Getting a vest?

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thefrogprincess

New member
I'm thinking that I'll see about getting a vest at my next clinic visit (June 11th). But I'm just wondering, does insurance typically cover it? How long does the whole process take? Am I in for a fight with my insurance?
 
T

thefrogprincess

New member
I'm thinking that I'll see about getting a vest at my next clinic visit (June 11th). But I'm just wondering, does insurance typically cover it? How long does the whole process take? Am I in for a fight with my insurance?
 
T

thefrogprincess

New member
I'm thinking that I'll see about getting a vest at my next clinic visit (June 11th). But I'm just wondering, does insurance typically cover it? How long does the whole process take? Am I in for a fight with my insurance?
 
N

NoExcuses

New member
These companies that sell the Vest are very well versed in fighting with insurance companies.

They know all the right verbiage, prior auths, studies to submit, etc.

It's not going to be a cake walk, but I think companies like Respirtech do an incredible job helping out patients to get it covered <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
N

NoExcuses

New member
These companies that sell the Vest are very well versed in fighting with insurance companies.

They know all the right verbiage, prior auths, studies to submit, etc.

It's not going to be a cake walk, but I think companies like Respirtech do an incredible job helping out patients to get it covered <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
N

NoExcuses

New member
These companies that sell the Vest are very well versed in fighting with insurance companies.

They know all the right verbiage, prior auths, studies to submit, etc.

It's not going to be a cake walk, but I think companies like Respirtech do an incredible job helping out patients to get it covered <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
R

robert321

New member
it all depends on the insurance, when i got mine my dr office and insurance just delt with it and all i had to do was sign for it when it got here, Hil Rom will send out a rep to "teach you how to use your vest" when you get it and that will take about an hour, make sure you use it religously for the first year because the insurance likes to randomly call you to ask how many hours are on it to make sure you aren't "wasting their money" but after a year that goes away. At least this is how it worked for me, i dunno about everyone else, overall hil rom is easy to communicate with and other than the fact that the dang thing costs $16,000 its great, i would recomend one to anyone you just gotta figure out the best way for you to get stuff up with it so if it doesn't seem to be all that great when you get it play with the settings till you figure out the best for you, best of luck getting it, you will love it
 
R

robert321

New member
it all depends on the insurance, when i got mine my dr office and insurance just delt with it and all i had to do was sign for it when it got here, Hil Rom will send out a rep to "teach you how to use your vest" when you get it and that will take about an hour, make sure you use it religously for the first year because the insurance likes to randomly call you to ask how many hours are on it to make sure you aren't "wasting their money" but after a year that goes away. At least this is how it worked for me, i dunno about everyone else, overall hil rom is easy to communicate with and other than the fact that the dang thing costs $16,000 its great, i would recomend one to anyone you just gotta figure out the best way for you to get stuff up with it so if it doesn't seem to be all that great when you get it play with the settings till you figure out the best for you, best of luck getting it, you will love it
 
R

robert321

New member
it all depends on the insurance, when i got mine my dr office and insurance just delt with it and all i had to do was sign for it when it got here, Hil Rom will send out a rep to "teach you how to use your vest" when you get it and that will take about an hour, make sure you use it religously for the first year because the insurance likes to randomly call you to ask how many hours are on it to make sure you aren't "wasting their money" but after a year that goes away. At least this is how it worked for me, i dunno about everyone else, overall hil rom is easy to communicate with and other than the fact that the dang thing costs $16,000 its great, i would recomend one to anyone you just gotta figure out the best way for you to get stuff up with it so if it doesn't seem to be all that great when you get it play with the settings till you figure out the best for you, best of luck getting it, you will love it
 
J

JazzysMom

New member
My vest is the original from Hill Rom. Although I have great insurance in order to get the total cost from the insurance company, Hill Rom billed it as a rental for however long (cant remember its quite a few years) it took to get the $$ amount equal to the purchase price. During that time they did call to ask for #'s. I wasnt using it as often as prescribed, but it didnt seem to affect things.
 
