Good for you on retirement Acrobatinmydreams!!! I have some shoe inserts on the way and will see if they help my limp any at all. If so I will update here with a new video. I hope you will do one for everyone to see once you get yours. If I could afford it I would tour the country and show people just how amazing these things are.
Since my Phat Braces come up much higher in the back than my plastic ones did, I tried an experiment one day. I put the plastic ones on to see how they felt after wearing the new ones for a few months. WOW!! I don't know how I walked in those things for 18 years. No wonder I had so much hip pain. I just knew I was going to have to have hip replacement soon! Not anymore.
Just curious did Hanger order yours for you? I got a call today that my 20% copay is going to be $1900 and the Medicare Allowable is over $9000. This is not correct. I did medical billing when I worked so I called the orthotist that did my current braces and the most Medicare can be billed (the allowable) is $3800 for both left and right. The orthotist even sent me the billing codes from the website on the phatbraces. Here are pictures of my current ones that were made two years ago.My hips hurt so bad so I hope the new ones will help my pain too.
I've had them on 45 min., the pinch in the lower part is gone. Some rubbing on ankles but from what I understand the lower part is most important because the upper can be flared out easily. Hard to wait to put them on again.
Just be diligent about checking your feet and legs for pressure areas. The composite (plastic) part can be flared but the carbon fiber cannot. It does not take long to get a nice sore going. I almost lost my whole foot to one. A wrinkle in a sock can wreak havoc on an area with no feeling or impaired feeling.
Post by acrobatinmydreams on Apr 21, 2015 15:28:38 GMT -8
Also MEDICARE did approve these braces for those of you asking if they would cover them. With straight Medicare, the 20% copay should be about $400-$450 which is no more expensive than other braces I have had.
Good for you on retirement Acrobatinmydreams!!! I have some shoe inserts on the way and will see if they help my limp any at all. If so I will update here with a new video. I hope you will do one for everyone to see once you get yours. If I could afford it I would tour the country and show people just how amazing these things are.
Since my Phat Braces come up much higher in the back than my plastic ones did, I tried an experiment one day. I put the plastic ones on to see how they felt after wearing the new ones for a few months. WOW!! I don't know how I walked in those things for 18 years. No wonder I had so much hip pain. I just knew I was going to have to have hip replacement soon! Not anymore.
Just curious did Hanger order yours for you? I got a call today that my 20% copay is going to be $1900 and the Medicare Allowable is over $9000. This is not correct. I did medical billing when I worked so I called the orthotist that did my current braces and the most Medicare can be billed (the allowable) is $3800 for both left and right. The orthotist even sent me the billing codes from the website on the phatbraces. Here are pictures of my current ones that were made two years ago.My hips hurt so bad so I hope the new ones will help my pain too.
None of the Hanger offices in Florida carried them. I used an independent Orthotist which I like much better. This guy and his wife were the absolute best to work with. They came to my house to cast me and then delivered and fit them (over 120 miles round trip). He said if I ever needed adjustments or anything that he would come to me. Very compassionate people and I would recommend anyone in Florida to contact them.
My two braces total was just under $4,700.00. The Orthotist was out of network but I didn't care, I wanted them after he brought a "sample" and let me try it. We tried to file as an Out of Network claim and UHC gave me a horrible run around. It blew their mind that I needed two braces. It literally took months but in the end they stepped up.
Good luck and I hope they get everything straightened out for you.
I've had them on 45 min., the pinch in the lower part is gone. Some rubbing on ankles but from what I understand the lower part is most important because the upper can be flared out easily. Hard to wait to put them on again.
Just be diligent about checking your feet and legs for pressure areas. The composite (plastic) part can be flared but the carbon fiber cannot. It does not take long to get a nice sore going. I almost lost my whole foot to one. A wrinkle in a sock can wreak havoc on an area with no feeling or impaired feeling.
YES YES YES! I'm not the best about doing this but thankfully I have a wife that is diligent.
When I first got mine I had a slight rub on the right ankle. The Orthotist (sp?) came to my house, I never had to make a office visit. He had a neat little trick. He put a little bit of lipstick on the ankle, strapped the brace on and it marked the spot. He heated up the problem area and reformed it by hand and BAM, no rubbing. So if for some odd reason it ever rubs I know how to eliminate the problem.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you! I would cross my toes but that hasn't been possible for 19 years LOL
Thanks Jeff, I live about 800 mi. from these guys so this first adjustment was by mail. I may be able mark the spots for them with the lipstick, thanks again. My cold white legs make it easy to see the red spot's so I've taken some photo's. These things can change your quality of life.
Just a tip that I learned by watching my guy. If you have a pressure point that is rubbing in the foot or ankle area, you can heat it up with a hair dryer and take something such as a spoon and reshape it very easily. This may be a little quicker than sending back and waiting.
Post by acrobatinmydreams on Apr 22, 2015 12:28:23 GMT -8
Well I just got my cost estimate for these Phatbraces.....$12,823.54 and my 20% Medicare portion $1693.92
The warranty is no better than my current ones so I guess I am really trying to justify this significant cost.
