17 September 2010

The Price of PT and other things that aren't fair

Insurance: a necessary evil. So glad to have it, but maddened by limitations. And we have been pretty lucky so far. Considering all of the doctors visits and equipment, we haven't been denied much. But now we are being denied physical therapy, and Oli really needs it. Our only other option is to pay out of pocket, but at $156 per session (and that is the reduced rate) we just can't afford it.

On top of that, I'm now being told that our insurance is denying claims from October of last year. If that is true, we are in trouble, since he also had sessions in November and December. Why am I only finding this out now -- almost a whole year later?! If we have to pay that, it won't be pretty. Of course, the hospital billing department, which has been ridiculously unresponsive as I've repeatedly left messages over the last month, is again not returning my call. Between an inflexible insurance company and an unresponsive billing department, I'm not getting anywhere but frustrated.

The only good news on the PT front is that Oli started his PT lessons at school this week. His new school PT met with him in gym, and apparently they had a great time! He's been using the scooter and loving it. And he walks everywhere in school, which is such a new concept for him. However, he is really making a go of it. And to top it off, I just ordered his new equipment, which is forearm crutches. I'm a little intimidated by them, since they offer so much less support than his walker, but it would be GREAT if he could start to use them. We had started with them in his PT at Children's, but he hasn't used them since we stopped going a few weeks ago. With his own set, he will be able to take them to school PT and really get started.


Maybe I should send the insurance company this picture. Would you deny this little face?

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