Tuesday, June 05, 2007
I'm in the midst of trying out different ADHD medications - I've tried enough of the Ritalin derivatives to know that they don't work for me. Will they cover me on Strattera? No. Not until I exhaust all the other cheaper options - even though we (my dr. and me) have proof they aren't working.
I hate these "cost-savings" (theirs, apparently, not mine) measures.
Argh.
I hate these "cost-savings" (theirs, apparently, not mine) measures.
Argh.
Barb
Welcome to Health Central's ADHD site. I am glad that you found us! I am sorry you are having such a hard time right now. I wish there was someting I could say but don't know how to get through to insurance companies. Maybe if you write a letter to your state insurance department, they will be able to let you know what options you have to request a review of your claim by the insurance company.
Please let us know how it is going.
Eileen
I think I will be taking your advice. Since I've tried Adderal and Ritalin, my Dr. has recently tried to prescribe Concerta for me thinking that those 3 different stimulants would be enough to convince the insurance company that the entire class of drugs are not an answer for me and that I could then try Strattera.
But, no.
They turned down the request for Concerta and now want me to try Metadate CD for a month. If that doesn't work, then I can try Concerta. And after all that, there's still no gurarantee that they'll eventually approve Strattera.
This makes me so unbeleivably angry that I cannot begin to put it into words. The gall (not to mention the cost to me *and* to them) makes no sense.
So, yeah, I'm thinking about appealing.
Thanks for you encouragement, Eileen.
Barb
I found the following article that you might find helpful. It is about appealing an insurance company's decision.
http://info.insure.com/health/claimdenial.html
Hopefully, this might provide you with some information on how to handle the situation.
Keep me informed on how it all works out.
Eileen