Straight last shoes

Anyone btdt? Podiatrist suggests straight last shoes for DS so unsuspecting me walks into shoe store and gets a quote of $149 for a single pair of straight last hiking boots by Markell http://www.markellshoe.com/thomasHeels.html The regular Markell boots are only $99 plus the $29 rubber sole topy addition. http://www.markellshoe.com/tarsoCorrective.html

Price shock - I don't spend this much on my shoes. If we have to go with these we will but I'm hoping someone out there knows of another manufacturer for straight last shoes.

Also - does anyone's insurance cover shoes if "prescribed"? I'll call my insurance on Monday, just wondering if anyone else btdt. We had a heck of a time getting my insurance to cover DS's orthotics.

The podiatrist has no other suggestions regarding shoe brands.

TIA!

eta: spelling

We're there right now, but I don't know how much help I can be.

My DD (25 months) is in Markell straight last shoes. They were prescribed by her ped orthopedic surgeon, who has been working to correct her severe metatarsus adducutus. She can't wear the hiking boots, needs the flatter boots, and our insurance does cover them. I had thought about getting her a second pair, so if they get wet, muddy, etc. we could have a backup, but when I got the ins. statement and saw the price, I decided we could avoid puddles. ;)

I haven't found any others, and the only place I found the Markells locally required a prescription for the style she needs

For what it's worth, she loves her shoes, and they have quite grown on me, though it was a stretch at first, as I have a built-in "barefoot is best" mentality, and for my daughter, it just really isn't. Plus they are nicely made (one would hope for $150, yes?) and her feet stay comfortable in them all day. She has to wear them all the time, except at night, and she'd rather sleep in the shoes then than her nighttime braces.

I'm guessing they won't look as cute to me in summer, but she's got at least a year left in this kind of shoes, so I'd better buck up.

Good luck to you. I hope your insurance company covers them.

jennifer

Are they treating some kind of issue with your son???

I suppose it depends on your insurance if they will cover it or not! Good luck

Yes, like pp he's being treated for metatarsus adducutus but not severe. He was not cast as an infant as our then-ped was too laid back about this and now we've years of treatment ahead of us and possibly surgery when DS is around 5 or 6. I realize each insurance company is different but pp's experience is good to hear.

Thanks for the response.

Thank you for relating your on-going experience. DS is not classified as severe but given the same foot problems DH has, we're in for the long haul on this so it's good to hear of positive experience with the shoes (and the insurance, I hope Cigna is as enlightened.)

I'm concerned the hiking boots will not work for your DD - we'd hoped to go with them as more suited to our DS's personality and rough-and-tumble playfulness. I'll be calling the pod tomorrow and probably sending him info on the shoes (he normally works with adult athletes, not kids) to get his opinion and formal prescription.

I hate that DS can't go barefoot and that we're so restricted in the shoes we get him. He so desperately wants Thomas shoes I'm thinking I may need to find some sort of Thomas patch to put on the shoes (that will probably be another post someday in the near future - would superglue work?)

I really do appreciate your help!

I pm'd you. Let me know if the message doesn't go through.

Jennifer

Some insurance will cover, others won't... if you are denied, you can appeal and often they will OK it on a second try.

Both of my twins are in orthotics... one receives Early Intervention services through the state and the orthotics are covered by the program so if you have EI, you might ask if you have additional options. In fact, our PT is on the way out to do a final set before we age out.

My other twin has "regular" orthotics ordered by a private PT. They weren't covered.

Th twin in EI also had to wear a helmet (which is considered orthotic) to reshape her skull from 3-12 months of age. At first, Aetna wasn't going to pay for the helmet but our craniofacial surgeon sent in a special letter with a bunch of research showing necessity and they approved it. It was my understanting that the type of specialists that deal with these type of things often have a really good in-office insurance person who can be very helpful putting together stuff for insurance. You might want to ask.

Hoope this helps.

Stephanie

I just replied - thanks!

>Some insurance will cover, others won't... if you are denied,
>you can appeal and often they will OK it on a second try.
>
>Th twin in EI also had to wear a helmet (which is considered
>orthotic) to reshape her skull from 3-12 months of age. At
>first, Aetna wasn't going to pay for the helmet but our
>craniofacial surgeon sent in a special letter with a bunch of
>research showing necessity and they approved it. It was my
>understanting that the type of specialists that deal with
>these type of things often have a really good in-office
>insurance person who can be very helpful putting together
>stuff for insurance. You might want to ask.
>
>Hoope this helps.
>
>Stephanie

This is how we got the orthotics covered - doctor sent in two letters, one with the original predetermination request and the second with copies of xrays, etc., after the initial denial. Then, after preauthorization was given, the insurance company still denied initial bill until I called them and offered to fax them a copy of their own authorization letter. Anyway, it worked out in the end and hopefully this will too.

I did call the insurance company and they will cover "if medically necessary" but do not require a preauthorization. So, we'll buy ourselves and request reimbursement from the insurance company. I'll be asking for help from the pod office since they were sucessful before. Of course, being the beginning of the year, it will probably fall into the deductible category anyway, but at least that will be $150 reduction in our deductible...girding myself for battle.

Thanks for all your responses ladies!