So far, I have been to many electrolysis appts. to add up to almost $1,500. I have a completed claims form for my particular insurance company, a letter from my endocrinologist and a receipt from every appt. I had with my electrolysis. I have made copies of all of this for my records and am going to send it out by certified mail. Then after I mail it out, I cross my fingers and hope they don't give me a hard time. If they don't, great. If they do, I will raise as much hell as I can to get reimbursed. I am not getting electrolysis done for a cosmetic reason...It IS a medical condition! Thanks James for all your help, and I will keep you all updated with the results. Good luck to all who is going through what i am, it's an uphill battle!

Dearest Babyblue:

Congratulations, you are now in the price range where you can file a small claims case. Find out what the legal limits are in your area. Some places limit small claims to $3,000.00 some to $5,000.00

However, for your purposes, filing a case sooner could pave the way for better treatment from the insurance company later. While you can bring all the stuff you have and a copy of your policy and argue your case, they MUST send a lawyer, not just an employee of the firm. Don't accept a mediator, take trial by jury if it is available, and a judge if jury is not an option. Do not accept a law clerk, only a judge!

They can't win the case if it is fair. Then, they know that you will just do the same thing every year if they don't honor your treatment claims.

Well, this company is a toss up. It's Blue Cross Blue Shield. They do get ways around things ... when they're good they're good. When they're bad they're oh so bad. I have been told that they're notorious for not paying for 'cosmetic' procedures ... or for payigng less than most places. I know this is not a cosmetic thing and that people win cases with other companies. Do they understand how much this type of thing affects people? ... especially girls that get it when they're young like I did ... I mean ... I have heard 12-yr-old girls that literally wanted to commit suicide and things because they didn't want to go through life having to deal with it ... that's aggravating a possible mental illness like depression ... having to wait for that one in a million guy that doesn't care ... or having to plain vacations, sleepovers, campouts and such around their extra hair, not to mention all the other associated problems. I mean sometimes I have read forums like this ... and I just wanted to cry at some of the things girls said because I know what they're going through and how usually (even though it is a common problem in older women) when you're young, you're almost always the only girl that you know with the problem ... you're the only one whose parents think it's not important and you're being vain ... you're the only one that everybody makes fun or (even family members) ... yeah it's rough, especially for the ones of s that have had other stresses in our life ... like abuse and things. I mean there are even guys that get upset about too much hair and it's not even as much of a social stigma for them. There oughtta be automatic medical treatment ... not all the hassle.

ok...i've submitted everything and just have a quick question! i sent it certified mail on jan 20th, and received the receipt stating it was received on jan. 29th. now, it being feb. 20th, how long should i wait for a response until contacting my insurance company. or, should i just go ahead and file an appeal (even without getting a "no" from the insurance co.). hope this makes sense. thanks!

Actually, you make lots of sense.

If I were you, I would already call them to ask about the status of the claim. Make sure you get the names of everyone you speak to. Better yet, tape record the call. After all, their phone greeting says that the call will be recorded for quality assurance purposes, so they have already consented to having the call recorded.
I would also be putting together my appeal for filing on the 20th business day (about 30 days)after they got your mail. I would also be all ready with the small claims forms to file 60 business days (about 90 days) after they got your mail, assuming they ignore you.

If nothing else, they will see that they can't put you off so easily, and you won't be ignored.

thanks so much for your help James...i really, really appreciate this!!

well...i've been denied my claim...which i was expecting. I am in the process of the appeal and once i get denied that, i go for an external review. I feel somewhat confident of the exteranl review, but do not know who actually reviews the claim. With all my receipts, letter from my endo and my persisitance, I hope they see that this is not cosmetic. we shall see!

Now don't you feel better about all this, because you knew what to expect? You know the path. You know that at the end of the tunnel is your money. Most people would have given up by now. They are surprized you persisted this far.

Keep us informed.

Ask your doctor he/she is willing to testify on your behalf when the time comes.

Just trying to keep all the information on this subject linked. Here is a link to more insurance information.

NHS (UK)

ok...i've come to my final denied appeal. now is time for action. i am getting discouraged a bit, but i know that is what they were hoping for. my final letter from my insur. co. states that under my insurance plan described under my employers rules that this is not cover and considered cosmetic. in my previous letter to the insurance co. i stated that in order to tell the meds are working correctly, i must undergo electrolysis to rid existing hairs and ensure that no new hairs are growing. they stated in the letter of denial that my reasoning for electrolysis is because of the meds. from what i read and understood from the letter, they make it sound like i'm requesting this claim because the meds i took caused hair to grow...and that is not the case at all. they don't even understand the reasoning. i'm very pissed and very discouraged...and i'm trying to get the energy to pursue this. oh sigh!!