Guest guest Posted September 18, 2000 Report Share Posted September 18, 2000 Caroline -- If you are talking about the DOC band, it's rare that the band is used more than 4 months, depending on the severity, of a child less than a year old -- but growing out of it in one month is awfully fast. How much change has there been if there is that much growth? I'd call the main office in Arizona and speak to someone out there (go to the home page, and get that info) -- and speak your concerns directly to them. I've not heard of it happening so fast before....and they can give you the measurements that they had to make the mold, and what margin they built into the band. Don't just rely on your clinic, talk to someone who was actually involved in making the band. It could be that the clinic could be doing more before offering that option to you (or maybe not, but I feel it's better to go to the "top" first and then back down the chain....)... Good luck. H. -----Original Message-----From: cseavey99@... [mailto:cseavey99@...]Sent: Sunday, September 17, 2000 10:04 PMPlagiocephalyegroupsSubject: 2nd Band Already?? My 7 month old daughter has been wearing her band for just 1 month and at her visit in Miami last week I was told that she has nearly outgrown the band and will need another in 1 month. I didn't expect the band to last just 2 months. Do any of you have a child that needed a new band this quickly? She is an average size baby & according to her pediatrician & the charts, she is growing at an average rate. I was also informed that If I want another band it is going to cost an additional $3,000. This is INSANE!!! My insurance has denied coverage & I am in the process of an apeal. My daughter's craniofacial plastic surgeon predicts that she will need to wear the band for 6-9 months. If my daughter's head continues to grow at the same rate & my insurance doesn't cover it, this may cost me over $12,000.Caroline- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2000 Report Share Posted September 18, 2000 I meant to say 4-6 months... H -----Original Message-----From: Kali [mailto:tnt@...]Sent: Sunday, September 17, 2000 10:18 PMPlagiocephalyegroupsSubject: RE: 2nd Band Already?? Caroline -- If you are talking about the DOC band, it's rare that the band is used more than 4 months, depending on the severity, of a child less than a year old -- but growing out of it in one month is awfully fast. How much change has there been if there is that much growth? I'd call the main office in Arizona and speak to someone out there (go to the home page, and get that info) -- and speak your concerns directly to them. I've not heard of it happening so fast before....and they can give you the measurements that they had to make the mold, and what margin they built into the band. Don't just rely on your clinic, talk to someone who was actually involved in making the band. It could be that the clinic could be doing more before offering that option to you (or maybe not, but I feel it's better to go to the "top" first and then back down the chain....)... Good luck. H. -----Original Message-----From: cseavey99@... [mailto:cseavey99@...]Sent: Sunday, September 17, 2000 10:04 PMPlagiocephalyegroupsSubject: 2nd Band Already?? My 7 month old daughter has been wearing her band for just 1 month and at her visit in Miami last week I was told that she has nearly outgrown the band and will need another in 1 month. I didn't expect the band to last just 2 months. Do any of you have a child that needed a new band this quickly? She is an average size baby & according to her pediatrician & the charts, she is growing at an average rate. I was also informed that If I want another band it is going to cost an additional $3,000. This is INSANE!!! My insurance has denied coverage & I am in the process of an apeal. My daughter's craniofacial plastic surgeon predicts that she will need to wear the band for 6-9 months. If my daughter's head continues to grow at the same rate & my insurance doesn't cover it, this may cost me over $12,000.Caroline- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2000 Report Share Posted September 18, 2000 In a message dated 9/17/00 7:05:24 PM Pacific Daylight Time, cseavey99@... writes: << My 7 month old daughter has been wearing her band for just 1 month and at her visit in Miami last week I was told that she has nearly outgrown the band and will need another in 1 month. >> Caroline - That is ridiculous! Yes, call Arizona! I think these people are making a lot of money of us poor parents! Why is it people wearing helmets don't talk about outgrowing their helmets this fast??? It makes me sick! We outgrew ours in 7 1/2 weeks. I wasn't a happy person at all!!!!!!!! My insurance covered it 100% and still thought it wasn't fare to the insurance company even!!!! We are billed $2,500 at the Madison location but $5,000 to help and no guarantee or your money back? Tammy & 12/8/99 PS And we didn't see what we needed to see! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2000 Report Share Posted September 18, 2000 Hi Caroline, My daughter, Mallory, is 9 months old and has had her band for 6 weeks. At our last visit, the orthotist told us that she'll probably need a new DOC in about a month. His explanation seems reasonable--she has severe positional plagiocephaly and since the shape of her head has already changed so much, it would be very advantageous to get a new mold of her head shape (the way it is now) and work from there, rather than continuing to work from her former head shape. I know what you mean about a second $3000 pop. It seems like a second band should be less because all of the visits and adjs. are included in the price, and if you've only had the first band for a short time, then you really haven't gotten your money's worth with regard to office visits. Mallory's 1st band was supposedly covered completely by insurance. In the mean time, my husband's company is switching to another insurance provider; so, this " second " band might be considered a " first " to the new company. We're hoping this is the case, otherwise we'll be making payments for quite a while. Good luck in your endeavors. -Krista (Mallory's Mommy 12-16-99) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2000 Report Share Posted September 18, 2000 Tammy - Just wanted to jump in here about your helmet comment. We grew " into " our helmet in 9 weeks - only thing is that once you grow into the helmet (whether 7 weeks or 7 months) the child's head is the shape of the helmet. There is no need for further treatment. I've wondered myself why once children grow into the DOC band it's not fully corrected...... I guess the important thing is that all these children end up with round (or rounder) little heads?!?!?! I've been struggling with this myself. I've been asked by a friend of a friend which to go with - a helmet or DOC band. I've heard so many great outcomes from the DOC band, but their insurance co. isn't paying and I'm not sure 2 bands is in their budget. On the other hand, we had such a good experience with our helmet for about 1/2 the cost of one band..... I only wish they lived in our part of the country then I wouldn't give it a second thought...... I saw your post about how big was at his 9 month check, Ethan's 9 month check is next week - I can't wait to see how much he weighs - I'll bet he's real close to . You're right - big boys!! and Ethan (12/27/99) ----- Original Message ----- From: <bailykuhn@...> <Plagiocephalyegroups> Sent: Monday, September 18, 2000 6:51 AM Subject: Re: 2nd Band Already?? > > In a message dated 9/17/00 7:05:24 PM Pacific Daylight Time, > cseavey99@... writes: > > << My 7 month old daughter has been wearing her band for just 1 > month and at her visit in Miami last week I was told that she has > nearly outgrown the band and will need another in 1 month. >> > > Caroline - That is ridiculous! Yes, call Arizona! I think these people are > making a lot of money of us poor parents! Why is it people wearing helmets > don't talk about outgrowing their helmets this fast??? It makes me sick! We > outgrew ours in 7 1/2 weeks. I wasn't a happy person at all!!!!!!!! My > insurance covered it 100% and still thought it wasn't fare to the insurance > company even!!!! We are billed $2,500 at the Madison location but $5,000 to > help and no guarantee or your money back? > > Tammy & 12/8/99 > > PS And we didn't see what we needed to see! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2000 Report Share Posted September 21, 2000 Caroline: I agree with . If your little one is growing at an average rate, I don't see why she would grow out of her band so quickly. My daughter was in her band for a week and a half short of 5 months. She is a larger baby (90 - 100 percentile), and her growth has been consistent. I would call Arizona to see what they say. Let's not make any accusations (if they're right, they're right!! ), but let's face it, not everyone is honest in this world. Good luck to you! Kendra Kali wrote: Caroline --If you are talking about the DOC band, it's rare that the band is used more than 4 months, depending on the severity, of a child less than a year old -- but growing out of it in one month is awfully fast. How much change has there been if there is that much growth? I'd call the main office in Arizona and speak to someone out there (go to the home page, and get that info) -- and speak your concerns directly to them. I've not heard of it happening so fast before....and they can give you the measurements that they had to make the mold, and what margin they built into the band. Don't just rely on your clinic, talk to someone who was actually involved in making the band. It could be that the clinic could be doing more before offering that option to you (or maybe not, but I feel it's better to go to the "top" first and then back down the chain....)...Good luck. H. -----Original Message----- From: cseavey99@... [mailto:cseavey99@...] Sent: Sunday, September 17, 2000 10:04 PM Plagiocephalyegroups Subject: 2nd Band Already?? My 7 month old daughter has been wearing her band for just 1 month and at her visit in Miami last week I was told that she has nearly outgrown the band and will need another in 1 month. I didn't expect the band to last just 2 months. Do any of you have a child that needed a new band this quickly? She is an average size baby & according to her pediatrician & the charts, she is growing at an average rate. I was also informed that If I want another band it is going to cost an additional $3,000. This is INSANE!!! My insurance has denied coverage & I am in the process of an apeal. My daughter's craniofacial plastic surgeon predicts that she will need to wear the band for 6-9 months. If my daughter's head continues to grow at the same rate & my insurance doesn't cover it, this may cost me over $12,000. Caroline- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2000 Report Share Posted September 21, 2000 Krista: Your second band should be covered by insurance, as it SHOULD be considered continued treatment. Kendra KLATIL6508@... wrote: Hi Caroline, My daughter, Mallory, is 9 months old and has had her band for 6 weeks. At our last visit, the orthotist told us that she'll probably need a new DOC in about a month. His explanation seems reasonable--she has severe positional plagiocephaly and since the shape of her head has already changed so much, it would be very advantageous to get a new mold of her head shape (the way it is now) and work from there, rather than continuing to work from her former head shape. I know what you mean about a second $3000 pop. It seems like a second band should be less because all of the visits and adjs. are included in the price, and if you've only had the first band for a short time, then you really haven't gotten your money's worth with regard to office visits. Mallory's 1st band was supposedly covered completely by insurance. In the mean time, my husband's company is switching to another insurance provider; so, this "second" band might be considered a "first" to the new company. We're hoping this is the case, otherwise we'll be making payments for quite a while. Good luck in your endeavors. -Krista (Mallory's Mommy 12-16-99) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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