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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Canada Oxygen question
        
(Message started by: hoeboe on Jul 17^th, 2007, 4:48pm)

Title: Canada Oxygen question
Post by hoeboe on Jul 17^th, 2007, 4:48pm

Hi all! Went to the doctors yesterday and finally convinced him that I wanted to try O2 instead of firing 2 shots of Zomig a day.

The 35 pages of info I brought along helped with his decision I'm sure. He also (with my coaching) gave me a script for Cafergot.

My question is for anyone living in Canada that may have experience in trying to get the federal government to cover some of the cost of the O2. I am told by OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) that O2 is only covered for respitory illnesses and that CH is not on their "approved" list of conditions that allow them to subsidize the cost.

I also talked to my insurance company about the coverage and they said that if OHIP pays part of it that they will pay the rest. They also said that if OHIP doesn't cover it that they won't cover any of it.

Has anyone ever convinced their insurance company it would be worth their effort to cover O2 since the cost is so much cheaper than having them pay for triptans to the tune of 200 bucks a week?

If anyone has successfully negotiated with either the government or their insurance company could you please give me some tips on your method of tactics to use on them?

It seems like such a no brainer to me that they should cover O2 without question considering the cost of the alternative. Then again we are talking about government and insurance companies.... brains are not a prerequisite for employment it seems.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance
Jim

Title: Re: Canada Oxygen question
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Jul 17^th, 2007, 7:57pm

Hi Jim

Try Emailing your health insurance & or your insurance company & ask the question; I was told by front counter assistants that I couldn’t claim & paid for the o2 myself until I Emailed my health insurance fund, the Emails go to people behind the scenes who deal with customer enquiries in more depth than the ones at the front counter.
I now get reimbursed for 50% of the cost of the o2 & the bottle rent which is a big help when I’m getting hit up to six times a night & sucking a $100.00 ^s worth of gas down a day.

Hope it helps
Cheers
Barry

Title: Re: Canada Oxygen question
Post by Angie on Jul 17^th, 2007, 8:58pm

Hi Jim

We were informed by our Neuro that OHIP does not cover so I never tried it. Our insurance, that I have at work "Great West Life" covered 80%.

I mailed the insurance co. the prescription original copy and a copy of the receipts and three weeks later they sent me a cheque.

If you have insurance at work check into what your benefits are.

Hope this helps

Angie

Title: Re: Canada Oxygen question
Post by hoeboe on Jul 17^th, 2007, 10:13pm

on 07/17/07 at 19:57:12, Barry_T_Coles wrote:

Hi Barry. Thanks for the input. 100 bucks a day? What size tank do you have? My "M" tank which has 5 times the capacity of the "E" tanks is $40 for a fill and will last 5 hours at 12Lpm. (what I'm told by the gas company)
Are you using "E" tanks? The O2 supplier told me that they are 25 a fill but only last an hour?

Can someone verify for me how long an "M" will last at 12Lpm?

Sorry. Total newb to the O2 here and very naive.

Thanks!

Title: Re: Canada Oxygen question
Post by hoeboe on Jul 17^th, 2007, 10:17pm

on 07/17/07 at 20:58:08, Angie wrote:

Hi Angie

Yeah I do have insurance at work and as I posted they said that if OHIP doesn't pay, neither do they. My carrier is Sunlife.

Did you call ahead of time to verify the coverage with them or did you just submit the bills and they paid it?

If you don't mind me asking, what do your fills cost, (without reimbursement from insurance) and do you rent your regulator or dis you buy one outright?

Title: Re: Canada Oxygen question
Post by ClusterChris on Jul 17^th, 2007, 11:23pm

my insurance covers 80% but they required a doctors note stating what i was using it for and they also wanted a price list from my supplier to see if it was cheper for them to buy the regulator and tanks instead opf renting them. And no OHIP will not cover any of it.

Chris

Title: Re: Canada Oxygen question
Post by Angie on Jul 18^th, 2007, 6:03am

Hi Jim

No I did not call ahead, I just submitted the Rx and Receipts to see if they would cover.

We paid $100.00 for the yearly fee and $37.00 to fill the M60 tank. That included the regulator. When the tank gets low, we call Home Care they deliver a new tank and they bill us once a month, each refill is 37.00 tax included.

Angie