iron infusion appeal question
My insurance has denied my iron infusions-- anyone have any experience with appealing this?
I am 8 years out of surgery with healthy labs-- except my iron. It was fine for the first several years post op but dropped to very low levels a few years ago. I tried extra iron and C (separate from my other vits) for several months, eat lots of red meat, switched to cast iron cookware etc but no luck. Hematologist recc I get iron infusions as I simply was not absorbing the iron normally. The infusions have been great- energy restored, my ferritin in the normal range again and sleeping well. When my hemoglobin, hematocrit and MCV drop into the low range (and ferritin dips to 12ish) I get another infusion. Works out to one infusion of venofer every 4 months.
I live overseas so must pay my physician then file a claim for reimbursement with Cigna IntL. Anyone have any luck appealing iron infusion medical claims? I sent a letter from my physician stating that they were medically necessary already- no luck. I have one more chance to appeal.
Suggestions welcome.