Prosthetic Parity results
Jim DeWees
Description
Collection
Title:
Prosthetic Parity results
Creator:
Jim DeWees
Date:
1/11/2010
Text:
I was wondering if anyone in other states have seen any results from the parity legislation....positive or negative.
Here in Indiana, I have had patients that have told me that they cannot get insurance now, because they ask specifically if you have a prosthetic limb, and also if you are an amputee. When they answer yes to these questions, they are told they do not qualify for coverage and cannot get it. They do eventually get it, but have to sign a waiver that they will accept a policy with NO prosthetic benefits....if they do NOT sign the waiver, then they cannot get coverage.
Today, I am faced with the challenge of finding new insurance. My current insurance has switched networks, the their new network has virtually no providers in my area. There are 2 primary care doctors to choose from, and no specialists or any other kind of providers. So I must find another company to go to, which involved new applications and tons of questions.
When I had to answer the question about having a prosthetic leg, that disqualified me for the 2 recommendations that their choice for me. We ended up having to apply for coverage through the huge insurance company, but now have to wait and see if they will accept me at all, on the conditions that I sign a waiver for any prosthetic care.
For me, that is really not a big deal, because I make my own and don't ever bill for anything. BUT, for the other amputees out there that need insurance.....what do they do?
Have any of you out there seen this in other states who have passed the Parity Legislation?
This was a big wake-up call for me, and wonder if anyone ever thought about, or considered this kind of ramifications for these bills? If so, why is anyone trying to push this legislation, knowing that it will end up resulting in amputees not being able to find coverage at all.
Please let me know if this has been an issue, and if you were able to figure out anything to beat the system on this.
Jim DeWees, CP
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Here in Indiana, I have had patients that have told me that they cannot get insurance now, because they ask specifically if you have a prosthetic limb, and also if you are an amputee. When they answer yes to these questions, they are told they do not qualify for coverage and cannot get it. They do eventually get it, but have to sign a waiver that they will accept a policy with NO prosthetic benefits....if they do NOT sign the waiver, then they cannot get coverage.
Today, I am faced with the challenge of finding new insurance. My current insurance has switched networks, the their new network has virtually no providers in my area. There are 2 primary care doctors to choose from, and no specialists or any other kind of providers. So I must find another company to go to, which involved new applications and tons of questions.
When I had to answer the question about having a prosthetic leg, that disqualified me for the 2 recommendations that their choice for me. We ended up having to apply for coverage through the huge insurance company, but now have to wait and see if they will accept me at all, on the conditions that I sign a waiver for any prosthetic care.
For me, that is really not a big deal, because I make my own and don't ever bill for anything. BUT, for the other amputees out there that need insurance.....what do they do?
Have any of you out there seen this in other states who have passed the Parity Legislation?
This was a big wake-up call for me, and wonder if anyone ever thought about, or considered this kind of ramifications for these bills? If so, why is anyone trying to push this legislation, knowing that it will end up resulting in amputees not being able to find coverage at all.
Please let me know if this has been an issue, and if you were able to figure out anything to beat the system on this.
Jim DeWees, CP
_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection.
<URL Redacted>
Citation
Jim DeWees, “Prosthetic Parity results,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 1, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/231102.
