seems like we have had Parker’s new CPAP for a month and now they want it back.
Seriously.
Our insurance company called our home health care company, who provides durable medical equipment to Parker, and told them to come and pick up the new CPAP machine. The home health care company called Parker’s ENT to see what he said. ENT called us. Seems as though just about the only thing that MAY prove that this new CPAP is better than the old one is to have another sleep study performed. IF our insurance company will pay for it.
It doesn’t matter that except for 2 nights Parker has been able to tolerate this new machine ALL MONTH LONG. That is almost THREE times longer he was able to tolerate this machine a month than the old version.
It doesn’t matter that his average time with this cpap machine has been 6-7 hours a night. Last night he slept for EIGHT hours with it on.
It doesn’t matter that the medical adviser should be absolutely MORTIFIED that he even ordered the old machine for Parker’s care when for only $500.00 more than the old machine we could have gotten a model like the new machine. In other words, in his eyes, Parker isn’t even worth that extra $500.00? Then we wouldn’t be asking them to supply the new machine at a cost of $2,000 dollars more.
It doesn’t matter that this CPAP machine is a LIFE SAVING DEVICE for someone with Parker’s issues. Literally.
The home health care company offered us a payment plan of $500.00 a month for the next four months.
If I had an extra $500.00 dollars a month just hanging around I would have bought a hell of a lot more groceries for this month.
Reed and I talked about this tonight. The only way that this new CPAP machine is going back is over our cold dead bodies.
Truth.
We will beg, borrow or what ever it takes to get the money to pay for this new machine.
It isn’t as if we are asking our insurance company to provide something that would make Parker’s life, oh say just easier. We are asking them to provide something to keep the kid ALIVE.
Please keep your fingers crossed that this Praying for Parker Concert will be a HUGE success. Cause I haven’t yet told you about my insurance company’s ruling as to the helmet Parker still needs.
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OMG! I am utterly shocked at this! Can they do that? Well, obviously they are trying! I hope they let you keep it.
Oh good grief.
I’m truly appalled. And yet I can think of nothing else to say.
Can you doctor approach it with an “avoiding hospitalization” tactic? After all, $500 is a lot cheaper now than $50000 later.
Having been there and done that with a different piece of equipment, I’m really sorry for the extra stress they are causing you.
Hate to hear this… It doesn’t surprise me though. Our insurance company refused The Kid’s open heart surgery on the grounds that she wasn’t likely to be a “productive member of society.” After her heart specialist called them, they agreed to let her be admitted, but that was all. Snort.
Praying for CPAP!
This just makes me ill! I’m praying something will work out for you!
Aack! What the heck? :S I’m so sorry to hear this. I think that insurance companies were placed on this earth by the devil himself… great torture devices. Keep fighting girl!
That just ticks me off, how could they want to take away something that is working so well and helping Parker out so much! I’ll be saying some prayers for you guys as always!
Tammy, I am so sorry. I agree with your “only over our dead bodies” stance. This entire situation is ludicrous.
I’ll be periodically featuring my post about the concert and continuing to pray it is a huge success.
I’ll also email you in a few.
Sounds vaguely familiar to the socialized medicine in some European countries … not a productive person! Fooey!
Oh, Tammy, I am so sorry. I’ll pray for your health care situation. Insurance companies are the slime of the known universe. My battles don’t compare to yours, but they cover things like NOT being covered for “just in case” sonogram after getting hit by a car (gently) when I was 9 mos. pregnant with my DS girl.
Michael Moore is releasing a non-partisan film about this evil industry called “Sicko”. He’s asking people to send their horror stories to local congressman and cc him. And, can you get local press involved? Gonna drop your graphic on my blogs when I get a chance. Hang in there and hold on to that machine!
I hate that you are having to work so hard to get what your son needs. It really sucks. I pray that your benefit concert is wonderful and very productive!! Parker is a very cute little guy and we will keep him in our thoughts and prayers!
I can’t understand how they come up with their rules and conditions. It is amazing! They should be ashamed of themselves… I agree with the above you should connact you local government officials and most definately the press. It needs to be out in their face. I wish I had the 2,000 to give to you so that you could all get some rest. I have already put Mr. Parker on our churches prayer chain, but will continue to keep him prayed for personally as well.
Keep us posted.
Peace to all of you
Kim and Miss T
Oh Tammy…..we will surely keep you and sweet Parker in our thoughts and prayers. I cannot believe what you guys have to deal with. Shame on them!
Tammy I have shared about Parker to many people. I would like to get some info about him in a public way. Please email me asap. So this can get rolling. The event is next weekend. I will need to get the info out prior to the weekend. PLEASE EMAIL ME ASAP:)
I don’t get it- are they nuts???
My goodness…nothing in life should be this difficult Tammy. I mean, my goodness you have the strength of a mighty lioness, protecting your little cub, doing all that you can to be sure he has what he needs to thrive, to SURVIVE…and all they can do is hassle you.
It makes me so sad.
Do they think you want a CPAP for just for the fun of it, like wearing a CPAP is fun. Oh, they should be so ashamed of what they put your through.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you and Parker. I hope this concert bring in what you need.
My do I hope.
(((big sigh)))
I am so sorry to hear about the insurance company. I took on Blue Cross Blue Shield about private ST–an issue much less pressing than what you are going through. By the end of the summer I won. One of the things that I did is I had everyone I know write to the company to explain why Joe needed ST. I don’t know if that was what worked, but it might be worth a try. I am happy to send a letter to your insurance company expressing my outrage; I bet our blog friends would also do the same.
I wish I could attend the concert. Best of luck.