GAH!

See this little monkey?  She's almost 2 years of age and has yet to say a single word.  She hums, she babbles, she groans and moans, she just doesn't TALK.  Jeremy and I are used to this.  We went through it with Audrey. 

I have to admit that Audrey actually talked a bit more than Molly at the same age, but we know that Audrey's words came in time.  We have been hoping that Molly will follow this same path.  At Molly's 18 month appointment, her doctor expressed great concern over the lack of speech and highly recommended we have Molly's hearing tested.  I put it off for a while.  I could tell that Molly could hear us.  Then the audiologist from the hospital called me to make an appointment.  She explained that Molly might have problems hearing different tones that could affect her speech so I agreed to make the appointment.

I took Molly.  She passed her hearing test.  No surprise.  Went home.  Forgot about the hearing concerns.  Still worried about the speech but I have hope.

Opened my mail today to find a bill for $300 to pay for the hearing test.  $300 AFTER insurance had been billed.  I was so mad.  I'm still kind of mad but I made cookies and ate them and that made me less mad.  I think what upsets me most about this situation is we are getting kicked in the shins financially just because we're trying to be proactive and make sure Molly gets the best care.  We'd hate to forego the test to find out that was a huge factor in her delay.  It reminds me so much of Emily being denied insurance because of her gross motor skill delays and now anxiety issues.  So once, again we are being penalized financially (paying for cobra or expensive private insurance) to get our kids covered.  

That's all I have to say about that.

Comments

[Jennifer]

Aww...big hugs! I hate battling insurance companies. Did you go through early intervention at all?

[Gigi]

Well, at least it's for your own child. We have to pay child support *plus* daycare expenses *plus* thousands of dollars in medical/dental/orthodontia every year for children that aren't even mine...in addition to all that I have to pay for my own six. And we have to pay taxes on all of it. Just to say that it could be worse....

[Pam]

Jennifer, I am sorry you are going through this. It stinks. Carter has tubes and the ENT says "they have" to test his hearing every six months and the insurance never pays it. I also know in Georgia, at least, before they can even be evaluated for speech, they have to have a hearing test.
I also feel you pain regarding Emily and insurance. Carter would be uninsurable through anything but a group plan. Just last month, they decided to quit paying for his seizure meds. They think he could take something "cheaper". Whatever! Sending you big {{HUGS}}.