Insurance: how your doctor can help

Your doctor is your greatest ally when dealing with your health plan. Below are tips to enlist the help of your doctor:

1. Ask your doctor to help with appealing the denial of a claim. Your doctor and his/her staff are best suited to explain your condition, your medical history and your treatment plan. If your claim for a treatment has been denied, ask your doctor to write a letter of medical necessity and/or to call your health plan provider as part of the appeal process.

2. Ask the office staff for help. If your doctor is unavailable to help you, ask a different staff member such as his or her nurse to support you. Many doctors have employees who focus on reversing health plan decisions.

3. Update your doctor on any health plan correspondence. Provide your doctor´s office with documentation of all correspondence (including denial letters and notes from phone conversations) with your health plan. This will help keep your doctor up-to-date on the status and details of your claim.

4. Provide your doctor with sample letters. The Psoriasis Foundation provides different sample letters for doctors to use as templates when writing a letter to your health plan on your behalf. 

5. Remember to thank your doctor and his/her staff. Send a card or call your doctor’s office to express your appreciation to him/her for working on your behalf.

6. Share resources with your doctor. The Psoriasis Foundation offers resources and materials developed specifically for medical providers, including a health plan directory to look up health plan medical policies and contact information, and a citation list to use when writing letters of support.