Guest guest Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 Hi Jen, The difference between a helmet and a band is that helmet is passive and a band is active. Passive helmets sit on the baby's head and evenutally the head will grow into the shape of the helmet, round. They rely totally on growth, so they're good for very young infants. Once a baby hits 6 months old, head growth slows down dramatically. Active bands like the DOC and STAR redirect the growth of the head through gentle pressure not felt by the baby. They are good for very young infants and older babies. Sorry I can't answer your insurance question. Keep us posted on your daughter. > > Hi, > > My name is Jen, and I am new to this group. My beautiful 7 month old > was diagnosed with Deformational Plagio (sp?) this week at the > University of Michigan, and was casted for her new helmet. Not to my > suprise, but our insurance company, Humana, denied the claim today, > saying that " Cranial Banding " is excluded. Forgive my for being > naive, but is there a difference between a cranial band and a helmet? > Or am I just fighting a losing battle with Humana? > > Thank you in advance for your help and support! > > Jen > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 Hi Jen, The difference between a helmet and a band is that helmet is passive and a band is active. Passive helmets sit on the baby's head and evenutally the head will grow into the shape of the helmet, round. They rely totally on growth, so they're good for very young infants. Once a baby hits 6 months old, head growth slows down dramatically. Active bands like the DOC and STAR redirect the growth of the head through gentle pressure not felt by the baby. They are good for very young infants and older babies. Sorry I can't answer your insurance question. Keep us posted on your daughter. > > Hi, > > My name is Jen, and I am new to this group. My beautiful 7 month old > was diagnosed with Deformational Plagio (sp?) this week at the > University of Michigan, and was casted for her new helmet. Not to my > suprise, but our insurance company, Humana, denied the claim today, > saying that " Cranial Banding " is excluded. Forgive my for being > naive, but is there a difference between a cranial band and a helmet? > Or am I just fighting a losing battle with Humana? > > Thank you in advance for your help and support! > > Jen > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 Thank you for the quick response, I really appreciate it. So should I be concerned that at 7 months old that a helmet might not help her? It's the Denmar Helmet at University of Michigan. I'm not familiar with all of the measurements, but they told me she is " off " by one cm? I don't even know if that truly warrants rehabing? This is such a scary process, I just want to do what is right for my child. Thanks again, Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 Thank you for the quick response, I really appreciate it. So should I be concerned that at 7 months old that a helmet might not help her? It's the Denmar Helmet at University of Michigan. I'm not familiar with all of the measurements, but they told me she is " off " by one cm? I don't even know if that truly warrants rehabing? This is such a scary process, I just want to do what is right for my child. Thanks again, Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 Hi Jen and welcome to the group. already cleared up the difference between the two, so I just wanted to say hi. Take a look in our database section and the Files section. There is a lot of helpful insurance information here. I am a repo mom so I don't have any firsthand insurance knowledge for you but I hope you can find something helpful in the files. HTH Becky , repo grad Pittsburgh, PA --- In Plagiocephaly , " emsar14 " <jengruber@s...> wrote: > > Hi, > > My name is Jen, and I am new to this group. My beautiful 7 month old > was diagnosed with Deformational Plagio (sp?) this week at the > University of Michigan, and was casted for her new helmet. Not to my > suprise, but our insurance company, Humana, denied the claim today, > saying that " Cranial Banding " is excluded. Forgive my for being > naive, but is there a difference between a cranial band and a helmet? > Or am I just fighting a losing battle with Humana? > > Thank you in advance for your help and support! > > Jen > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 Hi Jen and welcome to the group. already cleared up the difference between the two, so I just wanted to say hi. Take a look in our database section and the Files section. There is a lot of helpful insurance information here. I am a repo mom so I don't have any firsthand insurance knowledge for you but I hope you can find something helpful in the files. HTH Becky , repo grad Pittsburgh, PA --- In Plagiocephaly , " emsar14 " <jengruber@s...