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VNS stimulators and being paid for by Aetna

Fri, 12/18/2009 - 00:49
My son was implanted in April of 2009 with  a VNS stimulator.  He is on 5 differant meds without good control.  We were preapproved through Aetna and now after paying $13000 of the bill they say it is experimental and they won't pay.  Leaving us with a $31000 bill.  How can they preapprove and pay the surgeon, incidentals and anestesia and not pay the hospital?  How do I fight this?  My email is marp100@aol.com.

Comments

Re: VNS stimulators and being paid for by Aetna

Submitted by cmac147 on Thu, 2010-07-22 - 18:10
I'm a bit late on a reply here buy i've been having the same problem with Aetna for my daughter who has Lennox Gastaut syndrome, they preaproved nursing then once the agency was ready to get started they denied it. They also are denying a helmet for her which she needs since she has 100 seizures per day and constantly hits her head but they cover false breasts, and treatments for erectile dysfunction. Kinda unreal, I don't know how they get away with it. I am in the process of starting a movement against Aetna, not really sure what kind of movement but I am tired of sitting back and letting them get away with what I would call pure theft of our money. They have forced my daughter to get over $20,000 worth of surgery for feeding because they did not want to pay 100 a month for the only formula that would allow her to gain weight.

Re: VNS stimulators and being paid for by Aetna

Submitted by ted026 on Sun, 2011-05-22 - 13:14
I'm 60 yrs. and had the VNS procedure over a year ago. My surgeon is just now sending me a bill for over 5000.00. He says Aetna will not pay for experimental surgery. Anyone ever hear of this before and what did you do?

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