Guest guest Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 I talked to a district manager for Hanger last week because I kept hearing different things about whether Hanger was passive or active. He said that it was active. I also asked what the differences are between Hanger, DOC, and the Starband. He said that Hanger and Starband's inner foam and outside plastic are the same. He said that DOC is made out of different material and usually is made thinner. That's why 2 bands are sometimes needed. I asked if they worked differently. He said all bands work the same way. He was very nice, knowledgeable, and informative. It's still a tough decision, because lots of parents swear by the DOC band. But I talked to a plastic surgeon who used to work with DOC bands and said that he stopped because lots of kids were growing upward out of the hole. I told him how many parents rave about it. He said of course, if someone has a great experience with a product they are going to rave about it. I don't know. It's all so confusing. We went with Hanger because there is no Cranial Technologies near us. If you do go with Hanger, I've heard that you should really make sure the orthotist has many years of experience and does many helmets per year. The one take my son to has over 13 years experience and does between 60 to 70 helmets per year. Hope this helps. On Wed, Mar 31, 2010 at 3:20 PM, julieccarr <julieccarr@...> wrote: I'm trying to decide which to go with as I have a Hanger place and Cranial Tech (Doc Band) within 25 minutes of my house. My insurance won't cover either. The Hanger is $2500 and the DOC Band is $3800. Not sure why the DOC Band is so much more?? CT said my son would most likely have to have 2 helmets which means over $7000 out of pocket. Hanger said they've never had to put a baby into 2 helmets and hadn't heard that before. Any advice on which to go with? Of course I'm leaning towards the Hanger since it's cheaper but I want the best for my son as any mom would. I've seen people post that the Hanger is passive but the lady said they will shave the helmet just as CT does each visit so that means active, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 My baby wore 2 Hanger helmets... not sure what they are talking about! Personally, I've been around this board for awhile... my baby wore 2 hanger because DOC was not covered and Hanger was. I am happy enough with her results... but if I knew then what I know now... I would have paid out of pocket for a DOC. My dd's hanger bands were supposed to be made to her head but honestly, they took about 2 weeks worth of adjustments to get the holding points right. The 2nd band was so large that it never fit right and we gave up. My dd's ears were corrected and her bossing went down... but her cranial base is still asymmetrical. I can only think about how much better a well fitting band could have done. Just my 2 cents. Jen Mom to Luli - 4 yrs old Torticollis, Plagio, Syringomyelia Hanger vs. Doc Band I'm trying to decide which to go with as I have a Hanger place and Cranial Tech (Doc Band) within 25 minutes of my house. My insurance won't cover either. The Hanger is $2500 and the DOC Band is $3800. Not sure why the DOC Band is so much more?? CT said my son would most likely have to have 2 helmets which means over $7000 out of pocket. Hanger said they've never had to put a baby into 2 helmets and hadn't heard that before. Any advice on which to go with? Of course I'm leaning towards the Hanger since it's cheaper but I want the best for my son as any mom would. I've seen people post that the Hanger is passive but the lady said they will shave the helmet just as CT does each visit so that means active, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 As far as growth thru the hole... I can't see how this could happen with a DOC... every DOC is made differently to the babies head shape/ needs. A Hanger has a symmetrical hole in the top... and in fact, my dd had a growth spurt while on vacation and she got a ridge in the top of her head in the shape of the Hanger band. It's still there! Jen Mom to Luli - 4 yrs old Torticollis, Plagio, Syringomyelia Re: Hanger vs. Doc Band I talked to a district manager for Hanger last week because I kept hearing different things about whether Hanger was passive or active. He said that it was active. I also asked what the differences are between Hanger, DOC, and the Starband. He said that Hanger and Starband's inner foam and outside plastic are the same. He said that DOC is made out of different material and usually is made thinner. That's why 2 bands are sometimes needed. I asked if they worked differently. He said all bands work the same way. He was very nice, knowledgeable, and informative. It's still a tough decision, because lots of parents swear by the DOC band. But I talked to a plastic surgeon who used to work with DOC bands and said that he stopped because lots of kids were growing upward out of the hole. I told him how many parents rave about it. He said of course, if someone has a great experience with a product they are going to rave about it. I don't know. It's all so confusing. We went with Hanger because there is no Cranial Technologies near us. If you do go with Hanger, I've heard that you should really make sure the orthotist has many years of experience and does many helmets per year. The one take my son to has over 13 years experience and does between 60 to 70 helmets per year. Hope this helps. On Wed, Mar 31, 2010 at 3:20 PM, julieccarr <julieccarr > wrote: I'm trying to decide which to go with as I have a Hanger place and Cranial Tech (Doc Band) within 25 minutes of my house. My insurance won't cover either. The Hanger is $2500 and the DOC Band is $3800. Not sure why the DOC Band is so much more?? CT said my son would most likely have to have 2 helmets which means over $7000 out of pocket. Hanger said they've never had to put a baby into 2 helmets and hadn't heard that before. Any advice on which to go with? Of course I'm leaning towards the Hanger since it's cheaper but I want the best for my son as any mom would. I've seen people post that the Hanger is passive but the lady said they will shave the helmet just as CT does each visit so that means active, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 Thanks for the information! I think I may just go with the DOC Band since I do know 2 families locally to me that went to CT in ndale, VA and really liked them plus I like that their only product/focus is the DOC Band and their highly trained staff. Guess we'll just have to suck it up and pay out of pocket! