How can I get Medicare/Medicaid to pay for a prescribed Light therapy Lightbox for S.A.D?
Posted: June 24th, 2010 | Author: admin | Filed under: light therapy for depression | Tags: clue, disability benefits, medicaid, medicare, panic attacks, paperwork, psychiatrist, seasonal depression, seattle, ssdi, sun | 5 Comments »I started receiving disability benefits from SSDI in January 2009 so right now I have medicaid still but I will be switched to medicare in Jan 2010 so I’m a little confused about my coverage right now. My new Psychiatrist just suggested that I try a light therapy lamp for my seasonal depression but they are really expensive and I can’t just go buy one unless I can get it covered. The shrink says she will sign whatever I need to get it but she doesn’t know the process so I have to figure it out myself which is really hard for me since I tend to get panic attacks when I try to deal with confusing paperwork and agencies. I know someone who got one covered by the VA Hospital but thats very different from what I have. I really have no clue who to even ask about this and I just keep getting more depressed because the sun in Seattle has been hiding for weeks. Anyone have any ideas?
More Blogs
- And Time For Clue Number 4 | TmoNews – Unofficial T-Mobile Blog …
- Get a clue « That's My Story
- Sandbox Clue Overlooked in Robert Wone Case? – City Desk …
- And The Next Mysterious T-Mobile Clue Is Upon Us… | TmoNews …
- Cutting Disability Benefits Is Not Fair « Same Difference
- Colitis and Receiving Social Security Disability Benefits …
- How Efficient is Medicaid? | Linda Gorman | NCPA
- How healthcare reform will affect Medicaid | KevinMD.com
- IRP Poverty Dispatch » State Budgets and Medicaid Costs
- » Medicare and “gaming the system” db's Medical Rants
Mail this post
This is when you need to become really good friends with your case manager. This would be considered an alternative therapy. It is not unheard of for Medicare or Medicaid to pay for alternative therapies, but as your doctor already pointed out, he would need to sign a waiver. So call your case manager, tell them it has been prescribed, and ask them what to do next.
First step is your Dr writes an order for it.
Talk to the people that sell it. If it’s a covered item they will know exactly what to do.
Just like scooters and wheelchairs there is a program. Or not.
When you get on Medicare… it isn’t Medicare that covers durable medical equipment, it is the supplement that you purchase…. and it will depend on your supplements coverage ..
I have yet to find one in my state that covers something like this or any sort of bed topper to assist with relief of orthopoedic pain
BOOOOO! Save the monies for antidepressants, or go outside!
You want tax payers to foot the bill for a light show? Pop in a DVD of a Doors concert and you’ll get the same experience for about $30.