Today was supposed to be my next injection treatment, but since the insurance company denied my treatments, calling them "cosmetic surgery" I am on hold with them (the insurance company). I feel like I could swallow my own throat, my panic attacks have been through the roof since dealing with this insurance stuff. I don't know if I can take any more. I have spoken to the lady at my dermatologist's office twice, and gotten nowhere with her...she is a hateful lady, and obvious she does her job..and with no compassion. "This is the way we are expected to code it", she has told me. I have asked twice to speak with my dermatologist, but to no avail. Oh, btw, this lady with my insurance company told me that is not true...insurance companies to NOT tell your doctor how they MUST code something.

Just being on hold is unnerving me to no end. It has been 4 weeks since I had the injections, and I have been very sick for two weeks, on top of housing a guest who treated me very poorly until I threw her out. On the phone now...I am so nervous.

Okay, this is what she told me...I hope this helps someone/ANYONE who decides to persue the injection route:

In filing a claim for "Alopecia" - Get a predetermination from your doctor, along with his treatment/procedure plan, showing why your injections would be a medical claim, and NOT a cosmetic claim. (The insurance company needs a reason it is medically necessary.) Certainly photos of your scalp, sores, redness, if it is irritated or itching could help this claim as well. This lady looked up medical policy guidelines, but this was all she was able to find to help me, but I am thankful she was willing to take the time to try to help.

I have BCBS, and though I cannot speak for other insurances, they consider an Alopecia coding as cosmetic, and it is NOT covered. (Some insurances DO cover it, from what I have been told)This is why the above is so important. It may be the difference in getting coverage or not. My office visit was covered, and my medication was covered, but the injections were not.

I hope this information will be helpful to you. I, personally, do not plan to pursue the injections. My panic attacks have taken their toll on me in dealing with this whole thing, but I pray for the day we don't have to fight for rights to get treatment for this condition that we have no control over!!!