I certainly can't spend this kind of money every year because they crack. I have never had one last more than 2.5 years which my current ones have lasted.
So we will try it and see if it helps my hip pain. I guess.
Post by kilg0retr0ut on Apr 23, 2015 6:34:31 GMT -8
You have the longevity here Acrobat, so your input is huge. I'm not sure why your braces cost almost triple the price of mine and Jeff's. Are we talking about the same brace? Mine say Phatbrace on the bottom, does yours? The braces your showing look different than mine. I went back and you did say "Phat type brace" so I hope the new ones work better for you. It sounds like someone's getting robbed.
Post by kilg0retr0ut on Apr 23, 2015 7:21:37 GMT -8
I wore them for three hours yesterday. Getting some fair rubbing on right ankle and the bone under it. Going to take them out tonight one more time and call the orthodic fellas on what to do from here. I was comparing costs although I feel like Jeff in that you can't really put a dollar figure to quality of life, and these braces didn't cost much more than the plastic I've worn. The difference in performance is huge.
I'll make a short vid when the snow melts, last couple of days we got about three inches. I will say the Phatbrace is no warmer on my cold little chicken legs.
Post by kilg0retr0ut on Apr 23, 2015 7:41:33 GMT -8
I also want to say this isn't a comparison to plastic. You have all heard this "everyone is different". Plastic braces kept me upright. I was harder on them than most and they took a beating. I'm not forgetting how lucky I am to still be upright and be left with enough function to use these.
Well I just got my cost estimate for these Phatbraces.....$12,823.54 and my 20% Medicare portion $1693.92
The warranty is no better than my current ones so I guess I am really trying to justify this significant cost.
I certainly can't spend this kind of money every year because they crack. I have never had one last more than 2.5 years which my current ones have lasted.
So we will try it and see if it helps my hip pain. I guess.
Thanks Jeff for all your information.
WOW! Acrobat that is outrageous!! I still paid more for mine with my deductible but I have a feeling they are jacking the price up to get more out of you which is absolutely not right. I just don't see how they can get away with this. I have added a picture of my one of my braces that I literally took just now LOL. Is it the same?
I must say that my plastic ones held up fairly decent. I did break one but other than that they held up very well except for the straps which is understandable.
I've had my Phat Braces for just over a year now and I am impressed with the durability so far. My puppy did decide to chew on one of the corners one night which made for a very expensive chew toy but she didn't do much damage.
You have the longevity here Acrobat, so your input is huge. I'm not sure why your braces cost almost triple the price of mine and Jeff's. Are we talking about the same brace? Mine say Phatbrace on the bottom, does yours? The braces your showing look different than mine. I went back and you did say "Phat type brace" so I hope the new ones work better for you. It sounds like someone's getting robbed.
The picture that I posted are my current braces that were made by a mom/pop fabrication company in NC.
I have not seen the "phatbraces" yet. They casted the first of March and they are currently in Fabrication.
I am so frustrated with this process. Yes we are talking about the same set of braces from the company phatbraces.com Mine will look exactly like yours.
I must have missed where you posted the price of yours. I will go back and re-read.
Well I just got my cost estimate for these Phatbraces.....$12,823.54 and my 20% Medicare portion $1693.92
The warranty is no better than my current ones so I guess I am really trying to justify this significant cost.
I certainly can't spend this kind of money every year because they crack. I have never had one last more than 2.5 years which my current ones have lasted.
So we will try it and see if it helps my hip pain. I guess.
Thanks Jeff for all your information.
WOW! Acrobat that is outrageous!! I still paid more for mine with my deductible but I have a feeling they are jacking the price up to get more out of you which is absolutely not right. I just don't see how they can get away with this. I have added a picture of my one of my braces that I literally took just now LOL. Is it the same?
Yes these are the braces that Hanger is ordering me. Hanger prosthetic have been fined numerous times for fraudulent Medicare billing. I will just turn them in for fraud. I have not agreed to pay anything so I have the upper hand. The braces are already in fabrication. I have dealt with Hanger before as they made two sets of my braces in previous years and they are a bunch of crooks. My current braces which are the ones I posted the picture of were only $2800. My previous orthotist that ordered the braces I am currently wearing even said that Hanger was trying to rip me off. I called them and asked about the Phatbraces.
Hanger does not like to supply them because they like to make their own inferior products. But I told the rep that I would not accept anything other than the type of brace that I have which is what they called a "phat type" brace.
But Medicare will only pay a certain amount, they can bill all they want but Medicare will tell me exactly what I have to pay which is 20% of the amount that they allow.
I am so glad I talked with you two on here. I won't have to pay but about $400 if that much. I did call Medicare but they cannot tell me how much my copay is going to be until after the bill has been submitted.
I wonder how many people they have stole money from like they are trying to do me? It is illegal to make a Medicare patient pay more than 20% of the allowable charge. I have a feeling this is the first time this Hanger office has ordered from the company Phatbraces.com
Thank you both so much for your comments. I will post some pictures as soon as I get them.