You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
the vest
- Thread starter anonymous
- Start date
The Vest company allows a trade-in option. However, you have to pay the difference between the trade-in value of the old and new vest machines. With the version of the vest we have - it would have been in the 5-6 thousand dollar range. Often, this isn't covered by insurance. So - we still have the big vest.
We found this out when the old vest machine broke. They had a replacement of the big (103) model at our house in a couple of days (yay warranty - at no cost to us for the replacement).
-Michelle
We found this out when the old vest machine broke. They had a replacement of the big (103) model at our house in a couple of days (yay warranty - at no cost to us for the replacement).
-Michelle
My daughter has had the big vest for 7 years, our insurance co. did pay for the new smaller vest without any problems, they said it was time for a new presricption and as long as we had a prescription for it they would pay. It only took about a week and she had it, we did have to send the old vest back.
Kaitsmom<img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">
Kaitsmom<img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">
A few questions for you that might help me answer your question...
Did your CURRENT insurance company pay for the "older" vest that you have posession of right now?
Are you going to obtain a vest through the SAME company as the older vest, or are you looking at a new company? (there are three or four non-affiliated companies that each produce their version of the vest).
I have a few more questions/suggestions depending on your answer. If you wish, you can email me at division902@hotmail.com
Did your CURRENT insurance company pay for the "older" vest that you have posession of right now?
Are you going to obtain a vest through the SAME company as the older vest, or are you looking at a new company? (there are three or four non-affiliated companies that each produce their version of the vest).
I have a few more questions/suggestions depending on your answer. If you wish, you can email me at division902@hotmail.com
i have heard that you can get a new vest every 5 years, or that is the time period for the whole thing. So, for example, if you got the old vest one year before the new vest came out, you'd have to wait 4 years until you could get the new vest covered by insurance. this may differ with insurance co.'s but this is what the PT dept. at my hospital recently told me. I got the new vest when it came out about 2 years ago (small one) and never had the old vest so i got lucky, but if they came out with a smaller one in less than 3 years from now i think i'd have to wait or pay part of it (or all) myself
both of my children have cf and we have to share a vest between the two, i have been fighting w/ the insurance companies for years to even get a second one, we also have had the vest since it first came out, our insurance which we have been through three different ones have denied it
have you tried working with the vest company? They told us that they will provide the vest to ANYONE regardless of their ability to pay. Even though we have insurance and they have covered 80% of it, we have yet to pay the other 20% and the company hasn't put up a fight...call the company and I am sure they will work something out with you <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Reimbursement For Airway Clearance Devices Expands Nationwide
Some people with cystic fibrosis (CF) view portable airway clearance vests as a ticket to independence. Several months ago, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation joined efforts to convince Medicare to reimburse for these devices and the federal policy will change as of October 2003! While more than 1,100 insurers now cover these devices, which are used to perform percussion on clogged airways, Medicare?s decision to provide coverage helps encourage more private insurance companies to reimburse for this device. Airway clearance has been part of standard preventative CF care for decades and can be performed by several methods, including these machines, which consist of a portable air-pulse generator, hoses and an inflatable vest. Approximately 65 percent of the CF population uses these devices to clear their airways and reduce risk of infection.
For more information, see The Vest, manufactured by Advanced Respiratory, at www.abivest.com as well as Medpulse® Respiratory Vest System, made by Electromed, available at www.sourcecf.com/medpulse.htm or www.electromed-usa.com/.
Thought this might be of some interest those having trouble with vest coverage. You can view more information at http://www.cff.org/legislative_action/public_health_and_reimbursement/
Keep appealing with the insurance company, appeal appeal appeal appeal!
Some people with cystic fibrosis (CF) view portable airway clearance vests as a ticket to independence. Several months ago, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation joined efforts to convince Medicare to reimburse for these devices and the federal policy will change as of October 2003! While more than 1,100 insurers now cover these devices, which are used to perform percussion on clogged airways, Medicare?s decision to provide coverage helps encourage more private insurance companies to reimburse for this device. Airway clearance has been part of standard preventative CF care for decades and can be performed by several methods, including these machines, which consist of a portable air-pulse generator, hoses and an inflatable vest. Approximately 65 percent of the CF population uses these devices to clear their airways and reduce risk of infection.
For more information, see The Vest, manufactured by Advanced Respiratory, at www.abivest.com as well as Medpulse® Respiratory Vest System, made by Electromed, available at www.sourcecf.com/medpulse.htm or www.electromed-usa.com/.
Thought this might be of some interest those having trouble with vest coverage. You can view more information at http://www.cff.org/legislative_action/public_health_and_reimbursement/
Keep appealing with the insurance company, appeal appeal appeal appeal!
Does anyone else have the Medpulse Vest System? I don't hear much about it but I absolutely love it, and so do both my daughters. We had the older vest, the original one from ABI and it certainly served the purpose it was intended for, but when we moved recently and got a different insurance the new CF dr ordered us the Medpulse Vests. We got them both within a week with no questions ask. They delivered first than went to the insurance company for payment. The girls at the time were both on Medicaid. Medicaid approved the Vest for my older daughter but denied it for my younger one (she's never been hospitalized and they say she's doing fine so she doesn't need it). We have had the Vest since April with absolutely no payment from Medicaid and the company has not called me a single time or sent me a single bill. We just got a new insurance this month and we are trying to get them to cover the Vest now. I hope they do because this company has been great and certainly deserves to be paid.
Anyway, as for the Medpulse Vest, it is so much more convenient. It comes in a suitcase type thing and even comes with a wheeled carrier so traveling with it is so much easier. We've flown several times with the older vest and it was such a pain. This new one is so much more portable. It's already in it's own suitcase so you don't have to worry about a case. And with the wheels you don't even have to carry it. It also comes with a duffel bag for the tubes, wires, nebulizer supplies and meds to be carried in.
ABI is also wonderful to work with... they have been great in the past so by no means am I trying to draw people away from them. They have excellent customer service and are very helpful. I just want people to be aware that there is another option. If the insurance company denies one, I'd push it with the other one. Wear them down... keep fighting.
Oh, one last thing. I asked Medpulse what would happen if we get new insurance that will only pay 80% and I can't afford the 20%. They told me to send whatever I could and to write on the bill that I couldn't afford the rest. They said they would not take the Vest away from us if we could not afford to pay.
Anyway, as for the Medpulse Vest, it is so much more convenient. It comes in a suitcase type thing and even comes with a wheeled carrier so traveling with it is so much easier. We've flown several times with the older vest and it was such a pain. This new one is so much more portable. It's already in it's own suitcase so you don't have to worry about a case. And with the wheels you don't even have to carry it. It also comes with a duffel bag for the tubes, wires, nebulizer supplies and meds to be carried in.
ABI is also wonderful to work with... they have been great in the past so by no means am I trying to draw people away from them. They have excellent customer service and are very helpful. I just want people to be aware that there is another option. If the insurance company denies one, I'd push it with the other one. Wear them down... keep fighting.
Oh, one last thing. I asked Medpulse what would happen if we get new insurance that will only pay 80% and I can't afford the 20%. They told me to send whatever I could and to write on the bill that I couldn't afford the rest. They said they would not take the Vest away from us if we could not afford to pay.