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Has any appealed the insurance companies about coverage and won?
Hello Everyone! My name is Melissa and I have had AU since I can remember. My hair grew back for about 2 years when I was 12 and 13 then fell out completely again and I have been wearing wigs ever since. I have worn several different types from lace, synthetic to vacuum, human hair. I currently wear a freedom vacuum piece and the price of hair keeps skyrocketing. (I am looking into other options and would love input on that as well). We all know how expensive they can get and how Alopecia is not really considered a covered diseased for our " cranial prosthetics". I have been on my own since 17 and have always come up w/a way to pay for my wig. Many years ago I tried to appeal the insurance company w/o success. I have heard it is very difficult and am wondering if anyone has successfully completed this. I have Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. Any suggestions, input, success stories would be most helpful. I would love to get at least some help from the insurance company, if at all possible. Thanks for your help guys!!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Christine on
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Go to the national alopecia areata foundation (NAAF: Google, alopecia wigs covered by insurance); they have a page that tells you how to deal with insurance companies.
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Permalink Reply by Ivan on
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Christine, For my sins as well as being a pro. golfer and clinical hypnotherapist, I also worked off and on for several decades as a fully qualified lawyer. Contracts was one of my specialties. Introductions over, to answer your question: The general public (worldwide) tend to believe that insurance contracts (policies) are written in highly technical language which only lawyers can understand. The truth of the matter however is that many insurance companies write their contracts in slippery gobbledegook so as to avoid liability (paying out) whenever it takes their fancy. And with some insurers that happens a great deal of the time. Even lawyers can't understand the phrasing of many policies as they are not meant to be understood! Having said that, with health policies, as you correctly state there should be a clear list of diseases underwritten (covered). In theory at least it should be an uncomplicated process to determine (any) liability. I can't personally publicly offer to read and advise you on your insurance policy as lawyers without current practising certificates face big fines if they form a lawyer / client relationship and provide advice, even for free. (It's a sad world). You will however secure free professional advice from somewhere. If you don't have a case then forget it. Insurers are never benevolent. An important thing to be aware of is that in most countries there is an 'Insurance Ombudsman' scheme. A party who supervises insurance companies / a party whom usually you can appeal to for free. Good luck.
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Nice to meet you, Ivan. Yeah, I read that stuff all day at work. NAAF makes it easy to understand, and gives suggestions and advice. Just another helpful site like this one. This new Interwebs thing is fantastic when you've been feeling that you're all alone in this, and reading what other people are going through, the treatments they're trying, and the fight they're putting up--against hair loss, doctors, insurance companies--the support is amazing. Anything you can add just makes it that much better. Thanks.
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