chances with them. We are gonna have my husband's

company' HR rep call, but I expect we'll get the same results you did.

> >

> > Are the costs you quoted for a DOC band or a different brand? Yesterday I

was quoted $3300 for the DOC band if we paid it all up front, or $3600 if we did

payments. She said the price will be going up to $3800 in January, but I'm not

sure if that's the price for all up front (an increase of $500 over the 2009

price) or for people doing payments (an increase of only $200 over the 2009

price.) Those prices were for Pasadena, CA, but I thought they were the same

regardless of location. I'd be interested to hear if you're getting a DOC band

for only $2550. When you're paying out of pocket, every little bit helps!

> >

>