Insurance Coverage - Medical Jewelry?

As far as I know there is not. I called around to our insurance company and a few others before I had bought my son's. I would think that if the doctor thought it was necessary, then insurance should pay for it. Mine does not though. It would be nice if they paid for the e-belt as well. lol

------------------
Renee athma/EA
Quinton: PA/TNA/Soy/EA/Severe Asthma/whole egg/onion/cocoa bean/chicken/turkey/string beans/potato
Mykiaja: EA/asthma
Taylor: EA/asthma

I used to work in health insurance, in Canada, but I assume policies would be similar in the states.

Common wording in policies was "drugs, sera, and injectibles, prescribed by a licenced physician and dispensed by a licenced pharmacist or physician".

I've actually seen physicians write prescriptions for diapers, baby wipes, and over-the-counter things like aspirin.

On a [i]personal[/i] level I agree that e-belts and medical bracelets should be covered, I do understand the insurance companies view as well.

[b]However[/b], sometimes they are covered under medical expenses on income tax forms. Or at least they used to be. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/redface.gif[/img] My families medical expenses are not usually high enough to claim anything, but it would be worth checking into for yourselves.

Anna Marie, it still holds true to-day. A MedicAlert bracelet would be considered a medical expense, which is a non-refundable tax credit (meaning it only reduces your taxable income, and usually not by a heckuva lot if anything, depending on your family's income and the amount of medical expenses).

Also, in Ontario, a MedicAlert bracelet can be covered under the Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program. It is not covered with the Ontario Drug Card (the prescription drug card issued with cheques for both of the above-noted programs), but if you submit paperwork separately, it can be covered as a medical expense.

I would check in the TAKE ACTION thread re low income (not that your query is specific to low income) and see if there is any information posted in there that might be helpful to you).

Best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

------------------

Well...

At work, we have FSA's or PSA's (flexible or personal) spending accounts... Money gets deposited pre-tax into your own 'bucket', and you can get reimbursed FROM that money, when you submit your claims ($15 or $20 copays, rx'es, etc...)

They ALSO cover medic alert bracelets, and they ALSO cover GF/DF or 'special' foods (if you get a letter stating its medically necessary blah blah blah...)

Why do I know? [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] Just called, and ordered a catalog for caitlin to look at and order from... sigh.

Jason