Insurance coverage for your visit
Before your child's appointment, become familiar with your insurance plan
policies as there are several types of insurance plans including PPOs, POSs and
HMOs, and each insurance company has its own policies. Here are a few tips for
making the most of your insurance plan:
Referrals
Check with your insurer to see if you need a
referral for your appointment (referrals usually come from your child's
pediatrician or a referring specialist). If you do, make sure you have the
referral before you come to your appointment. If the referral is in writing,
bring a copy of it with you to the appointment.
Visit our Billing Information
section for additional information about understanding your bill and
obtaining financial assistance.
Medical procedures
If
your child's doctor orders a medical procedure, ask him or her to provide you
with a written copy of the medical orders. This helps to ensure the procedure is
done efficiently, and is important for your insurance records. Without written
orders you may need to reschedule the procedure.
Having the procedure
If your child is sent for a
procedure, make sure your insurance company will pay for it to be done at
Children's Memorial. The hospital has doctors, nurses and staff trained to use
custom equipment for kids which may need to be explained to your insurance
company. If the insurance company objects, but your doctor wants the procedure
completed here, have your doctor write a "letter of medical necessity" and fax
it to your insurance company.
Chronic medical conditions
If you have a child with a
chronic medical condition, you may want to check with your employer to find out
which of your company's insurance plans gives you the most flexibility and best
coverage.