> wrote: > > Hi, > > My name is Jen, and I am new to this group. My beautiful 7 month old > was diagnosed with Deformational Plagio (sp?) this week at the > University of Michigan, and was casted for her new helmet. Not to my > suprise, but our insurance company, Humana, denied the claim today, > saying that " Cranial Banding " is excluded. Forgive my for being > naive, but is there a difference between a cranial band and a helmet? > Or am I just fighting a losing battle with Humana? > > Thank you in advance for your help and support! > > Jen > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 Jen, I would encourage you to take pictures of her throughout her treatment. It really helps track her progress. I've met two parents who felt their children's plagio was made worse by U of M. I met one at an appointment about 3.5 years ago. The other was while dd was banded. We have had some members here who were pleased with the correction their kid's got at U of M. I mention this not to alarm you but rather to let you know it would be a good idea to take pictures to reassure yourself. Check out the before and afters in the photos section to see the angles that best show the plagio. Good luck with the fitting Mom to Dane 4 yo and Cece 12 mo (DOC Grads) > > > Thank you for the quick response, I really appreciate it. So should I > be concerned that at 7 months old that a helmet might not help her? > It's the Denmar Helmet at University of Michigan. I'm not familiar > with all of the measurements, but they told me she is " off " by one > cm? I don't even know if that truly warrants rehabing? > > This is such a scary process, I just want to do what is right for my > child. > > Thanks again, > Jen > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 Jen, I would encourage you to take pictures of her throughout her treatment. It really helps track her progress. I've met two parents who felt their children's plagio was made worse by U of M. I met one at an appointment about 3.5 years ago. The other was while dd was banded. We have had some members here who were pleased with the correction their kid's got at U of M. I mention this not to alarm you but rather to let you know it would be a good idea to take pictures to reassure yourself. Check out the before and afters in the photos section to see the angles that best show the plagio. Good luck with the fitting Mom to Dane 4 yo and Cece 12 mo (DOC Grads) > > > Thank you for the quick response, I really appreciate it. So should I > be concerned that at 7 months old that a helmet might not help her? > It's the Denmar Helmet at University of Michigan. I'm not familiar > with all of the measurements, but they told me she is " off " by one > cm? I don't even know if that truly warrants rehabing? > > This is such a scary process, I just want to do what is right for my > child. > > Thanks again, > Jen > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 I've had up and down experiences with U of M as a whole, so I'm already nervous about going there. That is where my Ped referred us, so I just assumed it was good. Our other big issue with going with something else like the DOC Band is that our insurance is rejecting this as an exclusion from our policy, so we already are paying $1700 out of pocket. Do you think that the helmet is significantly cheaper because it's not as good. I want to do what is best for my baby, so I am so scared and confused. Maybe I should do more research before we go for the fitting. Have other bands/helmets caused plagio to get worse, or only U of M? Thanks! Jen > > Jen, > I would encourage you to take pictures of her throughout her > treatment. It really helps track her progress. > I've met two parents who felt their children's plagio was made worse > by U of M. I met one at an appointment about 3.5 years ago. The > other was while dd was banded. > We have had some members here who were pleased with the correction > their kid's got at U of M. > I mention this not to alarm you but rather to let you know it would be > a good idea to take pictures to reassure yourself. > Check out the before and afters in the photos section to see the > angles that best show the plagio. > Good luck with the fitting > > Mom to Dane 4 yo and Cece 12 mo (DOC Grads) > > --- In Plagiocephaly , " emsar14 " <jengruber@s...> wrote: > > > > > > Thank you for the quick response, I really appreciate it. So should > I > > be concerned that at 7 months old that a helmet might not help her? > > It's the Denmar Helmet at University of Michigan. I'm not familiar > > with all of the measurements, but they told me she is " off " by one > > cm? I don't even know if that truly warrants rehabing? > > > > This is such a scary process, I just want to do what is right for my > > child. > > > > Thanks again, > > Jen > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 I've had up and down experiences with U of M as a whole, so I'm already nervous about going there. That is where my Ped referred us, so I just assumed it was good. Our other big issue with going with something else like the DOC Band is that our insurance is rejecting this as an exclusion from our policy, so we already are paying $1700 out of pocket. Do you think that the helmet is significantly cheaper because it's not as good. I want to do what is best for my baby, so I am so scared and confused. Maybe I should do more research before we go for the fitting. Have other bands/helmets caused plagio to get worse, or only U of M? Thanks! Jen > > Jen, > I would encourage you to take pictures of her throughout her > treatment. It really helps track her progress. > I've met two parents who felt their children's plagio was made worse > by U of M. I met one at an appointment about 3.5 years ago. The > other was while dd was banded. > We have had some members here who were pleased with the correction > their kid's got at U of M. > I mention this not to alarm you but rather to let you know it would be > a good idea to take pictures to reassure yourself. > Check out the before and afters in the photos section to see the > angles that best show the plagio. > Good luck with the fitting > > Mom to Dane 4 yo and Cece 12 mo (DOC Grads) > > --- In Plagiocephaly , " emsar14 " <jengruber@s...