Re: Insurance Coverage for CIs

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/29/2004 9:33:19 PM Pacific Standard Time,

lisak70@... writes:

Does anyone know if Medicaid and/or Medicare will cover the entire cost of a

CI including surgery, mapping and post surgery follow up?

My medicaid covered 100% of implant, processor, surgery, aural rehabs,

mappings. They are currently checking to see if speech rehab will be covered,

to

help me break " old habits " . Of course, I " heard " that medicaid coverages depend

on State. My State do cover it only on " case by case " basic. I do not have

details on Medicare.

Lee

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/29/2004 10:03:18 PM Pacific Standard Time,

lisak70@... writes:

Did you have to go through alot of " red tape "

to get Medicaid approval? How long did it take for Medicaid to approve

funding for your CI?

Not really, when I went for the eval, I was told it would be covered, but

then, the State decided to change it to " case by case " basic. I started the

eval

middle of Sept. saw the surgeon first of October, only to be told that all

Medicaid pre-approvals were " on hold " , but my " hold " was lifted in mid-Nov and I

had my surgery on Dec 12. I would have had surgery the first week of Dec but

I felt I wanted to wait til Dec 12, when my children (in college) were free,

so that I had someone at home.

I would say 3 months from first eval to surgery isn't bad. The implant

center takes care of all of the Medicaid processing, I didn't have to do

anything.

Lee

[Guest guest]

Hi Lee,

I'm glad to know that. <smile> Did you have to go through alot of " red tape "

to get Medicaid approval? How long did it take for Medicaid to approve

funding for your CI?

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I can only speak for Medicare which only pays 80%. I want to go

bilateral since I am deafblind so I gotta find that 20% somewhere,

maybe its under a rock somewhere. LOL

*---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

I went to a little hole in the wall restaurant:

the sign read: Women are not served here... You have to bring your

own.

& Gimlet (Guide Dawggie)

Portland, Oregon

N24C 3G 8/2000 Hookup

rlclark77@...

http://home.comcast.net/~rlclark77/

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

I have Medicaid. And they covered my sons surgery, therapy, and mapping.

Tracie

Austen's Mom

implanted 11/03

activated 12/03

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/30/2004 3:55:51 PM Pacific Standard Time,

lisak70@... writes:

Three months *isn't* bad at all!

No, it's not.

Someone pointed out that it depends on your state. It is true, however the

CI center would know about it for your state of resident. As we both know, if

we call the state office, we will most likely get " what's that " or " call your

doctor's office " .

Lee

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

You and I have talked before on other lists. How have you been? Good, I

hope!

I have Medicaid and Medicare, so I'm hoping one of them will pay for my CI.

You mentioned bilateral CIs. Is it very difficult to get insurance to cover

the cost of two implants? My audi asked me if I wanted to get a bilateral CI

and I said no...at least not now. If I ever decided to go that route, I plan

to wait a year or two in between so I can get used to a single CI should I

be a suitable candidate.

[Guest guest]

Lee,

Three months *isn't* bad at all! I don't know what kind of time frame I was

expecting (4-6 months perhaps?) but with insurance, one never knows how long

any kind of medical approval takes. <smile>

[Guest guest]

Tracie,

I'm so glad to hear that! I was worried Medicaid wouldn't cover CIs because

they won't even pay for a decent set of hearing aids. My audi was surprised

to learn that back in 2001, they paid for my Oticon DigiFocus II super power

BTE aids. I wanted to get a pair of Phonak Supero 412's before submitting my

application for a CI, but unfortunately, Medicaid won't cover the cost.

That's okay though. I'd rather see Medicaid pay for CIs instead of hearing

aids that may or may not work for someone with a severe/profound hearing

loss.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Maybe I am getting old but I dont remember your face. Sigh. Oh

well. We're good. If being bad as I am is good, then who will

complain?

On your case, one is secondary. If I am not too far off the mark,

that secondary will cover most if not all the cost the primary didnt

pay.

Being blind, I would not have too much trouble getting the nod for

the 2nd CI. My problem tho is I only have Medicare so that 20% that

Medicare doesnt pay is an issue.

Something you will want to consider is that unless an HA in the

unimplanted ear will enhance the CI, you will not have ability to

determine direction of sound. Not just in trafiic settings but social

as well. I was at a meetign today and rpoved how much I miss that.

Hello. No, I am over here. No, over this way. Nooo, I am over

HERE.

If you qualify for one, why not think about getting used to 2

CI's? Get the surgery done at one time, recover at one time. Then

the mappings, all at one time. Gimlet agrees with me. Hehehe.

*---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

No matter where you go, there you are.

--Buckaroo Banzai

& Gimlet (Guide Dawggie)

Portland, Oregon

N24C 3G 8/2000 Hookup

rlclark77@...

http://home.comcast.net/~rlclark77/

[Guest guest]

robert

what is a " safe list " ?

[Guest guest]

,

Funny... You don't look familiar either. Hehehehe. <smile> Let's see if any

of this rings a bell...I have a guide dog named Tigger. My previous guide

dog was a golden retreiver named Sugar.

I can still understand speech with my right ear, but not easily. This is

probably why I'm having so much difficulty hearing even when I use my Comtek

FM system.

I don't know for sure, but I'll probably continue wearing a hearing aid in

my right ear. The hearing in my right ear may be too good for an implant.

I'll have to discuss this further with the implant team audi to see what

he/she thinks.

When I go for my CI evaluation, I'll ask the implant team about bilateral

CIs. I indicated that I was totally blind on my application, so perhaps this

is something they have already considered for me.

[Guest guest]

and Tigger,

Hmmmm, were you on any guide dog lists? I hate not remembering

the lovely ladies I run into. Figuratively not literally. Of course.

Hehehe.

By all means, check it out. When you get the evaluation, that is

where you most likely can decide what may work best. Have you got a

date yet for the evaluation?

(Gimlet, do you remember Tigger? She looks uncertain. <whines> Its

ok honey, we all forget things)

*---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

Give your child mental blocks for Christmas.

& Gimlet (Guide Dawggie)

Portland, Oregon

N24C 3G 8/2000 Hookup

rlclark77@...

http://home.comcast.net/~rlclark77/

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I was on Buddy-L a few years back. Perhaps that's where our paths first

crossed...I can't remember but I know we've talked before.

To answer your question -- no -- I don't have an evaluation date set up yet.

I just mailed out my application yesterday. Generally speaking,

approximately how long does it take an implant center to process an

application and set up an evaluation date? (A week? A month or longer?)

and Tigger, who doesn't mind being " forgotten " and Tigger who sends

plenty of tail wags over to Gimlet!

[Guest guest]

,

Well Buddy was decades ago! LOL Am on a great list now. If you

want to be on a safe list, let me know, its invite only.

I dont rememebr exactly but I think I started the process in

March, '00. Surgery was June '00.

You live in Milwaukee? Ite been decades since I lived there.

Ooooooops, revealed my age. Sigh.

Heh, read the quote in my sig, somehow, its fitting. LOL

*---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

I'm not crazy. I've been in a very bad mood for 30 years.

& Gimlet (Guide Dawggie)

Portland, Oregon

N24C 3G 8/2000 Hookup

rlclark77@...

http://home.comcast.net/~rlclark77/

[Guest guest]

Joni,

A safe list is one where people feel safe. LOL No really, its a

mailing list like this one (for guide dog users) and just as wonderful

to be on.

*---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.

& Gimlet (Guide Dawggie)

Portland, Oregon

N24C 3G 8/2000 Hookup

rlclark77@...

http://home.comcast.net/~rlclark77/