I am curious as to what kind of replacement hormones the doctors are prescribing? Do they prescribe bio-identical hormones or the patented 'human like' hormones?

Here in Idaho, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Secure Horizons and Medicare will not pay for bio-identical or compounded hormones. The Secure Horizons/Medicare limitation is national. In some cases, like post menopause, Blue Cross will pay for patented HRT (Premarin etc.).

Unfortunately, the patented hormones have side effects. They will pay for thyroid ( a common problem)and pituitary dysfunction as these can be due to other causes. The low level hormone deficiencies (in the low end of normal range) without a specific diagnosis are more problematic.

Maybe getting an early PCS diagnosis with ICD-9 code 854.0 helps get the insurance companies on board. The Kaiser Permanente Health plan in California is very reluctant to do the complete testing and even more reluctant to prescribe when the hormone level is in the low end of normal. Been there, done that, fought the system for years, even a sympathetic physician was hesitant.

As was stated earlier by many: treatment for a concussion related deficiency is much harder to get than it is to get treatment for a TBI that results in coma or other extended hospitalization and intense rehab. Being the 'invisible wounded' makes getting these alternative but valuable treatments difficult.

You are right about compounded medications not being covered by insurance companies (at least not right now, anyway). The hormones that are being covered are ones that are still bio identical but are not compounded. For example, insurance will not cover compounded testosterone cream, but they will cover testosterone cypionate injection. They will also not cover compounded T3 but will cover cytomel. They will cover growth hormone and cortef, which is hydrocortisone, if the labs show a deficiency. Again, in my experience, and the experience of others I have talked to, it all boils down to how your doctor words it and the labs.

Insurance companies are a pain in the "you know what." I'm not surprised you had a hard time with Keiser. They have to be the nation's worst insurance company to deal with. My brother in law had to take them to court to get them to pay for his testicular removal due to cancer. They claimed that it was a "pre existing" condition. Complete hog wash as he has never had cancer before. Not surprisingly, he won the case and they were forced to pay his medical bills. I've heard other nightmares about them from other people too. But, we'll see what happens with all of this after the new health care bill goes into effect. Maybe it will change, maybe not...who knows?

Anyway, even if you're insurance company doesn't pay for it, you may still want to consider it. Your brain is not going to heal itself if you do have a deficiency in one or more hormones. A lot of the research is discovering this and they are also discovering that many people do make substantial recoveries once their hormones are optimized. So, the cost may outweigh the benefits. And typically insurance companies will be forced by the FDA to cover these hormones if the research is there to warrant it.

mhr4: I don't have a copy of my daughter's lab results. I will see if I can obtain those and would be glad to post them for analysis.

Thanks!

The FDA approved drugs get insurance company payment but the exact same drug mixed with an FDA approved cream often does not. The generic bio-identical hormones (not patentable) are not paid. The Big Pharma mouthpieces try to say that since compounded drugs are not FDA approved they are risky.

The side effects of the patented hormones are rarely discussed. When they are, they are often discussed as a side effect of the hormone, not the hormone like alternatives characteristics. This is done with FDA backing. As I have said before, we have the best FDA money can buy.

Fortunately, bio-identical hormones are not very expensive, especially if bought from a large pharmacy that specializes in bio-identical hormones. I think I will stay with the bio-identical variety, even if I have to buy it from a women's pharmacy (WomensInternational.com).

We do have to remember that HRT is not a quick fix. It may help resolve some symptoms and help the brain heal other symptoms, but it requires disciplined behavior for the best results.