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Â > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I'm trying to decide which to go with as I have a > Hanger place and Cranial Tech (Doc Band) within 25 minutes > of my house. My insurance won't cover either. The > Hanger is $2500 and the DOC Band is $3800. Not sure why the > DOC Band is so much more?? CT said my son would most likely > have to have 2 helmets which means over $7000 out of pocket. > Hanger said they've never had to put a baby into 2 > helmets and hadn't heard that before. Any advice on > which to go with? Of course I'm leaning towards the > Hanger since it's cheaper but I want the best for my son > as any mom would. I've seen people post that the Hanger > is passive but the lady said they will shave the helmet just > as CT does each visit so that means active, right? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2010 Report Share Posted April 1, 2010 , I really don't think you'd regret going with CT. We also paid out of pocket for a DOCband, and I feel like it was SO well worth the $. Like someone else said, there is a $300 discount for paying in full up front. If you need it, they also offer Care Credit. One thing to consider: CT does adjustments every week for younger babies and every two weeks for older babies. I'm sure it depends on the orthotist, but I've read here of some Hanger and STARband locations doing adjustments much less often (sometimes every 3 weeks or even once a month--though I think the monthly one seemed an exception rather than the rule; one even said they were on an only " as-needed " basis). I would find out how often the Hanger location would plan to do adjustments. Part of what you may pay more for at CT is more appointments. And they typically make adjustments every time. Personally I think this is part of the key to their success. Since a proper, just-snug-enough fit is vital to correction (loose fit or over-rotation=wasted time/wasted oppportunity), I felt like the higher cost was justified. Lots of people have great experiences with Hanger though, so either way you're headed in a good direction! Best of luck! Mom to , DOCbanded 12/29/09-3/29/10 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Â > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I'm trying to decide which to go with as I have a > > Hanger place and Cranial Tech (Doc Band) within 25 minutes > > of my house. My insurance won't cover either. The > > Hanger is $2500 and the DOC Band is $3800. Not sure why the > > DOC Band is so much more?? CT said my son would most likely > > have to have 2 helmets which means over $7000 out of pocket. > > Hanger said they've never had to put a baby into 2 > > helmets and hadn't heard that before. Any advice on > > which to go with? Of course I'm leaning towards the > > Hanger since it's cheaper but I want the best for my son > > as any mom would. I've seen people post that the Hanger > > is passive but the lady said they will shave the helmet just > > as CT does each visit so that means active, right? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2010 Report Share Posted May 7, 2010 I agree with Rapp. My husband and I just got our son fitted for his helmet through Hanger. We asked our doctor about other locations because we have a strong chance of moving in the near future, but don't want to wait for a helmet. Basically what she told us was, because the helmets are not the only item that Hangar makes you want to make sure that the facility closest to you has a lot of experience and is comfortable in placing helmets. I completely understand not knowing which way to go. We went with Hangar because it was closer. CT is 5 hours away where as Hanger is only 2 and our doctor is very familiar with placing helmets. Also, I'm not sure if it is different at other locations, but my son's head was electronically scanned and not casted. It was a painless process and very fast. Hope this helps! > > > > > > > I'm trying to decide which to go with as I have a Hanger place and Cranial > > Tech (Doc Band) within 25 minutes of my house. My insurance won't cover > > either. The Hanger is $2500 and the DOC Band is $3800. Not sure why the DOC > > Band is so much more?? CT said my son would most likely have to have 2 > > helmets which means over $7000 out of pocket. Hanger said they've never had > > to put a baby into 2 helmets and hadn't heard that before. Any advice on > > which to go with? Of course I'm leaning towards the Hanger since it's > > cheaper but I want the best for my son as any mom would. I've seen people > > post that the Hanger is passive but the lady said they will shave the helmet > > just as CT does each visit so that means active, right? > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2010 Report Share Posted May 7, 2010 You mentioned your insurance won't pay for either, but CT said you will need two helmets. The measurements must be pretty severe. I would fight the insurance company. A lot of people have had success. Check the laws in your area and the documents online about appeal letters, etc. I'd be happy to give you some advice on it if you want to fight for coverage. > > > > > > > > > > > I'm trying to decide which to go with as I have a Hanger place and Cranial > > > Tech (Doc Band) within 25 minutes of my house. My insurance won't cover > > > either. The Hanger is $2500 and the DOC Band is $3800. Not sure why the DOC > > > Band is so much more?? CT said my son would most likely have to have 2 > > > helmets which means over $7000 out of pocket. Hanger said they've never had > > > to put a baby into 2 helmets and hadn't heard that before. Any advice on > > > which to go with? Of course I'm leaning towards the Hanger since it's > > > cheaper but I want the best for my son as any mom would. I've seen people > > > post that the Hanger is passive but the lady said they will shave the helmet > > > just as CT does each visit so that means active, right? > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.