> wrote: > > > > > > Thank you for the quick response, I really appreciate it. So should > I > > be concerned that at 7 months old that a helmet might not help her? > > It's the Denmar Helmet at University of Michigan. I'm not familiar > > with all of the measurements, but they told me she is " off " by one > > cm? I don't even know if that truly warrants rehabing? > > > > This is such a scary process, I just want to do what is right for my > > child. > > > > Thanks again, > > Jen > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 Jen, We had to pay out of pocket for ds's band so I completely understand what you're saying. The bands only work as well as the orthos/clinicians who are using them. So no it's not just a U of M thing. It's gotten mixed reviews here too, but like I said some people have been very happy. I just wanted to tell you to keep on eye on things. You are doing what's best for your daughter! You're being proactive Rchel > > > > > > > > > Thank you for the quick response, I really appreciate it. So > should > > I > > > be concerned that at 7 months old that a helmet might not help > her? > > > It's the Denmar Helmet at University of Michigan. I'm not > familiar > > > with all of the measurements, but they told me she is " off " by > one > > > cm? I don't even know if that truly warrants rehabing? > > > > > > This is such a scary process, I just want to do what is right > for my > > > child. > > > > > > Thanks again, > > > Jen > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 14, 2006 Report Share Posted January 14, 2006 Jen, We had to pay out of pocket for ds's band so I completely understand what you're saying. The bands only work as well as the orthos/clinicians who are using them. So no it's not just a U of M thing. It's gotten mixed reviews here too, but like I said some people have been very happy. I just wanted to tell you to keep on eye on things. You are doing what's best for your daughter! You're being proactive Rchel > > > > > > > > > Thank you for the quick response, I really appreciate it. So > should > > I > > > be concerned that at 7 months old that a helmet might not help > her? > > > It's the Denmar Helmet at University of Michigan. I'm not > familiar > > > with all of the measurements, but they told me she is " off " by > one > > > cm? I don't even know if that truly warrants rehabing? > > > > > > This is such a scary process, I just want to do what is right > for my > > > child. > > > > > > Thanks again, > > > Jen > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 Thanks again for the support and ideas. I will be photographing her right before we get the helmet on 1/25, and will continue to photograph her everyweek to check progress. I'm just hoping she adjusts well and keeps sleeping through the night! Thank you to everyone for having such a wonderful group. It's so nice to know you aren't the only one out there! > > > > > > > > > > > > Thank you for the quick response, I really appreciate it. So > > should > > > I > > > > be concerned that at 7 months old that a helmet might not help > > her? > > > > It's the Denmar Helmet at University of Michigan. I'm not > > familiar > > > > with all of the measurements, but they told me she is " off " by > > one > > > > cm? I don't even know if that truly warrants rehabing? > > > > > > > > This is such a scary process, I just want to do what is right > > for my > > > > child. > > > > > > > > Thanks again, > > > > Jen > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 Thanks again for the support and ideas. I will be photographing her right before we get the helmet on 1/25, and will continue to photograph her everyweek to check progress. I'm just hoping she adjusts well and keeps sleeping through the night! Thank you to everyone for having such a wonderful group. It's so nice to know you aren't the only one out there! > > > > > > > > > > > > Thank you for the quick response, I really appreciate it. So > > should > > > I > > > > be concerned that at 7 months old that a helmet might not help > > her? > > > > It's the Denmar Helmet at University of Michigan. I'm not > > familiar > > > > with all of the measurements, but they told me she is " off " by > > one > > > > cm? I don't even know if that truly warrants rehabing? > > > > > > > > This is such a scary process, I just want to do what is right > > for my > > > > child. > > > > > > > > Thanks again, > > > > Jen > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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