Private insurance: Will they cover the cost of my device?

Private insurance: Will they cover the cost of my device?

By Ryan Cochrane on July 22, 2020 in Health & Care

What is Private Insurance?

Alright you beautiful people, let’s talk Private insurance. Now I know BORING, but we receive hundreds of questions on the subject, so I will try to provide insight into what we have learned over the years. 

For most people, private insurance means a payment comes off my paycheque, and the next time I go to the dentist it only costs me $20 instead of $100. The majority of places can direct bill for you, whereas, in our field, this is not always the case. Unfortunately, the larger private insurance companies decided that clinics like ours would no longer be allowed to direct bill as there are too many products to regulate. Over the last few years, we have discovered the ins and outs for most insurance companies (until they change their rules again). We can help you navigate your insurance, even though we are unable to directly bill them.

Most of the information providing to us is VERY general. We can advise you on what questions to ask your insurance company before proceeding with a device. This way you can be assured you are covered. Private Insurance companies very rarely allow us to talk to them directly to get the information needed regarding our patients, so you must call them to clarify your coverage.

Common Devices that are Covered: What information do they need?

  1. Foot Orthotics 
  • Usually, a new pair is covered every 1-2 years, ranging coverage between $200-$400. 
  • 2-page “PAID” invoice
  • A prescription from your family physician
  • Biomechanical assessment
  • GAIT analysis

     2. Compression socks

  • Medical-grade compression is only covered, which means the pressure gradient has to be over 20 mmHg. 
  • For most Blue Cross plans the pressure gradient has to be over 30 mmHg (except Registered Nurses)
  • The number of pairs covered per year varies greatly between all the companies

    3. Custom & Non-Custom Bracing, & Prosthetics

  • Most companies will pay a maximum of $500.00 at 80%.
  • Must have a prescription with a diagnosis in order to claim it through your insurance

There of course are some insurances that only require a receipt, for example, ASEBP (Alberta Teacher’s Benefit). We do not know all the ins and outs so if all else fails give your insurance company a call. 

Direct Billing

Most insurance companies require you, the patient, to pay for the device and then submit it to your insurance yourself. The only insurances at this present date that allow us to direct bill are:

  1. ARTA (retired teachers plan)
  2. Green Shield
  3. Veterans Affairs
  4. Chambers of Commerce

Websites of Common Insurance Companies

We understand that it is challenging to navigate through your insurance and can be downright discouraging. We are here to answer any of your questions to help you get your money back as easy as possible.

This is a lot of information and not exactly something you wanted to read, but if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the clinic.  We are here to help no matter what it is regarding.

Concern for your child’s flat feet

Concern for your child’s flat feet

By Ryan Cochrane on January 14, 2020 in Health & Care

A guide to the growth of children’s feet

They grow so fast!

There is nothing cuter than baby feet! But who am I kidding everything is adorable in a smaller version. Before you know it they will be stomping around the house with feet either the same size as you or bigger. At times, you are baffled as you just spent money on new shoes that are already too small. Unfortunately, it’s necessary during those growth spurts to update their footwear to ensure healthy growth. One concern I get is parents who worry whether their child’s flat feet are normal, so I’ve tried to summarize a guide to healthy foot growth. Hopefully, your kids will grow into happy healthy adults with minimal foot problems.

Unfortunately, you can come across many conflicting studies and information on the internet regarding children’s feet. Some of them say to wear shoes, others say to go barefoot! Which is the best?

Barefoot

Going barefoot at a young age helps develop muscles in their feet as well as allows them to feel different textures and temperatures as they walk around. Of course, shoes have their place but when young children are learning to walk, the shoe should be flexible and provide an ample amount of wiggle room for their growing toes. With this in mind, shoes during childhood until age 6 are most important to protect them from sharp objects on the ground.

Correct Shoe Size

I cannot stress enough on shoe size! Such a simple concept but it can go unnoticed. Even I have been guilty of letting my own child wear a pair of shoes too long!

Be sure to have your child’s foot measured regularly as you may be unaware that their shoes are too small before it’s too late. Expensive shoes do not always mean better quality. It is important that not only does your child want to wear the shoes you buy but the shoe fits and has some of the key structure points. Hopefully, in your local area, there is a shoe store that has the tools to measure their feet. If they don’t, I recommend, if possible, pulling out the insole and have your child stand on it. There should always be a thumb space from their longest toe to the end of the shoe. This is a simple way to ensure that the length is correct if you are unsure.

Age 0-5

When buying shoes for your pre-school aged child these are some points to keep in mind:

  1. Shoes should be comfortable in length and width – the rule of thumb is always a thumb width from the end of their longest toe to the end of the shoe
  2. Flexible and flat (should have enough bend in the toes)
  3. Plenty of wiggle room for the toes
  4. Laces or straps to keep their feet from moving around in the shoe

Age 5 and up

By the time your child starts going to school their arch should be developed. Below are certain precautions you must take.

  1. The heel counter, the back portion of the shoe, should be a bit stiffer to prevent the ankles from rolling in or out. As kids tend to play on harder surfaces now that they are attending school this is necessary to keep their alignment straight.
  2. Laces are better- they ensure that the heel remains in the back of the shoe
  3. Slightly more stiff sole to prevent unnecessary wear on the shoe and improper wear

If your child is like mine, these guidelines are important to follow. Their feet tend to roll in and their shoes will wear to the point they can end up walking on the inside material. If their alignment looks like this (see below picture), it is important to consider foot orthotics. Take note that the ankles are rolling in and they will be prone to premature shoe wear and pain.

Is your child complaining of pain (growing pains are never normal) or have premature shoe wear? It is best to get your child’s feet assessed by a professional. Sometimes a little bit of arch support and some exercises help keep feet on track.

The best advice is to check your children’s feet regularly! Feet are important and must be able to carry you through the rest of your life.

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