J

JazzysMom

New member
My vest is the original from Hill Rom. Although I have great insurance in order to get the total cost from the insurance company, Hill Rom billed it as a rental for however long (cant remember its quite a few years) it took to get the $$ amount equal to the purchase price. During that time they did call to ask for #'s. I wasnt using it as often as prescribed, but it didnt seem to affect things.
 
J

JazzysMom

New member
My vest is the original from Hill Rom. Although I have great insurance in order to get the total cost from the insurance company, Hill Rom billed it as a rental for however long (cant remember its quite a few years) it took to get the $$ amount equal to the purchase price. During that time they did call to ask for #'s. I wasnt using it as often as prescribed, but it didnt seem to affect things.
 
J

Jem

New member
Both Hill Rom and Respirtech are excellent companies to deal with and they know the ins and outs of dealing with insurance. They will do everything to pursue payment with your insurance once you give them consent. Many times it can take 6 months or more for the insurance company to settle with them. But in the meantime you have the vest to use.

Now to which brand you get....whichever brand you get you will have for a very long time so do not rush to decide. If would be good to do some research (Amy's blog has a lot of info about the vests) and a trial period of trying out the vests you are interested in, which I am sure both Hill Rom and Respirtech would be open to doing.

I have tried both and I favor Respirtech. The vest fits me like a glove (they custom made it to my measurements since the ready made vests (and they have many sizes to choose from) did not fit me as well as they felt it should. The hoses never pop off because they lock in and the program that I use (called quick start) is preprogrammed right into the panel so I just push a button. There are several different features with programming which makes it more convenient to use. They also sent a tech out to go through all the features with me. He spent a very long time going over everything and then decided the vest didn't fit well enough and ordered a custom one for me.

Good luck with whichever company you go with.
 
J

Jem

New member
Both Hill Rom and Respirtech are excellent companies to deal with and they know the ins and outs of dealing with insurance. They will do everything to pursue payment with your insurance once you give them consent. Many times it can take 6 months or more for the insurance company to settle with them. But in the meantime you have the vest to use.

Now to which brand you get....whichever brand you get you will have for a very long time so do not rush to decide. If would be good to do some research (Amy's blog has a lot of info about the vests) and a trial period of trying out the vests you are interested in, which I am sure both Hill Rom and Respirtech would be open to doing.

I have tried both and I favor Respirtech. The vest fits me like a glove (they custom made it to my measurements since the ready made vests (and they have many sizes to choose from) did not fit me as well as they felt it should. The hoses never pop off because they lock in and the program that I use (called quick start) is preprogrammed right into the panel so I just push a button. There are several different features with programming which makes it more convenient to use. They also sent a tech out to go through all the features with me. He spent a very long time going over everything and then decided the vest didn't fit well enough and ordered a custom one for me.

Good luck with whichever company you go with.
 
J

Jem

New member
Both Hill Rom and Respirtech are excellent companies to deal with and they know the ins and outs of dealing with insurance. They will do everything to pursue payment with your insurance once you give them consent. Many times it can take 6 months or more for the insurance company to settle with them. But in the meantime you have the vest to use.

Now to which brand you get....whichever brand you get you will have for a very long time so do not rush to decide. If would be good to do some research (Amy's blog has a lot of info about the vests) and a trial period of trying out the vests you are interested in, which I am sure both Hill Rom and Respirtech would be open to doing.

I have tried both and I favor Respirtech. The vest fits me like a glove (they custom made it to my measurements since the ready made vests (and they have many sizes to choose from) did not fit me as well as they felt it should. The hoses never pop off because they lock in and the program that I use (called quick start) is preprogrammed right into the panel so I just push a button. There are several different features with programming which makes it more convenient to use. They also sent a tech out to go through all the features with me. He spent a very long time going over everything and then decided the vest didn't fit well enough and ordered a custom one for me.

Good luck with whichever company you go with.
 
M

Momtana

New member
our insurance program is a "self funded" one .... one of the reasons for the two denials for the Hill-Rom vest I have had since June 2006. My third and last appeal was sent to the Commissioner of Higher Education who will decide if it will be covered.
 
M

Momtana

New member
our insurance program is a "self funded" one .... one of the reasons for the two denials for the Hill-Rom vest I have had since June 2006. My third and last appeal was sent to the Commissioner of Higher Education who will decide if it will be covered.
 
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