Hi, according to Alan's doctor, (and he put this in writing), Alan's neuropathy is so severe, and his foot ulcer is. well, it is what it is, that Alan actually needs shoes EVERY 8 MONTHS. I was there when he told us this and wrote the note for the insurance company.

Alan cannot have any foot surgery on his foot ulcer because of his neuropathy.

So it all has to be SHOES and special INSERTS that have to be molded to his foot and then done in a way so the foot ulcer free floats.

And believe me he tried, off loading shoes, and other things.

And with our HMO it says 'diabetic shoes, or a shoe with a brace, only if a person is diabetic' and that is once a year.

So Alan will make do with has. We just had them re-soled and the guy did a marvelous job.

But now (and this applies only to me)they only pay $88.00 for the diabetic shoes and I'm entitled to inserts too. I just got the denial from my HMO (same one as Alan's), and they denied my inserts. So they would pay $88.00 for my shoes but will not give me inserts.

And the thing that really confuses me is the his HMO paid for his CROW boot? Do you know how much a CROW boot costs? A LOT MORE THAN THE SHOES.

What nutty rules they have.

Melody