Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Quality of Life and Insurance

We have been waiting several months for Brayden's bed.

A hospital like bed, that doesn't look quite so hospital.
This is what we are trying to get.
It was denied in insurance and Medicaid...they say it is not a medical necessity. They said that maybe something like this would work (cheaper for them is my understanding).

It does not work. Part of the reason is that Brayden's arms and legs currently get stuck in the rails of his crib, even with a bumper. When Brayden is at the hospital, they put up big protective things around the bed rails to protect him when he has seizures. Not to mention, his head needs to be elevated, we need him to come up high instead of us bending over (hurting our backs) to tend to him, especially as he gets biggger...I could list many more reasons but I won't.

My big reason for wanting the first bed and not the latter is quality of life. Who wants a hospital bed in their house? Hospitals are not fun, we do not need to bring it into our home. The bed we want has all the features of a hospital bed and looks more like furniture.

The plan is to appeal the insurance and Medicaid. Add a physical therapist and doctor's letter of medical necessity...hoping that we get it.

7 comments:

kirstenpetree said...

I hope you can get it!!!

the deKorne family said...

that makes me so mad. i will be praying for your bed! i think about them a lot, so it will be easy for me to remember.

Wherever HE Leads We'll Go said...

Don't you just love insurance? So frustrating! We have been trying to get Emily a wheelchair since July. Part of the reason for the delay is the equipment company dropping the ball a time or 2 and the other part is insurance. *sigh*

I really hope things go well with the appeal and you are able to get the bed.

Michelle said...

UUUgghhh hate insurance some times, I will pray that you get this new bed.

Tara Bennett said...

Don't even get me started on this subject. We thankfully have an attorney who is doing pro bono work with us to appeal the insurance company and get things covered. Ugh. It is so aggravating and frustrating, yet we have to do it for our kids. Good luck on this endeavor! The only thing I've found that works so far is to be a squeaky wheel and try and try again.

Tracey said...

I am asking God to give you this bed!

Carrie said...

Carrie,
I had heard the same thing when we pursued the bed thing for Toby. His is a Voelker bed - through Hertz Medical Supply company. I will pray that it gets approved - one thing to think of is looking into charity organizations - that's what we did through our case worker at the hospital. She nominated us for it. The guy at the supply company mentioned even UPS has charity gifts that they will do - Toby's bed was around $7,500. Maybe you can check with hospital/therapists, see if there's another route - local charities, etc. if Medicaid continues to be stinky about it; I know they are - they want you to have something that looks sterile - it's awful. Hang in there.
I will be praying.
Carrie