Try this when your doctor says 'yes' to a preventive test but insurance says 'no'

"My son was diagnosed with congenital CMV, a virus that can cause hearing loss. As part of this diagnosis, he will be required to have routine hearing tests every few months until he is 10 years old. I reached out to you because I wanted to know why my son's hearing tests weren't covered by our insurance and why we needed to pay for it."

"Trying to figure out why her claim was denied took Anna Deutscher a lot of time and work. Baby Beckham's hearing screenings were preventive care, which is supposed to be covered by law. Every hearing test cost them about $350 out of pocket. Between those bills and Beckham's other health costs, the family maxed out two credit cards. "Everything just immediately goes right to trying to pay that debt off," Deutscher said."

"No one wants to spend time fighting their health insurance company. Many people feel they don't have the knowledge or stamina to do it. But if, like Deutscher, you're denied for a preventive service, it may be worth it. Health Care Helpline helps you navigate health care system hurdles. Send us your tricky question and we may tap a policy sleuth to puzzle it out."

A newborn with congenital CMV requires routine hearing tests every few months through age 10. Preventive hearing screenings should be covered under the Affordable Care Act, yet some insurance plan documents explicitly exclude hearing tests. One family paid about $350 per test and exhausted two credit cards paying bills and other health costs. Repeated denials created stress and left the parent feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to proceed. Many people avoid challenging insurers due to time and complexity. Health Care Helpline offers assistance, and consumers are advised to read plan documents, note exclusions, and assert ACA preventive-care protections.

Read at www.npr.org