Guest guest Posted February 11, 2008 Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get an insurance company to pay for an AAC (augmetative speach device). My insurance keeps telling me it is not medically nessessary, but my almost 5 year old can't communicate with people who don't know him. He only has 7 words and some of those are aproximations. The school is purchasing one for school but I really feel he should have his own. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 11, 2008 Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 I did get insurance to pay for my sons device, when he was about 3 1/2 years old. What I did was write a letter explaining it was a medical safety issue. He was unable to let it be known for example if something was too hot and burning him, what or where something was hurting him and so on. Along with letters from his doctors and therapist stating the general public or caregivers could not understand what he was trying to communicate to them without the aid of a device. I also included that if lost he would be unable to let anyone know who he was or where he lived or how to get in touch with someone to help him. **************Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music. (http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp00300000002\ 5 48) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 11, 2008 Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 I'm in the same situation as you are . So far we haven't gotten much accomplished in that regard. I'll be interested to see if anyone has some advise for this Sandy [ ] Speach device Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get an insurance company to pay for an AAC (augmetative speach device). My insurance keeps telling me it is not medically nessessary, but my almost 5 year old can't communicate with people who don't know him. He only has 7 words and some of those are aproximations. The school is purchasing one for school but I really feel he should have his own. Thanks Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 11, 2008 Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 Did you have an Evaluation done outside of school? They should be able to write up a justification to the insurance company. > > Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get an insurance company to > pay for an AAC (augmetative speach device). My insurance keeps telling > me it is not medically nessessary, but my almost 5 year old can't > communicate with people who don't know him. He only has 7 words and > some of those are aproximations. The school is purchasing one for > school but I really feel he should have his own. > Thanks > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 11, 2008 Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 , We had our Doctor write a script for one, and we had an outside speech evaluation done.? Our insurance company said they needed for info before approving, so we had my son trial one for 30 days, and became?medically necessary.? They really make you jump through hoops, but you should appeal your denial.? It is also important to see if there is coverage for medical devices, because if there is, then you can get one. Jami Re: [ ] Speach device I'm in the same situation as you are . So far we haven't gotten much accomplished in that regard. I'll be interested to see if anyone has some advise for this Sandy [ ] Speach device Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get an insurance company to pay for an AAC (augmetative speach device). My insurance keeps telling me it is not medically nessessary, but my almost 5 year old can't communicate with people who don't know him. He only has 7 words and some of those are aproximations. The school is purchasing one for school but I really feel he should have his own. Thanks Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 11, 2008 Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 Hi, My name is I'm new here. My son Charlie is 4 years and 9 mths old and has just been officially diagnosed with apraxia. It has been highly recommend that he get an ACC Device. While waiting to hear back from my CPSE Chairperson I did a little research into. As I'm sure you have found out they can be quite pricey. I contacted my broker insurance and they told me that I would need to send in allot of documentation form the Doctors and Specialists. Basically an novel for there review. I have been very fortunate with my school district and they will have him evaluated for it and he should get it. They said it is his for home and school for as long as it is necessary. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 11, 2008 Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 I will not claim to have had success with this b/c we are still waiting to hear, but here are some things we did: went to www.speechgeneratingdeivces.com and used their paperwork they have online for submitting it to the insurance co. It was recommended we use them to submit it - but it would have meant we had to return our device and purchase a new one through them. We are trying it using their paperwork first. We call it a speech Prosthesis (correct spelling - same use of word as in replacement leg or arm). Our insurance company will pay for prosthesis so we used that word. One of the forms is a medical necessity form - find a doc or neuro that has been with you. Tests - we had speech evals, etc that showed his receptive high, expressive lo and frustration level high Like I said we have not had success yet, but I wanted to show our techniques. Best of luck, > > > , > > > > We had our Doctor write a script for one, and we had an outside speech evaluation done.? Our insurance company said they needed for info before approving, so we had my son trial one for 30 days, and became?medically necessary.? They really make you jump through hoops, but you should appeal your denial.? It is also important to see if there is coverage for medical devices, because if there is, then you can get one. > > > > Jami > > > Re: [ ] Speach device > > > > > > > > I'm in the same situation as you are . So far we haven't > gotten much accomplished in that regard. I'll be interested to see > if anyone has some advise for this > > Sandy > > [ ] Speach device > > Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get an insurance company to > pay for an AAC (augmetative speach device). My insurance keeps telling > me it is not medically nessessary, but my almost 5 year old can't > communicate with people who don't know him. He only has 7 words and > some of those are aproximations. The school is purchasing one for > school but I really feel he should have his own. > Thanks > > > Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! > > http://www.flickr.com/gift/ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 11, 2008 Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 What is your sons speech device like? I saw one that had, I think, four phrases and yes and no on it. Can you change what it says or customize to the child? The safety aspect you mentioned is something I always worry about. Are there ones that are preferred over others? Are they part of your sons speech therapy sessions or are they separate? Thanks for any info! -------------- Original message -------------- From: MOMFULLX@... I did get insurance to pay for my sons device, when he was about 3 1/2 years old. What I did was write a letter explaining it was a medical safety issue. He was unable to let it be known for example if something was too hot and burning him, what or where something was hurting him and so on. Along with letters from his doctors and therapist stating the general public or caregivers could not understand what he was trying to communicate to them without the aid of a device. I also included that if lost he would be unable to let anyone know who he was or where he lived or how to get in touch with someone to help him. **************Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music. (http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp00300000002\ 5 48) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 11, 2008 Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 -My daughter has has two devices. She is six yrs old. One the SD bought and she used it in school- it was a Tech Speak. The pages need to be laminated and record what each picture is. We borrowed one of those until she was ready for her own. After about a year- the hospital where she goes for AAC evaluations ordered a Dynavox. The newest one, the Dynavox V is a mini-computer with Windows XP is the one we have. It is an amazing little machine. Her SLP has been programming it for her with school/circle time. It has everything already programmed- its just tailoring it to the child. The SLP at the hospital did all the paperwork. We just waited for it to show up-I didn't have to do any letter writing. She also has Medicaid which helped pay for it too, they will only buy one every five years, which is why she had us wait till she was ready for the Dynavox. Thats why I mentioned getting an evaluation outside of school and letting them justify it. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 11, 2008 Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 If you can't get the insurance company to pay for it.. here are some other options Easter Seals your local Church ? set up a webpage asking for donations through paypal. (I know people have done this and quite quickly made their donation goal, over 10k) Good luck ~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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